Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Africa: Vol. XXIV. 1876–79.
Napoleon in Bivouac
By Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810–1876)A
Two trenches—arms in stack—
A pyramid of bayonets—
Napoleon’s bivouac!
Of Kleber’s vanguard see!
The general to inspect them sits—
Close by the blaze sits he.
There, by the glowing heap,
Softly the mighty Bonaparte
Sinks, like a child to sleep.
His soldiers, too, sleep well,
And, leaning on his musket, nods
The very sentinel.
Sleep out your last hard fight!
Mute, shadowy sentinels shall keep
Watch round your trench to-night.
Let man and steed come on!
To guard your line stalks many a strong
And stalwart Champion.
When you from Thebes marched back,
Who after King Cambyses strode,
Hard in his chariot’s track.
Stands sentry by your line,
Who saw on Ammon’s plain the crown
Of Alexander shine.
Old Nile has known him well;
An Admiral of Cæsar’s fleet,
Who under Cæsar fell.
Beneath the desert-sands,
Send forth their dead, his guard to keep,
Who now the world commands.
Around the midnight flame;
The sand and mould I see them shake
From many a mail-clad frame.
With wild and lurid light;
Old, bloody purple mantles stream
Out on the winds of night.
By boiling passion stirred;
The hero, as in anger, now,
Deep-breathing, grasps his sword.
Erect him each a throne;
High on a car, with golden beam,
He sits as Ammon’s son.
The glowing Orient cries,
While at his feet the fire grows dim,
Gives one faint flash—and dies.