"Softly Rise ..." - by William Boyce

"Softly Rise ..."

by

William Boyce

From "Ode to Napoleon Bonaparte" - by Lord Byron

From "Ode to Napoleon Bonaparte"

by

 Lord Gordon Byron (1788-1824)
=========================

I

'Tis done -- but yesterday a King!
And arm'd with Kings to strive --
And now thou art a nameless thing:
So abject -- yet alive!
Is this the man of thousand thrones,
Who strew'd our earth with hostile bones,
And can he thus survive?
Since he, miscall'd the Morning Star,
Nor man nor fiend hath fallen so far. 

 .....

 V

The Desolator desolate!
The Victor overthrown!
The Arbiter of others' fate
A Suppliant for his own!
Is it some yet imperial hope
That with such change can calmly cope?
Or dread of death alone?
To die a prince -- or live a slave --
Thy choice is most ignobly brave!