ON CANTO I.
As so many excellent works have been published, giving a full and accurate account of the transactions of the battle, and as they are so recent in the memory of all who may honour this Poem with their perusal, I shall be very brief and select in my Notes.
Stanza III.
“These hardy troops Napoléon’s brother led.”
Jerome Buonaparte.
“For the first time in arms confronting stand.”
The Duke of Wellington had won twenty-seven battles over Napoléon’s generals, and was at last personally confronted with their master. Napoléon observed at Paris,—“that he was at last going to “measure swords with this Wellington, of whom he should certainly give a good account.”
Stanza VI.
“Where stood the pride of Caledonia’s force.”
The Scotch Greys.
Stanza VII.
“And Scotia, aided by an English band.”
The Bays.
Stanza XI.
“No modern field could ever yet behold
“A fight so slaught’rous, and a war so bold.”
This was perhaps the severest engagement of cavalry ever fought on a modern field, and though the Greys eventually conquered by miracles of valour, they might well exclaim with Pyrrhus,—“Another such victory would ruin us.”
Stanza XII.
“The gallant Byng.”—General Byng.
“While Saltoun.”—Lord Saltoun.
Stanza XIII.
“Th’ heroic Ponsonby.”—Sir William Ponsonby.
As Sir William Ponsonby was gallopping after his impetuous regiments, he had to cross a field lately ploughed, and of a very soft soil, and being badly mounted, his horse sunk in it. At that very moment he perceived a troop of lancers coming at full speed, and seeing all was over, took the picture of his wife from his bosom, and was giving the melancholy token to his aid-de-camp, to bear to his family, when the lancers coming up, killed both of them. To make the story more poetically affecting, I have taken the almost unpardonable licence of altering the facts.