The Dying Dragoon. Poem by Samuel Bamford

On Mount St. John's too dearly purchas'd day,
When broken Gallia fled the bloody fray;
And he, the mighty chief that's now afar,
Reluctant left the frightful wreck of war;
Whilst England's hardy sons to victory bore,
O'er hills of slain, through floods of smoking gore.
And vengeful Prussia, scatt'ring death around,
Cut many a gallant hero to the ground.
On that great day, sore wounded on the plain,
Bleeding to death, and mingled with the slain;
A poor dragoon slow rais'd his drooping head,
And thus in dying accents faintly said:
'Farewell, dear England's peaceful, happy shore!
For I, alas! must visit thee no more.
Farewell, ye dearer ties that my fond heart
Hath vainly cherish'd, thus at last to part.
My mother, brother, sister unto you
I bid a long, and ah! a last adieu.
And ye to whom my tenderest cares extend,
My wife, my children, mighty God defend.
O watch them with a father's tender care!
Supply their wants and guard them from each snare.
Alas! how little do they think that I
To-day on this dark bloody plain do lie:
Am glad to pillow my poor weary head,
On mangled corse of gallant comrade dead.
O! will my wedded love remember me,
Amid the world and all its vanity?
Embalm my name in many a heart-sprung tear,
And in her bosom hold my memory dear;
Or, will she thoughtless join the giddy throng,
Promote the laugh, and listen to the song?
Dark thought! that deeper wounds my parting soul,
Than death triumphing in the battle's howl.
Away, away, I sigh thee to the wind;
My Mary's heart can never be unkind.
That mournful night, that agonising day,
I tore myself from all that's dear away.
O! what a weight lay on my bursting heart,
Though I in hopes of sweet return did part.
Delusive hopes, that lured me away,
My carcase upon Flander's plain to lay.
Ah, me! I feel warm gushing from my side,
The reeking stream of life's dark crimson tide.'
The dying warrior ope'd his dimned eye,
His soul addressing unto Him on high.
Wav'd his bright helm, his slaughter'd comrades o'er,
And, fainting, sunk upon his bed of gore!