History & Politics
On a Portrait of the Duke of Wellington upon the Field of Waterloo, by Haydon
From Poetical Works, ed. Knight (1896), vol. VIII
By Art’s bold privilege Warrior and War-horse stand
On ground yet strewn with their last battle’s wreck;
Let the Steed glory while his Master’s hand
Lies fixed for ages on his conscious neck;
But by the Chieftain’s look, though at his side
Hangs that day’s treasured sword, how firm a check
Is given to triumph and all human pride!
Yon trophied Mound shrinks to a shadowy speck
In his calm presence! Him the mighty deed
Elates not, brought far nearer the grave’s rest,
As shows that time-worn face, for he such seed
Has sown as yields, we trust, the fruit of fame
In Heaven; hence no one blushes for thy name,
Conqueror, ’mid some sad thoughts, divinely blest!
Cite this poem
MLA
Wordsworth, William. “On a Portrait of the Duke of Wellington upon the Field of Waterloo, by Haydon.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/801/.
Chicago
Wordsworth, William. “On a Portrait of the Duke of Wellington upon the Field of Waterloo, by Haydon.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/801/.
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