05.05.2009, 18:57
ON THE MONUMENT, AT LUCERNE,
INSCRIBED,
"FIDEI ET VIRTUTI HELVETIORUM,"
IN MKMORV OF THE SWISS GUARDS OF THE KING OF FKANCE, WHO FELL AT THE TUILERIES, AUGUST l0TH, l792.
The faith and valour of the Swiss, for pay,
But not the pay, this monument records;
Perchance they had it not, and so the words
Duly omitted, leave the rest to say
All that the warriors in Therrnopylai
Wrung from their country, for these chaffering hordes ;
O Fame forbid that any venal swords
Should feel the living glory of thy ray.
What, 'gainst that terrible and ravening crowd,
What ranked them, but mere traffic, and the instinct
Of camp and guard-room, when they sourly died ?
Republicans, to the cause of kings thus linked,
Of palace-stairs and their red story proud,
Think ye with Louis memoi'y to divide ?
INSCRIBED,
"FIDEI ET VIRTUTI HELVETIORUM,"
IN MKMORV OF THE SWISS GUARDS OF THE KING OF FKANCE, WHO FELL AT THE TUILERIES, AUGUST l0TH, l792.
The faith and valour of the Swiss, for pay,
But not the pay, this monument records;
Perchance they had it not, and so the words
Duly omitted, leave the rest to say
All that the warriors in Therrnopylai
Wrung from their country, for these chaffering hordes ;
O Fame forbid that any venal swords
Should feel the living glory of thy ray.
What, 'gainst that terrible and ravening crowd,
What ranked them, but mere traffic, and the instinct
Of camp and guard-room, when they sourly died ?
Republicans, to the cause of kings thus linked,
Of palace-stairs and their red story proud,
Think ye with Louis memoi'y to divide ?