The Harvey Lecture Series 81, 1985-1986 (Harvey Lectures Series)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875 edition. Excerpt: ...and still kept his mournful attitude. 10. Oh, how overwhelming was the grief that could so master that stern heart The magnificent spectacle of the day that had passed, the glorious victory he had won, were remembered no more, --he saw only his dying friend before him. No sobs escaped him, but silent and motionless he sat, his pallid face buried in his hands and his noble heart wrung with agony. 11. Darkness drew her curtain over the scene, and the stars came out, one after another, in the sky. At length the moon rose above the hills, bathing in her soft beams the tented host, while the flames from burning villages in the distance shed a lurid light through the gloom, --and all was sad, mournful, yet sublime. 12. There was the dark cottage with the sentinels at the door, in which Duroc lay dying, and there, too, was the solitary tent of Napoleon, and within, the bowed form of the Emperor. Around it, at a distance, stood the squares of the Old Guard, and nearer, a silent group of chieftains, while over all lay the pale moonlight. 13. These brave soldiers, filled with grief to see their beloved chief borne down with such sorrow, stood for a long time silent and tearful. At length, to break the mournful silence, and to express the sympathy they might not speak, the bands struck up a requiem for the dying marshal. The melancholy strains arose, and fell in prolonged echoes over the field, and swept in soft cadences on the ear of the fainting warrior, --but still Napoleon moved not. 14. They then changed the measure to a triumphant strain, and the thrilling trumpets breathed forth their most joyful notes, till the heavens rang with the melody. Such bursts of music had welcomed Napoleon as he returned, flushed with victory, till his eye kindled in