The Battle of Blenheim

Robert Southey

1774 to 1843

Track 1

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But everybody said," quoth he,

Old Kaspar took it from the boy,

They burnt his dwelling to the ground,

Who this great fight did win.

Was wasted far and wide,

Now tell us all about the war,

That 'twas a famous victory.

But 'twas a famous victory.

For many thousand bodies here

And new-born baby died;

After a famous victory.

It was the English," Kaspar cried,

So with his wife and child he fled,

In playing there had found;

They say it was a shocking sight

Tis some poor fellow's skull," said he,

Nay... nay... my little girl," quoth he,

Yon little stream hard by;

After the field was won;

But things like that, you know, must be

But what good came of it at last?

Which he beside the rivulet

At every famous victory.

Nor had he where to rest his head.

Quoth little Peterkin.

Why that I cannot tell," said he,

And everybody praised the Duke

That was so large, and smooth, and round.

Were slain in that great victory.

Who fell in the great victory.

With fire and sword the country round

The ploughshare turns them out!

For there's many here about;

My father lived at Blenheim then,

And he before his cottage door

Said little Wilhelmine.

Was sitting in the sun,

She saw her brother Peterkin

I find them in the garden,

It was a famous victory.

It was a summer evening,

Old Kaspar's work was done,

His little grandchild Wilhelmine.

Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won,

But what they fought each other for,

For many thousand men," said he,

With wonder-waiting eyes;

Who stood expectant by;

And what they fought each other for.

Roll something large and round,

And then the old man shook his head,

Why, 'twas a very wicked thing!

Who put the French to rout;

He came to ask what he had found,

But things like that, you know, must be

And many a childing mother then,

I could not well make out;

And little Wilhelmine looks up

And he was forced to fly;

Now tell us what 'twas all about,

And our good Prince Eugene.

Lay rotting in the sun;

And often when I go to plough,

Young Peterkin, he cries;

And by him sported on the green

And, with a natural sigh,

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It was a summer evening,
Old Kaspar's work was done,
And he before his cottage door
Was sitting in the sun,
And by him sported on the green
His little grandchild Wilhelmine.

She saw her brother Peterkin
Roll something large and round,
Which he beside the rivulet
In playing there had found;
He came to ask what he had found,
That was so large, and smooth, and round.

Old Kaspar took it from the boy,
Who stood expectant by;
And then the old man shook his head,
And, with a natural sigh,
"'Tis some poor fellow's skull," said he,
"Who fell in the great victory.

"I find them in the garden,
For there's many here about;
And often when I go to plough,
The ploughshare turns them out!
For many thousand men," said he,
"Were slain in that great victory."

"Now tell us what 'twas all about,"
Young Peterkin, he cries;
And little Wilhelmine looks up
With wonder-waiting eyes;
"Now tell us all about the war,
And what they fought each other for."

"It was the English," Kaspar cried,
"Who put the French to rout;
But what they fought each other for,
I could not well make out;
But everybody said," quoth he,
"That 'twas a famous victory.

"My father lived at Blenheim then,
Yon little stream hard by;
They burnt his dwelling to the ground,
And he was forced to fly;
So with his wife and child he fled,
Nor had he where to rest his head.

"With fire and sword the country round
Was wasted far and wide,
And many a childing mother then,
And new-born baby died;
But things like that, you know, must be
At every famous victory.

"They say it was a shocking sight
After the field was won;
For many thousand bodies here
Lay rotting in the sun;
But things like that, you know, must be
After a famous victory.

"Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won,
And our good Prince Eugene."
"Why, 'twas a very wicked thing!"
Said little Wilhelmine.
"Nay... nay... my little girl," quoth he,
"It was a famous victory.

"And everybody praised the Duke
Who this great fight did win."
"But what good came of it at last?"
Quoth little Peterkin.
"Why that I cannot tell," said he,
"But 'twas a famous victory."

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The Battle of Blenheim

Robert Southey

1774 to 1843

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