The poetical works of Sir Walter Scott, with memoir of the author.

THE FIELD OF WATERLOO.

253

" 0, that he had but died!." I1
But yet, to sum this hour of ill,
Look, ere thou leavest the fatal hill,
Back on yon broken ranksUpon whose wild confusion gleams
The moon, as on the troubled streams
When rivers break their banks,
And, to the ruin'd peasant's eye,
Objects half seen roll swiftly by,
Down the dread current hurl'dSo mingle banner, wain, and gun,
Where the tumultuous flight rolls on
Of warriors, who, when morn begun,2
Defied a banded world.
XVI.
List-frequent to the hurrying rout,
The stern pursuers' vengeful shout
Tells, that upon their broken rear
l [The MS. adds,
" That pang survived, refuse not then
To humble thee before the men,
Late objects of thy scorn and hate,
Who shall thy once-imperial fate
Make wordy theme of vain debate
And chaffer for thy crown;
As usurers wont, who suck the all
Of the fool-hardy prodigal,
When on the giddy dice's fall
His latest hope has flown.
But yet, to sum," &c.]
2 [MS.-" Where in one tide of terror run
The warriors that, when morn begun."]