Classic Poem

Alone to the banks of the dark-rolling Danube
Fair Adelaide hied when the battle was o'er:
‘Oh, whither,’ she cried, ‘hast thou wandered, my lover?
Or here dost thou welter and bleed on the shore?

‘What voice did I hear? 'twas my Henry that sighed!’
All mournful she hastened; nor wandered she far,
When, bleeding and low, on the heath she descried
By the light of the moon her poor wounded Hussar!

From his bosom that heaved the last torrent was streaming,
And pale was his visage, deep marked with a scar!
And dim was that eye, once expressively beaming,
That melted in love and that kindled in war!

How smit was poor Adelaide's heart at the sight!
How bitter she wept o'er the victim of war!
‘Hast thou come, my fond Love, this last sorrowful night,
To cheer the lone heart of your wounded Hussar?’

‘Thou shalt live,’ she replied: ‘Heaven's mercy relieving
Each anguishing wound, shall forbid me to mourn!’
Ah, no! the last pang of my bosom is heaving!
No light of the morn shall to Henry return!

‘Thou charmer of life, ever tender and true!
Ye babes of my love, that await me afar—’
His faltering tongue scarce could murmur adieu,
When he sunk in her arms—the poor wounded Hussar!