By rule compact a people drunk with rapture, And torn by counter forces, had to fight The royalists of Europe who beheld Their peoples feverish from the great infection, Who hoped to stamp the plague in France and stop Its spread to them. Your England understands. Save Castlereagh and Wellington and Southey. But look you, sir, my roads, canals and harbors, My schools, finance, my code, the manufactures Arts, sciences I builded, democratic Triumphs which I won will live for ages-- These are my witnesses, will testify Forever what I was and meant to do. The ideas which I brought to power will stifle All royalty, all feudalism--look They live in England, they illuminate America, they will be faith, religion For every people--these I kindled, carried Their flaming torch through Europe as the chief Torch bearer, soldier, representative." You were not there, Gourgaud--but wait a minute, I choke with tears and laughter. Listen now: Sir Hudson Lowe looked at the Emperor Contemptuous but not the less bewitched. And when the Emperor finished, out he drawled "You make me smile." Why that is memorable: It should be carved upon Sir Hudson's stone. He was a prophet, founder of the sect Of smilers and of laughers through the world, Smilers and laughers that the Emperor Told every whit the truth. Look you at Europe, What were it in this day except for France, Napoleon's France, the revolution's France? What will it be as time goes on but peoples Made free through France? I take the good and ill, Think over how he lounged, lay late in bed, Spent long hours in the bath, counted the hours, Pale, broken, wracked with pain, insulted, watched, His child torn from him, Josephine and wife Silent or separate, waiting long for death, Looking with filmed eyes upon his wings Broken, upon the rocks stretched out to gain A little sun, and crying to the sea With broken voice--I weep when I remember Such things which you and I from day to day Beheld, nor could not mitigate. But then There is that night of thunder, and the dawning And all that day of storm and toward the evening He says: "Deploy the eagles!" "Onward!" Well, I leave the room and say to Steward there: "The Emperor is dead." That very moment A crash of thunder deafened us. You see A great age boomed in thunder its renewal-- Drink to me, clasp my hand, embrace me, friend. DRAW THE SWORD, O REPUBLIC! By the blue sky of a clear vision, And by the white light of a great illumination, And by the blood-red of brotherhood, Draw the sword, O Republic! Draw the sword!