And often weeps, the story goes,
That royal blood not wholly flows
In every vein, from head to toes,
Of her dear boy.
To Elba's isle she could not go—
The royal orders said "No, no!
On Elba's island we bestow
No royal throne:"
And thus Napoleon, shoved from power,
Has many a lonely gloomy hour
To walk on Elba's sea-beat shore,
Alone! alone!
O save us from ambition's sway,
Ye powers, who tread the milky way;
It will deceive, it will betray
Nine out of ten.
Napoleon's history let us read:
In science he was great indeed—
Ambition's lantern did mislead
This prince of men:—
And yet, ambition had its use,
It check'd the royal game of goose,
And many a flagrant vile abuse
Fell at his frown.
But, doom'd to share immortal fame,
Despotic powers will dread his name,
Though he, perhaps, was much the same,
Raised to a throne!