STANZAS. 639 



foot through the ices and snows of the Polish December. After a few 

 days of continued march, he became quite exhausted ; he lay motion- 

 less on the ground. Then, and then only, it was permitted to some 

 poor peasants to take him to their hovel. The peasants succeeded 

 slowly to reanimate the benumbed body of the prisoner. When they 

 undressed him, they found on his sunken breast a Polish cross of 

 honour and a little bag with his natal earth. At the same time he 

 opened his eyes, and seeing the astonishment of the persons standing 

 around his bed, he uttered, " Could you recognize under this garb 

 a Polish officer, who " Here he was interrupted by the en- 

 trance of an officer, who placed on him again the handcuffs and the 

 chains. Some minutes afterwards the cannon dragged the victim 

 farther towards Siberia. On these numerous and well-fought fields, 

 when the Fourth of the Line immortalized themselves in their country's 

 annals, many a soldier of this regiment, in lowering his bayonet to the 

 deadly charge, and storming the lines of the Muscovite, steeled his 

 heart with the recollections of the sufferings of his revered, his heroic 

 Officer, who lived and died for Poland. 



STANZAS. 



I. 



SORROW'S hard to bear 



In autumnal time, 

 But far worse to feel 



In summer's prime. 



II. 



The heart's then prepar'd 



For sadness and grief, 

 When the wind's whirling 



About the brown leaf. 



III. 



Sorrow's heaviest 



When nature is gay, 

 And the birds' spring- songs 



Chase winter away. 



W. 



