"Oh, grant me, brother, my only prayer,
When death my eyes is closing:
Take me to France, and bury me there;
In France be my ashes reposing.
"This cross of the Legion of Honor bright,
Let it lie near my heart, upon me;
Give me my musket in my hand,
And gird my sabre on me.
"So will I lie, and arise no more,
My watch like a sentinel keeping,
Till I hear the cannon's thundering roar,
And the squadrons above me sweeping.
"Then the Emperor comes! and his banners wave,
With their eagles o'er him bending,
And I will come forth, all in arms, from my grave,
Napoleon, Napoleon attending!"
[Illustration: THE TWO GRENADIERS From the Painting by P. Grotjohann]
* * * * *
BELSHAZZAR[26] (1822)
To midnight now the night drew on;
In slumber deep lay Babylon.
The King's house only was all aflare,
For the King's wild crew were at revel there.
Up there in the King's own banquet hall,
Belshazzar held royal festival.