Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO THE MEMORY OF GENERAL SIR EDWARD PAKENHAM, by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS


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TO THE MEMORY OF GENERAL SIR EDWARD PAKENHAM, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Brave spirit! Mourned with fond regret
Last Line: And long may england mourn a son without reproach or fear.
Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea
Subject(s): New Orleans, Battle Of (1815); Pakenham, Sir Edward Michael (1778-1815)


BRAVE spirit! mourned with fond regret,
Lost in life's pride, in valor's noon,
Oh! who could deem thy star should set
So darkly and so soon!

Fatal, though bright, the fire of mind
Which marked and closed thy brief career;
And the fair wreath, by Hope entwined,
Lies withered on thy bier.

The soldier's death hath been thy doom,
The soldier's tear thy meed shall be;
Yet, son of war! a prouder tomb
Might Fate have reared for thee.

Thou shouldst have died, O high-souled chief!
In those bright days of glory fled,
When triumph so prevailed o'er grief,
We scarce could mourn the dead.

Noontide of fame! each tear-drop then
Was worthy of a warrior's grave:
When shall affection weep again
So proudly o'er the brave?

There, on the battle-fields of Spain,
'Midst Roncesvalles' mountain-scene,
Or on Vittoria's blood-red plain,
Meet had thy deathbed been.

We mourn not that a hero's life
Thus in its ardent prime should close;
Hadst thou but fallen in nobler strife,
But died 'midst conquered foes!

Yet hast thou still (though victory's flame
In that last moment cheered thee not)
Left Glory's isle another name, That ne'er may be forgot:

And many a tale of triumph won,
Shall breathe that name in Memory's ear,
And long may England mourn a son Without reproach or fear.





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