III. · Section 3

III.

Then to the hostile hosts, who adverse stand, The pride of France, the flow’r of all her land. Strain’d to the left he casts his eager sight, Where the proud eagle rears her tow’ring height; 30 These hardy troops, Napoléon’s brother led, While to the right Lobau’s brave squadrons spread. Erlon and Reille, in warlike tumults known, Of vict’ry hoping, in the centre shone; Not their’s, or sportive joust, or mimic fray,-- The fate of Europe hung upon that day. The mighty leader of each glorious band, For the first time, in arms confronting stand; While Vict’ry doubted which her palm might claim, For each was equal in the lists of fame. 40

IV.

Proud Gallia’s haughty eagle’s rear’d on high, And thund’ring cannon rend the vaulted sky; Majestic Death stalks o’er the bloody plain, And Honour’s bed receives her heroes slain. By thee, brave Picton, what great deeds were done, What martial laurels grac’d thy setting sun! In Fame’s first page, thy glorious name returned, What tears erabalm’d thee, and what hearts have mourn’d! Ah! how record the mighty chiefs that fell, While peals of cannon sound their fun’ral knell! 50