III. Believe me, while in bed you lay, Each eye look'd and seem'd to say, up "How can we do without her?" IV. Besides (which vex'd us worse) we knew In the place where you were going. LABERIUS. The BATTLE of BLENHEIM. By ROBERT SOUTHEY. I. It was a summer evening, Old Kaspar's work was done; II. She saw her brother Peterkin Roll something large and round, That he beside the rivulet In playing there had found; He came to ask what he had found, That was so large, and smooth, and round. III. Old Kaspar took it from the boy And then the old man shook his head, And with a natural sigh, "Tis some poor fellow's scull, said he, Who fell in the great victory. IV. I find them in the garden, for And often when I go to plough, The ploughshare turns them out; thousand men, said he, For many Were slain in the great victory. V. Now tell us what 'twas all about, And little Wilhelmine looks up With wonder-waiting eyes; Now tell us all about the war, VI. It was the English, Kaspar cried, But every body said, quoth he, VII. My father lived at Blenheim then, They burnt his dwelling to the ground So with his wife and child he fled, Nor had he where to rest his head VIII. With fire and sword the country round Was wasted far and wide, And many a childing mother then, And new-born infant died. But things like that, you know, must be At every famous victory. IX. They say it was a shocking sight Lay rotting in the sun; But things like that you know must be After a famous victory. X. Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won, XI. And every body praised the Duke But what good came of it at last ? Quoth little Peterkin. Why that I cannot tell, said he, |