The Battle of Blenheim
Robert Southey
1774 to 1843
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It was a summer evening,
Old Kaspar's work was done,
And he before his cottage door
Was sitting in sun,
And by him sported on the green
His grandchild Wilhelmine.
She saw her brother Peterkin
Roll something and round,
Which he beside the rivulet
In playing had found;
He came to ask what he had found,
That was so large, and smooth, and round.
Old took it from the boy,
Who stood expectant by;
then the old man shook his head,
And, with natural sigh,
"'Tis some poor fellow's skull," said he,
"Who fell in the great victory.
"I find them the garden,
For there's many here about;
And often I go to plough,
The ploughshare turns them out!
many thousand men," said he,
"Were slain in great victory."
"Now tell us what 'twas all about,"
Young Peterkin, he cries;
And little Wilhelmine looks
With wonder-waiting eyes;
"Now tell us all about the war,
And what they fought each other for."
"It the English," Kaspar cried,
"Who put the French rout;
But what they fought each other for,
I not well make out;
But everybody said," quoth he,
"That 'twas a famous victory.
"My father lived at then,
Yon little stream hard by;
They burnt his to the ground,
And he was forced to fly;
with his wife and child he fled,
Nor had where to rest his head.
"With fire and sword country round
Was wasted far and wide,
And many childing mother then,
And new-born baby died;
But things that, you know, must be
At every famous victory.
"They say it was a shocking sight
After the field won;
For many thousand bodies here
Lay rotting in sun;
But things like that, you know, must be
a famous victory.
"Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won,
And our good Prince Eugene."
"Why, 'twas a wicked thing!"
Said little Wilhelmine.
"Nay... nay... my little girl," quoth he,
"It a famous victory.
"And everybody praised the Duke
Who great fight did win."
"But what good came it at last?"
Quoth little Peterkin.
"Why that cannot tell," said he,
"But 'twas a famous victory."