Metrical tales, and other poems; - Electric Scotland

AFTER SEDAN. 275
" And thou tumest on thy rulor
As if
he alone had erred,
As-if all this blooly business
Had by him alone been stirred,
And no hand save his had faltered
When it grasped the hostile sword.
"If he merits the reproaches
Which thou heapest on him now,
Shame upon thee for a nation !
What a sycophant art thou !
What a coward, so long and lowly,
Underneath his sway to bow !
"If he did deserve the praises
Once so plenteously poured.
What a traitress thou to curse him.
And reject him for thy Lord,
All because thy common armies
Melt before the German horde !
" Shame upon thee for a nation !
I have said I loved thee well,
Now I loathe, contemn, despise thee,
With a force I cannot tell
For a nation ne'er so swiftly.
So ingloriously fell.
"As for him thou wouldst dishonour,
Lo ! he sits in silent pain,
Grieved to see thy foes triumphant.
Grieved to see thy bravest slain ;
Sorest grieved to see thy quarrels.
In which blood is poured like rain.
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