Once bravely at Vimiera They hoped to play their parts, And sing fal lira, lira, To cheer their drooping hearts. But English, Scotch, and Paddy whacks, We gave three hearty cheers, And the French soon turned their backs To the British Grenadiers. At St. Sebastiano, And Badajos’s town, Though raging like volcanoes The shell and shot came down, With courage never wincing, We scaled the ramparts high, And waved the British ensign In glorious victory. And what could Bonaparte, With all his cuirassiers, In battle do, at Waterloo, With British Grenadiers? Then ever sweet the drum shall beat That march unto our ears, Whose martial roll awake the soul Of British Grenadiers. THOMAS CAMPBELL. ―――― BROOK GREEN VOLUNTEER. Some talk of Alexander, And some of Wellington, Of Blucher and Lysander, And of Napoleon. But of all the gallant heroes, There’s none for to compare, With his Quick march! to the right about! Face! To the Brook Green Volunteer. Without the least occasion, He rushes to the field, From peril of invasion Old Hammersmith to shield. The geese loud cackling round him, The donkies braying near, Appal not the truly British heart Of the Brook Green Volunteer. Retreating do not mention, Nor talk of War’s alarms, When Duty cries, Attention! And Valour, Shoulder Arms! The soul despises danger, The bosom knows no fear Of that fine, handsome, spirited young man, The Brook Green Volunteer. In spite of vilest weather Erect, and proud of mien, Each night, for hours together, He guards his native Green; Catarrh and cough defying, No matter how severe; What a downright, thorough-going trump Is the Brook Green Volunteer! At this inclement season The hero must be bold, For no particular reason To brave a death of cold. Then yield the palm of glory, And stand a drop of beer To that gay, gallant, promising recruit, The Brook Green Volunteer. _Punch._ February 28, 1846. This parody refers to the rumours of a threatened invasion of England by the Prince de Joinville, and ridicules the proposals then made to call out the Militia. There was another parody of this song in _Punch_, 1849, relating how two Grenadiers robbed two French National Guards during their visit to London. The parody, entitled “The Blackguard Grenadier,” commenced thus:―― “Most regiments have some varlet, Some rascal mean and base, A stain upon their scarlet, Their scandal and disgrace.”