Feast on, stern foe of mortal life, Feast on!--but think not that a strife, With such promiscuous carnage rife, Protracted space may last; The deadly tug of war at length Must limits find in human strength, And cease when these are pass’d. Vain hope!--that morn’s o’erclouded sun Heard the wild shout of fight begun Ere he attain’d his height, And through the war-smoke volumed high, Still peals that unremitted cry, Though now he stoops to night. For ten long hours of doubt and dread, Fresh succours from the extended head Of either hill the contest fed; Still down the slope they drew, The charge of columns paused not, Nor ceased the storm of shell and shot; For all that war could do Of skill and force was proved that day, And turn’d not yet the doubtful fray On bloody Waterloo. IX. Pale Brussels! then what thoughts were thine, When ceaseless from the distant line Continued thunders came! Each burgher held his breath, to hear These forerunners of havock near, Of rapine and of flame. What ghastly sights were thine to meet, When, rolling through thy stately street, The wounded shew’d their mangled plight In token of the unfinish’d fight, And from each anguish-laden wain The blood-drops laid thy dust like rain! How often in the distant drum Heard’st thou the fell Invader come, While Ruin, shouting to his band, Shook high her torch and gory brand!-- Cheer thee, fair City! From yon stand, Impatient, still his outstretch’d hand Points to his prey in vain, While maddening in his eager mood, And all unwont to be withstood, He fires the fight again. X. “On! On!” was still his stern exclaim; “Confront the battery’s jaws of flame! “Rush on the levell’d gun! “My steel-clad cuirassiers, advance! “Each Hulan forward with his lance, “My Guard--my chosen--charge for France, “France and Napoleon!” Loud answer’d their acclaiming shout, Greeting the mandate which sent out Their bravest and their best to dare The fate their leader shunn’d to share. But He, his country’s sword and shield, Still in the battle-front reveal’d, Where danger fiercest swept the field, Came like a beam of light, In action prompt, in sentence brief-- “Soldiers, stand firm,” exclaim’d the Chief, “England shall tell the fight!” XI.