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Poem
October 7, 1816
Daily National Intelligencer
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
A lady's poem critiques naming a waltz after the Battle of Waterloo, urging British women to pause amid celebrations and remember the victory's cost in lives, vividly depicting the battle's horrors and calling for time to heal before joyful commemorations.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Some will pronounce the following stanzas fastidious; but all will feel that they are the emanations of genuine sensibility.
FROM THE ABERDEEN JOURNAL
On Seeing, in a List of New Music,
'The Waterloo Waltz.'
(BY A LADY.)
A moment pause, ye British Fair!
While pleasure's phantom ye pursue;
And say, if dance or sprightly air
Suit with the name of Waterloo.
Glorious was the victory!
Chasten'd should the triumph be!
Midst the laurels she has won,
Britain weeps for many a son.
Veil'd in clouds, the morning rose;
Nature seemed to mourn the day
Which consign'd before its close,
Thousands to their kindred clay.
How unfit for courtly ball,
Or the giddy festival,
Was the grim and ghastly view,
'Ere evening clos'd on Waterloo!
See the Highland warrior rushing--
First in danger--on the foe;
Till the life blood, warmly gushing,
Lays the plaited hero low.
His native pipe's accustomed sound
--Mid war's infernal concert drown'd
Cannot soothe his last adieu,
Or wake his sleep on Waterloo.
Crashing o'er the Cuirassier,
See the foaming charger flying:
Trampling, in his wild career,
All alike--the dead and dying.
See the bullets, through his side.
Answer'd by the spouting tide;
Helmet, horse, and rider too,
Roll on bloody Waterloo.
Shall scenes like these the dance inspire,
Or wake th' enlivening notes of mirth?
Oh! shiver'd be the recreant lyre
That gave the base idea birth!
Other sounds, I ween were there
Other music rent the air,
Other waltzes the warriors knew.
When they clos'd at Waterloo.
Forbear! till time, with lenient hand,
Has heal'd the pang of recent sorrow;
And let the picture distant stand,
The softening hue of years to borrow.
When our race has pass'd away,
Hands unborn may wake the lay
And give to joy alone the view
Of Britain's fame at Waterloo.
FROM THE ABERDEEN JOURNAL
On Seeing, in a List of New Music,
'The Waterloo Waltz.'
(BY A LADY.)
A moment pause, ye British Fair!
While pleasure's phantom ye pursue;
And say, if dance or sprightly air
Suit with the name of Waterloo.
Glorious was the victory!
Chasten'd should the triumph be!
Midst the laurels she has won,
Britain weeps for many a son.
Veil'd in clouds, the morning rose;
Nature seemed to mourn the day
Which consign'd before its close,
Thousands to their kindred clay.
How unfit for courtly ball,
Or the giddy festival,
Was the grim and ghastly view,
'Ere evening clos'd on Waterloo!
See the Highland warrior rushing--
First in danger--on the foe;
Till the life blood, warmly gushing,
Lays the plaited hero low.
His native pipe's accustomed sound
--Mid war's infernal concert drown'd
Cannot soothe his last adieu,
Or wake his sleep on Waterloo.
Crashing o'er the Cuirassier,
See the foaming charger flying:
Trampling, in his wild career,
All alike--the dead and dying.
See the bullets, through his side.
Answer'd by the spouting tide;
Helmet, horse, and rider too,
Roll on bloody Waterloo.
Shall scenes like these the dance inspire,
Or wake th' enlivening notes of mirth?
Oh! shiver'd be the recreant lyre
That gave the base idea birth!
Other sounds, I ween were there
Other music rent the air,
Other waltzes the warriors knew.
When they clos'd at Waterloo.
Forbear! till time, with lenient hand,
Has heal'd the pang of recent sorrow;
And let the picture distant stand,
The softening hue of years to borrow.
When our race has pass'd away,
Hands unborn may wake the lay
And give to joy alone the view
Of Britain's fame at Waterloo.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
Satire
What themes does it cover?
War Military
Death Mourning
Patriotism
What keywords are associated?
Waterloo Battle
Victory Mourning
British Fair
Waltz Criticism
Warrior Death
What entities or persons were involved?
(By A Lady.)
Poem Details
Title
On Seeing, In A List Of New Music, 'The Waterloo Waltz.'
Author
(By A Lady.)
Subject
On Seeing, In A List Of New Music, 'The Waterloo Waltz.'
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas
Key Lines
A Moment Pause, Ye British Fair!
Glorious Was The Victory!
Chasten'd Should The Triumph Be!
Shall Scenes Like These The Dance Inspire,
Forbear! Till Time, With Lenient Hand,