TWO grenadiers travell'd tow'rds France one day, On leaving their prison in Russia, And sadly they hung their heads in dismay When they reach'd the frontiers of Prussia. For there they first heard the story of woe, That France had utterly perish'd, The grand army had met with an overthrow, They had captured their Emperor cherish'd. Then both of the grenadiers wept full sore At hearing the terrible story; And one of them said: "Alas! once more "My wounds are bleeding and gory." The other one said: "The game's at an end, "With thee I would die right gladly, "But I've wife and child, whom at home I should tend, "For without me they'll fare but badly. "What matters my child, what matters my wife? "A heavier care has arisen; "Let them beg, if they're hungry, all their life, -- "My Emperor sighs in a prison! "Dear brother, pray grant me this one last prayer: "If my hours I now must number, "O take my corpse to my country fair, "That there it may peacefully slumber. "The legion of honour, with ribbon red, "Upon my bosom place thou, "And put in my hand my musket dread, "And my sword around me brace thou. "And so in my grave will I silently lie, "And watch like a guard o'er the forces, "Until the roaring of cannon hear I, "And the trampling of neighing horses. "My Emperor then will ride over my grave, "While the swords glitter brightly and rattle; "Then armed to the teeth will I rise from the grave, "For my Emperor hasting to battle!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HYMN OF THE WEST by EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN A FARM PICTURE by WALT WHITMAN ON THE DEATH OF MR. WOODWARD, AT EDINBURGH by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD TRITON ESURIENS by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN |