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Literary
October 23, 1852
Alexandria Gazette
Alexandria, Alexandria County, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
Excerpts from a poem by the editor of Punch, published as a tribute to the memory of the Duke of Wellington, praising his dedication to duty, respect, tenderness, and English character.
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MISCELLANEOUS READING
It is a singular fact, that the best poetical effusion which has been published as a tribute to the memory of the Duke of Wellington, is one by the Editor of the "London Punch," from which we make the following extracts:
"I, a jester, what have I to do The man and With greatness or the grave? theme The comment of my page may ill beseem; So be it—yet not less do I pay tribute true.
"For that in him to which I would bow down Comes not of honors heaped upon his head, Comes not of orders on his breast outspread— Nor yet of captain's nor of councilor's renown.
"It is that all his life example shows Of reference for duty; where he saw Duty commanding word or act, her law With him was absolute, and brooked no quib- bling gloss.
"He followed where she pointed; right ahead— Unheeding what might sweep across his path, The cannon's volley, or the people's wrath; No hope, howe'er forlorn, but at her call he led.
He lived and asked no love, but won respect perforce.
"And of respect, at last came love unsought, But not repelled, when offered, and we knew That this rare sternness had its softeners too, That woman's charm and grace upon his being wrought:
"That underneath the armor of his breast ere springs of tenderness—all quick to flow In sympathy with childhood's joy or woe: That children climbed his knees, and made his arms their nest.
"For fifty of his eighty years and four His life has been before us; who but knew The short, spare frame, the eye of piercing blue, The eagle beak, the finger reared before "In greeting? Well he bore his load of years, As in his daily walk he paced along To early prayer, or 'mid the admiring throng, Passed through Whitehall to counsel with his Peers.
"He was true English—down to the heart's core; His sternness and his softness English both; Our reverence and love grew with his growth, Till we are slow to think that he can be no more.
'Peace to him! Let him sleep near him who fell Victor at Trafalgar; by Nelson's side Wellington's ashes fitly may abide.
Great Captain—noble heart! Hail to thee, and farewell!'
It is a singular fact, that the best poetical effusion which has been published as a tribute to the memory of the Duke of Wellington, is one by the Editor of the "London Punch," from which we make the following extracts:
"I, a jester, what have I to do The man and With greatness or the grave? theme The comment of my page may ill beseem; So be it—yet not less do I pay tribute true.
"For that in him to which I would bow down Comes not of honors heaped upon his head, Comes not of orders on his breast outspread— Nor yet of captain's nor of councilor's renown.
"It is that all his life example shows Of reference for duty; where he saw Duty commanding word or act, her law With him was absolute, and brooked no quib- bling gloss.
"He followed where she pointed; right ahead— Unheeding what might sweep across his path, The cannon's volley, or the people's wrath; No hope, howe'er forlorn, but at her call he led.
He lived and asked no love, but won respect perforce.
"And of respect, at last came love unsought, But not repelled, when offered, and we knew That this rare sternness had its softeners too, That woman's charm and grace upon his being wrought:
"That underneath the armor of his breast ere springs of tenderness—all quick to flow In sympathy with childhood's joy or woe: That children climbed his knees, and made his arms their nest.
"For fifty of his eighty years and four His life has been before us; who but knew The short, spare frame, the eye of piercing blue, The eagle beak, the finger reared before "In greeting? Well he bore his load of years, As in his daily walk he paced along To early prayer, or 'mid the admiring throng, Passed through Whitehall to counsel with his Peers.
"He was true English—down to the heart's core; His sternness and his softness English both; Our reverence and love grew with his growth, Till we are slow to think that he can be no more.
'Peace to him! Let him sleep near him who fell Victor at Trafalgar; by Nelson's side Wellington's ashes fitly may abide.
Great Captain—noble heart! Hail to thee, and farewell!'
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mortality
Patriotism
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Duke Of Wellington
Tribute Poem
Duty
English Hero
Respect
Nelson
Punch Editor
What entities or persons were involved?
By The Editor Of The "London Punch,"
Literary Details
Author
By The Editor Of The "London Punch,"
Subject
Tribute To The Memory Of The Duke Of Wellington
Key Lines
"I, A Jester, What Have I To Do With Greatness Or The Grave? The Comment Of My Page May Ill Beseem; So Be It—Yet Not Less Do I Pay Tribute True."
"It Is That All His Life Example Shows Of Reference For Duty; Where He Saw Duty Commanding Word Or Act, Her Law With Him Was Absolute, And Brooked No Quibbling Gloss."
"He Was True English—Down To The Heart's Core; His Sternness And His Softness English Both; Our Reverence And Love Grew With His Growth, Till We Are Slow To Think That He Can Be No More."
'Peace To Him! Let Him Sleep Near Him Who Fell Victor At Trafalgar; By Nelson's Side Wellington's Ashes Fitly May Abide.'
"Great Captain—Noble Heart! Hail To Thee, And Farewell!'"