trad
Gale Huntington collected it from the journal of the Cortes (1847). Eliza Carthy wrote in 2017: “It’s so good and tempting to think about this in modern terms. It’s as if they knew worse rulers, espousing freedom, were to come than the ones who betrayed Napoleon in his final days. Not spitting maybe, but Twitting?”
Eliza Carthy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmFP905gA9w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmFP905gA9w
One night sad and languid I went to my bed; I scarcely declined on my pillow, When a vision surprising came into my head, I thought I was crossing the billow. I dreamt, as my vessel dashed over the deep, I beheld a huge rock standing craggy and steep That rock where the widows were once known to weep O’er the grave of that once famed Napoleon Now I dreamt, as my vessel drew near to the land, I beheld, clad in green, a bold figure, With the trumpet of fame he held in his hand, On his brow there was valour and vigour. “A stranger,” cried he, “Dost thou venture to me From the land of thy sires-Old England-where they boast they are free? Now a story, a true story, I tell unto thee Concerning that once-famed Napoleon.” “Now remember the years were immortally told I crossed through the Alps, famed in story; For the legions of France were the sons of my pride, I led them them to honour and glory. ‘Twas on the fields of Marengo where I tyranny uphurled. My banner, the Eagle, was ever unfurled To a standard of freedom all over the world, To the signal of fame,” cried Napoleon. Now, as a soldier, I’ve borne both the heat and the cold, I’ve marched to the trump and the cymbal. By the dark deeds of tragedy I have been sold Though mortals before me did tremble. You rulers and princes their stations demean Like scorpions they spat out their venomous feen But as liberty all over the world shall be seen,” As I awoke from my dreams, cried Napoleon.