And the thick, heavy spume-flakes which aye and anon By Hasselt, Dirck groaned; and cried Joris, "Stay spur! As down on her haunches she shuddered and sank. So we were left galloping, Joris and I; 10 Past Looz and past Tongres, no cloud in the sky; And "Gallop," gasped Joris, "for Aix is in sight!" "How they'll greet us!"--and all in a moment his roan Rolled neck and croup over, lay dead as a stone; And there was my Roland to bear the whole weight Of the news which alone could save Aix from her fate, With his nostrils like pits full of blood to the brim, to And with circles of red for his eye-sockets' rim. Then I cast loose my buffcoat, each holster let fall, Called my Roland his pet-name, my horse without peer; 8 Clapped my hands, laughed and sang, any noise, bad or good, Till at length into Aix Roland galloped and stood. And all I remember is-friends flocking round As I sat with his head 'twixt my knees on the ground; Was no more than his due who brought good news from Ghent. NOTES AND QUESTIONS For Biography, see page 80. Note. "How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix" is without historical basis. The ride occurred only in the poet's imagination Discussion. 1. What do you think the poet imagined the good new was? 2. Why do you think three riders started to carry this news? 3. How does the beginning of the poem give you the impression of haste? 4. At what time did the messengers start? 5. How is the passing of time noted by the riders? 6. When did the rider see his horse for the first time during the ride? Why had he not seen him before? 7. Would the news which you imagined the messengers were carrying require such haste as is described in the poem? 8. Which stanza gives the most vivid impression of haste? Which gives the impression of endurance? Which is the expression of desperation? 9. To whom does the rider give the credit for carrying the message? To whom do you give it? Why? 10. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: abreast; slacker; butting; peer. 11. Pronounce: Ghent; Aix; pique. Just as perhaps he mused, "My plans 5 Out 'twixt the battery-smokes there flew 10 Until he reached the mound. Then off there flung in smiling joy, And held himself erect By just his horse's mane, a boy; You hardly could suspect (So tight he kept his lips compressed, Scarce any blood came through)15 You looked twice e'er you saw his breast Was all but shot in two. 20 "Well," cried he, "Emperor, by God's grace We've got you Ratisbon! The Marshall's in the market-place, And you'll be there anon To see your flag-bird flap his vans Where I, to heart's desire, Perched him!" The chief's eyes flashed; his plans Soared up again like fire. 25 The chief's eyes flashed; but presently 30 Softened itself, as sheathes A film the mother-eagle's eye When her bruised eaglet breathes; "You're wounded!" "Nay," his soldier's pride Touched to the quick, he said: "I'm killed, Sire!" And his chief beside, Smiling the boy fell dead. NOTES AND QUESTIONS For Biography, see page 80. Discussion. 1. This story is based on fact; who is represented as tellin the story? 2. What does the expression, "we French," tell you about the speaker? 3. Where was Napoleon at the time Ratisbon was "stormed"? 4. Describe in your own words the position in which he stood. 5. What were Napoleon's thoughts as he stood on the mound? 6. Why is his sentence not finished? 7. What would Napoleon think when he saw a horse galloping toward him? 8. At what was he surprised? 9. What lines make us feel his shock of horror? 10. What was the boy's message? 11. Had he reason for his "smiling joy"? 12. Why does the poet repeat the words, "The chief's eye flashed"? What did the flashing of the eye show? 13. What different thought caused his eye to soften? 14. To what does the poet compare the softening of Napoleon's eye? 15. Why does the thought of the eagle seem appropriate in connection with Napoleon? 16. Who is the hero of this story? 17. What thought gave him power to smile in his terrible pain? 18. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: oppressive; flag-bird; vans. 19. Pronounce: Ratisbon; Lannes. Suggestions for Theme Topics 1. A true war incident, preferably of the World War. 2. Imagine the situation which led up to the telling of this incident of the French camp, and describe the soldier who tells it. 3. Tell in your own words the story he told. 4. A story illustrating devotion to a leader and a cause. 5. A description of Napoleon's personal appearance. THE NIGHT BEFORE WATERLOO LORD BYRON There was a sound of revelry by night; Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again; But, hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell! Did ye not hear it?-No; 'twas but the wind, Or the car rattling o'er the stony street. On with the dance! let joy be unconfined; No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before! 10 Within a windowed niche of that high hall Sate Brunswick's fated chieftain; he did hear That sound the first amidst the festival, And caught its tone with Death's prophetic ear; And when they smiled because he deemed it near, 15 His heart more truly knew that peal too well Which stretched his father on a bloody bier, And roused the vengeance blood alone could quell; He rushed into the field, and, foremost fighting, fell. Ah! then and there was hurrying to and fro, 20 And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress, And cheeks all pale, which but an hour ago Blushed at the praise of their own loveliness; And there were sudden partings, such as press The life from out young hearts, and choking sighs 25 Which ne'er might be repeated. Who could guess If ever more should meet those mutual eyes, Since upon night so sweet such awful morn could rise! And there was mounting in hot haste; the steed, |