The Knickerbocker Gallery/The Emperor's Bird's Nest
For other versions of this work, see The Emperor's Bird's-Nest.
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Henry W. Longfellow
The Emperor's Bird's-Nest.
By H. W. Longfellow.
Once the Emperor Charles of Spain, With his swarthy, grave commanders,I forget in what campaign, Long besieged in mud and rain Some old frontier town of Flanders.
Up and down the dreary camp, In great boots of Spanish leather,Striding with a measured tramp,These Hidalgos, dull and damp, Cursed the Frenchmen, cursed the weather.
Thus, as to and fro they went, Over upland and through hollow,Giving their impatience vent,Perched upon the Emperor's tent, In her nest they spied a swallow.
Yes, it was a swallow's nest, Built of clay and hair of horses'Mane or tail, or dragon's crest,Found on hedge-rows, east or west, After skirmish of the forces.
Then an old Hidalgo said, As he twirled his gray mustachio,"Sure this swallow over-headThinks our Emperor's tent a shed, And our Emperor but a Macho!'[1]
Hearing his imperial name Coupled with these words of malice,Half in anger, half in shame,Forth the great campaigner came, Slowly from his canvas palace.
"Let no hand the bird molest," Said he, solemnly, "nor hurt her!"Adding then, by way of jest,"Golondrina is my guest; 'T is the wife of some deserter!"[2]
Swift as bow-string speeds a shaft, Through the camp was spread the rumor;And the soldiers, as they quaffedFlemish beer at dinner, laughed At the Emperor's pleasant humor.
So, unharmed and unafraid, There the swallow sat and brooded.Till the constant cannonadeThrough the walls a breach had made, And the siege was thus concluded.
Then the army, elsewhere bent, Struck its tents as if disbanding;Only not the Emperor's tent,For he ordered ere he went, Very curtly, "Leave it standing!"
And it stood there all alone, Loosely flapping, torn and tattered,Till the brood was fledged and flown,Singing o'er those walls of stone, That the cannon-shot had shattered.