Humorous Poems/The Battle of Blenheim
For other versions of this work, see The Battle of Blenheim.
THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM.
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.
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.
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 scull', said he,
Who fell in the great victory:
Who stood expectant by;
And then the old man shook his head,
And with a natural sigh,
'Tis some poor fellow's scull', 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 the great victory.'
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 the 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 killed each other for.'
Young Peterkin he cries;
And little Wilhelmine looks up
With wonder-waiting eyes;
'Now tell us all about the war,
And what they killed each other for.'
'It was the English,' Kaspar cried,
'Who put the French to rout;
'But what they killed each other for,
I could not well make out.
But everybody said,' quoth he,
'That 'twas a famous victory.
'Who put the French to rout;
'But what they killed each other for,
I could not well make out.
But everybody said,' quoth he,
'That 'twas a famous victory.
'My father liv'd at Blenheim then,
Yon little stream hard by;
They burn'd his dwelling to the ground,
And he was forc'd to fly;
So with his wife and child he fled,
Nor had he where to rest his head.
Yon little stream hard by;
They burn'd his dwelling to the ground,
And he was forc'd 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 infant died.
But things like that, you know, must be
At every famous victory.
Was wasted far and wide,
And many a childing mother then
And new-born infant 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
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 Marlbrough ⟨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 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 every body prais'd the duke,
Who such a 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.'
Southey.
Who such a 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.'
Southey.
FINIS.