THE sun shines on the chamber wall, The sun shines through the tree, Now, though unshaken by the wind, The leaves fall ceaselessly; The bells from Woodstock's steeple Shake Blenheim's fading bough. "This day you won Malplaquet," -- "Aye, something then, but now!" They lead the old man to a chair, Wandering, pale and weak; His thin lips move -- so faint the sound You scarce can hear him speak. They lift a picture from the wall, Bold eyes and swelling brow; "The day you won Malplaquet," -- "Aye, something then, but now!" They reach him down a rusty sword, In faded velvet sheath: The old man drops the heavy blade, And mutters 'tween his teeth; There's sorrow in his fading eye, And pain upon his brow; "With this you won Malplaquet," -- "Aye, something then, but now!" Another year, a stream of lights Flows down the avenue; A mile of mourners, sable clad, Walk weeping two by two; The steward looks into the grave With sad and downcast brow: "This day he won Malplaquet, -- Aye, something then, but now!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: 31 by PHILIP SIDNEY THE ROSES ON THE TERRACE by ALFRED TENNYSON BILL'S LENGTH by ALEXANDER ANDERSON LILIES: 7. BEHIND by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) STANZAS ON THE DEATH OF THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE by BERNARD BARTON |