LV.

Suwarrow chiefly was on the alert,

Surveying, drilling, ordering, jesting, pondering; For the man was, we safely may assert,

A thing to wonder at beyond most wondering; Hero, buffoon, half-demon, and half-dirt,

Praying, instructing, desolating, plundering; Now Mars, now Momus; and when bent to storm A fortress, Harlequin in uniform.

LIV.

The day before the assault, while upon drill-
For this great conqueror play'd the corporal—
Some Cossacques, hovering like hawks round a hill,
Had met a party towards the twilight's fall,
One of whom spoke their tongue- or well or ill,

'Twas much that he was understood at all;

But whether from his voice, or speech, or manner, They found that he had fought beneath their banner.

LVII.

Whereon immediately at his request

They brought him and his comrades to head

quarters;

Their dress was Moslem, but you might have guess'd
That these were merely masquerading Tartars,
And that beneath each Turkish-fashion'd vest
Lurk'd Christianity; which sometimes barters
Her inward grace for outward show, and makes
It difficult to shun some strange mistakes.

LVIII.

Suwarrow, who was standing in his shirt
Before a company of Calmucks, drilling,
Exclaiming, fooling, swearing at the inert,

And lecturing on the noble art of killing,-
For deeming human clay but common dirt,
This great philosopher was thus instilling
His maxims, which to martial comprehension
Proved death in battle equal to a pension ;—

LIX.

Suwarrow, when he saw this company

[cast

Of Cossacques and their prey, turn'd round and Upon them his slow brow and piercing eye:- [last,

"Whence come ye?"-" From Constantinople Captives just now escaped," was the reply. [pass'd "What are ye?”. "What you see us." Briefly

This dialogue; for he who answer'd knew

To whom he spoke, and made his words but few.

"Your names?"

LX.

"Mine's Johnson, and my com

rade's Juan;

The other two are women, and the third

Is neither man nor woman. The chief threw on The party a slight glance, then said, "I have heard Your name before, the second is a new one:

To bring the other three here was absurd: But let that pass :-I think I have heard your name In the Nikolaiew regiment?"- "The same."

"You were the first i' the breach?"- "I was not slack

At least to follow those who might be so." "What follow'd?"-" A shot laid me on my back, And I became a prisoner to the foe."

"You shall have vengeance, for the town surrounded Is twice as strong as that where you were wounded.

LXII.

"Where will you serve?"

“Where'er you please."

"I know

You like to be the hope of the forlorn, And doubtless would be foremost on the foe After the hardships you've already borne.

And this young

fellow-say

what can he do?

He with the beardless chin and garments torn?" "Why, general, if he hath no greater fault In war than love, he had better lead the assault."

LXIII.

"He shall if that he dare." Here Juan bow'd
Low as the compliment deserved. Suwarrow
Continued: "Your old regiment's allow'd,
By special providence, to lead to-morrow,
Or it may be to-night, the assault: I have vow'd
To several saints, that shortly plough or harrow
Shall pass o'er what was Ismail, and its tusk
Be unimpeded by the proudest mosque.

LXIV.

"So now, my lads, for glory!"— Here he turn'd And drill'd away in the most classic Russian, Until each high, heroic bosom burn'd

For cash and conquest, as if from a cushion

A preacher had held forth (who nobly spurn'd [on All earthly goods save tithes) and bade them push To slay the Pagans who resisted, battering

The armies of the Christian Empress Catherine.

LXV.

Johnson, who knew by this long colloquy
Himself a favourite, ventured to address
Suwarrow, though engaged with accents high
In his resumed amusement. "I confess
My debt in being thus allow'd to die

Among the foremost; but if you'd express
Explicitly our several posts, my friend
And self would know what duty to attend."

LXVI.

"Right! I was busy, and forgot. Why, you
Will join your former regiment, which should be
Now under arms. Ho! Katskoff, take him to-
(Here he call'd up a Polish orderly)
His post, I mean the regiment Nikolaiew:

The stranger stripling may remain with me;
He's a fine boy. The women may be sent
To the other baggage, or to the sick tent."

LXVII.

But here a sort of scene began to ensue :
The ladies,-who by no means had been bred
To be disposed of in a way so new,

Although their haram education led

Doubtless to that of doctrines the most true,

Passive obedience,- now raised up the head, With flashing eyes and starting tears, and flung Their arms, as hens their wings about their young,

LXVIII.

O'er the promoted couple of brave men
Who were thus honour'd by the greatest chief
That ever peopled hell with heroes slain,

Or plunged a province or a realm in grief.
Oh, foolish mortals! Always taught in vain!
Oh, glorious laurel! since for one sole leaf
Of thine imaginary deathless tree,

Of blood and tears must flow the unebbing sea.

LXIX.

Suwarrow, who had small regard for tears,

And not much sympathy for blood, survey'd
The women with their hair about their ears
And natural agonies, with a slight shade
Of feeling for however habit sears

[trade

Men's hearts against whole millions, when their

Is butchery, sometimes a single sorrow

Will touch even heroes-and such was Suwarrow.