CARCASSONNE.

(From the French of Gustave Nadaud.)

M. E. W. SHERWOOD.

How old I am! I'm eighty years!
I've worked both hard and long.
Yet, patient as my life has been,
One dearest sight I have not seen

It almost seems a wrong.

Alas, our dreams! they come not true; I thought to see fair Carcassonne !

I have not seen fair Carcassonne !

One sees it dimly from the height
Beyond the mountain blue;

Fain would I walk five weary leagues -
I do not mind the road's fatigues —

Through morn and evening's dew;

But bitter frosts would fall at night,

And on the grapes that yellow blight! I could not go to Carcassonne,

I never went to Carcassonne.

They say it is as gay all times
As holidays at home;

The gentles ride in gay attire,
And in the sun each gilded spire
Shoots up like those of Rome!

The bishop the procession leads,
The generals curb their prancing steeds

Alas! I know not Carcassonne !

Alas! I saw not Carcassonne !

Our Vicar's right; he preaches loud,
And bids us to beware.

He

says: O guard the weakest part, And most the traitor in the heart,

Against ambition's snare!"

Perhaps in autumn I can find

Two sunny days with gentle wind;

I then could go to Carcassonne,
I still could go to Carcassonne.

My God and Father! pardon me
If this my wish offends!

One sees some hope more high than he,
In age as in his infancy,

To which his heart ascends !

My wife, my son, have seen Narbonne, My grandson went to Perpignan ;

But I have not seen Carcassonne,

But I have not seen Carcassonne.

Thus sighed a peasant, bent with age, Half dreaming in his chair.

I said, "My friend, come go with me To-morrow; these thine eyes shall see Those streets that seem so fair."

That night there came, for passing soul, The church bell's low and solemn toll! He never saw gay Carcassonne.

Who has not known a Carcassonne ?

INCIDENT OF THE FRENCH

CAMP.

ROBERT BROWNING.

You know we French stormed Ratisbon:

A mile or so away,

On a little mound, Napoleon

Stood on our storming-day ;

With neck out-thrust, you fancy how,
Legs wide, arms locked behind,
As if to balance the prone brow,
Oppressive with its mind.

Just as, perhaps, he mused, "My plans That soar, to earth may fall,

Let once my army-leader Lannes

Waver at yonder wall,"

Out 'twixt the battery-smokes there flew

A rider bound on bound

Full-galloping; nor bridle drew

Until he reached the mound.

Then off there flung in smiling joy,
And held himself erect

By just his horse's mane, a boy :
You hardly could suspect,

(So tight he kept his lips compressed,
Scarce any blood came through,)

You looked twice ere you saw his breast

Was all but shot in two.

"Well," cried he, "Emperor, by God's grace

We've got you Ratisbon !
The marshal's in the market-place,
And you'll be there anon

To see your flag-bird flap his vans.

Where I, to heart's desire,

Perched him!" The chief's eye flashed; his

plans

Soared up again like fire.