45
STANZAS
BY LORD
F.L. GOWER,
ON THE
EXECUTION MILITAIRE,
A PRINT
FROM A PICTURE BY VLGNERON
It exhibits the moment when the condemned soldier
kneels to receive the file of the
party appointed to be his executioners. His friends, and the
priest, are seen retiring.
His dog, whom he is endeavoring to shake off, still fawns upon him, and
seems desirous
to share his fate.
His doom has been decreed,
He has own’d the fatal deed,
And it’s forfeit
is here to abide:
No mercy now can save,
They have dug the soldiers grave,
And the hapless and the brave
Kneels beside.
No bandage wraps his eye,
He is kneeling there to die,
Unblinded,
undaunted, alone.
His parting prayer ceased,
And his comrade, and his priest,
From their gloomy task released,-
Both are gone.
His kindred are not near
The fatal shot to hear,
They can but weep
the deed when ‘tis done.
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They would shriek, and wail, and pray,
It is good for him to-day
That his friends are far away,
-All but one!
In mute, but wild despair,
The Faithful hound is there;
He has reached his
masters side with a spring.
To the hand which rear’d and fed,
Till the ebbing pulse has fled,
Till that hand is cold and dead,
He will cling.
What art, lure or wile,
That one can now beguile
From the side of his
master and friend?
He has burst his cord in twain;
To the arm which strives in vain
To repel him, he will strain
To the end.
The tear-drop who shall blame,
Though it dim the veteran’s aim,
Though each breast
along the line heave the sigh?
Yet’t were cruel now to save,
And together in the grave,
The faithful and the brave,
Let them lie.
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