CASABIANCA
*by: Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793-1835)*
The story relates to an extraordinary incident of devotion and heroism
witnessed during the Battle of the Nile,on the evening of July 28 of 1798.
HE boy stood on the burning deck Whence all but him had fled;The
flame that lit the battle's wreckShone round him o'er the dead.
Yet beautiful and bright he stood,As born to rule the storm; A
creature of heroic blood,A proud, though childlike form.
The flames rolled on -- he would not goWithout his father's word;That
father, faint in death below, His voice no longer heard.
He called aloud -- "Say, father, say,If yet my task is done?"He knew
not that the chieftain layUnconscious of his son.
"Speak, father!" once again he cried,"If I may yet be gone!"And but
the booming shots replied,And fast the flames rolled on.
Upon his brow he felt their breath, And in his waving hair,And looked
from that lone post of deathIn still, yet brave despair.
And shouted but once more aloud,"My father! must I stay?"While o'er
him fast, through sail and shroud, The wreathing fires made way.
They wrapt the ship in splendor wild,They caught the flag on high,And
streamed above the gallant child,Like banners in the sky.
There came a burst of thunder sound--The boy -- oh! where was he?Ask
of the winds that far aroundWith fragments strewed the sea!--
With mast, and helm, and pennon fair That well had borne their part--But
the noblest thing that perished thereWas that young, faithful heart.
*
* <http://sig.graphicsfactory.com/>*
நல்லதுசெய் நல்லதே நடக்கும்
*जन सेवा ईश्वर सेवा *
*cnu.pne*
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