Louis Napoleon's Address to His Army

Guards! who at Smolensko fled--
No--I beg your pardon--bled!
For my Uncle blood you've shed,
Do the same for me.

Now's the day and now's the hour,
Heads to split and streets to scour;
Strike for rank, promotion, power,
Sawg, and eau de vie.

Who's afraid a child to kill?
Who respects a shopman's till?
Who would pay a tailor's bill?
Let him turn and flee.

Who would burst a goldsmith's door,
Shoot a dun, or sack a store?
Let him arm, and go before--
That is, follow me!

See the mob, to madness riled,
Up the barricades have piled;
In among them, man and child,
Unrelentingly!

Shoot the men! there's scarcely one
In a dozen's got a gun:
Stop them, if they try to run,
With artillery!

Shoot the boys! each one may grow
Into--of the state--a foe
(Meaning by the state, you know,
My supremacy!)

Shoot the girls and women old!
Those may bear us traitors bold--
These may be inclined to scold
Our severity.

Sweep the streets of all who may
Rashly venture in the way,
Warning for a future day
Satisfactory.

Then, when still'd is ev'ry voice,
We, the nation's darling choice,
Calling on them to rejoice,
Tell them, FRANCE IS FREE.