Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Russia: Vol. XX. 1876–79.

Pultowa (Poltava)

Pultowa

By Thomas Campbell (1777–1844)

(From Pleasures of Hope)

FAINT in his wounds and shivering in the blast,

The Swedish soldier sunk,—and groaned his last!

File after file the stormy showers benumb,

Freeze every standard-sheet, and hush the drum!

Horseman and horse confessed the bitter pang,

And arms and warriors fell with hollow clang!

Yet, ere he sunk in Nature’s last repose,

Ere life’s warm torrent to the fountain froze,

The dying man to Sweden turned his eye,

Thought of his home, and closed it with a sigh!

Imperial pride looked sullen on his plight,

And Charles beheld,—nor shuddered at the sight.