608 Specimens of French Poetry. 



But he, intent on his ambitious aims, 

 Straightway proceeds to where the furnace flames ; 

 And while his troops, with haste and zealous glow 

 The massive ordnance in the caldron throw, 

 He to the meanest artizan unfolds 

 His plans to fix the fashion of the moulds. 



Then to the war he led his troops once more, 

 And from the foe the palm of conquest bore : 

 He drove th' opponent armies from the plain, 

 And seiz'd their dread artillery again, 

 As good materials for the column high, 

 Built to perpetuate his memory! 



Such was his task ! The roaring culverin 

 The spur, the sabre, and the mortar's din 

 These were his earliest sports, till Egypt gave 

 Her ancient pyramids his smile to save ; 

 Then, when th' Imperial crown adorn'd his brow, 

 He rais'd the monument we rev'rence now. 



He rais'd that monument ! The grandest age, 

 Which e'er th' historian's annals might engage, 

 Furnished the subject ; and the end of time 

 Shall boast that emblem of his course sublime, 

 Where Rhine and Tyber roll'd in crimson flood, 

 And the tall snow-capp'd Alps all trembling stood ! 



For even as the giant race of old 



Ossa on Pelion mount on mountain roll'd, 



To scale high heaven's towers ; so he has made 



His battles serve to help his escalade ; 



And thus to gratify his fancy wild, 



Wagram, Arcole, on Austerlitz were pil'd ! 



The sun unveil'd himself in beauty bright, 

 The eyes of all beam'd gladness and delight, 

 When, with unruffled visage, thou didst come, 

 Hero of France ! unto the Place Vendome, 

 To mark thy column tow'ring from the ground, 

 And the four eagles rang'd the base around ! 



Twas then, environ'd by thy warriors tried, 

 As erst the Romans flock'd to ^Emilius' side ; 

 'Twas then each child each infant, on whose head 

 Six summers scarcely had their radiance shed, 

 Murmur'd applause, and clapp'd his little hands, 

 And spied a father 'midst thy serried bands. 



Oh ! when thou stoodst there, godlike, proud, and great, 



Pond'ring on conquest, majesty, and state ; 



Who would have thought that e'er the time should be 



When a base senate could dishonour thee, 



And cavil o'er thine ashes ? * For Vendome 



At least is worthy to become thy tomb ! 



VICTOR HUGO. 

 Translated by PARISIANUS. 

 (To be continued in our next.) 



* The Chamber of Deputies, October 7, 1830. 



