An Incident of the French Camp

An Incident of the French Camp by Robert Browning

Was included in the volume out of regard to a boy of eight years who did not care for many poems, but this one stirred his heart to its depths. A story of modest heroism. The incident related is said by Mrs. Orr to be a true one of the siege of Ratisbon by Napoleon in 1809—except that the real hero was a man. I. Ratisbon: (German Regensburg), an ancient city of Bavaria on the right bank of the Danube, has endured seventeen sieges since the tenth century, the last one being that of Napoleon, 18O9. II. Lannes: Duke of Montebello, one of Napoleon's generals.

    You know, we French storm'd Ratisbon:
      A mile or so away
    On a little mound, Napoleon
      Stood on our storming-day;
    With neck out-thrust, you fancy how,
      Legs wide, arms lock'd behind,
    As if to balance the prone brow
      Oppressive with its mind.

    Just as perhaps he mus'd "My plans
      That soar, to earth may fall,
    Let once my army leader Lannes
      Waver at yonder wall,"--
    Out 'twixt the battery smokes there flew
      A rider, bound on bound
    Full-galloping; nor bridle drew
      Until he reach'd the mound.

    Then off there flung in smiling joy,
      And held himself erect
    By just his horse's mane, a boy:
      You hardly could suspect--
    (So tight he kept his lips compress'd,
      Scarce any blood came through)
    You look'd twice ere you saw his breast
      Was all but shot in two.

   "Well," cried he, "Emperor, by God's grace
      We've got you Ratisbon!
    The Marshal's in the market-place,
      And you'll be there anon
    To see your flag-bird flap his vans
      Where I, to heart's desire,
    Perched him!" The chief's eye flashed; his plans
      Soared up again like fire.

    The chief's eye flashed; but presently
      Softened itself, as sheathes
    A film the mother-eagle's eye
      When her bruised eaglet breathes;
   "You're wounded!" "Nay," the soldier's pride
      Touched to the quick, he said:
   "I'm killed, Sire!" And his chief beside,
      Smiling the boy fell dead.

This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.