Transcription
Bingen on the Rhine. PRICE ONE PENNY. Copies of this very popular recitation can only be had in the Poet's Box, A soldier of the Legion lay dying in Algiers, There was lack of woman's nursing, there was dearth of woman's tears; But a comrade stood beside him, while his life-blood ebbed away' And bent, with pitying glances, to hear what he might say: The dying soldier faltered, as he took that comrade's hand, And he said: "I never more shall see my own, my native land; Take a message and a token to some distant friends of mine, For I was born at Bingen-at Bingen on the Rhine. " Tell my brothers and companions, when they meet and crowd around, To hear my mournful story, in the pleasant vineyard ground, That we fought the battle bravely; and when the day was done, Full many a corpse lay ghastly pale beneath the setting sun. And 'midst the dead and dying were some grown old in wars- The death-wound on their gallant breasts, the last of many scars; But some were young, and suddenly beheld life's morn decline; And one had come from Bingen-fair Bingen on the Rhine. "Tell my mother that her other sons shall comfort her old age, And I was aye a truant bird, that thought his home a cage; For my father was a soldier, and, even as a child, My heart leaped forth to hear him tell of struggles fierce and wild; And when he died, and left us to divide his scanty hoard, I let them take whate'er they would, but kept my father's sword; And with boyish love I hung it where the bright light used to shine, On the cottage wall at Bingen-calm Bingen on the Rhine! "Tell my sister not to weep for me, and sob with drooping head, When the troops are marching home again, with glad and gallant tread; But to look upon them proudly, with a calm and steadfast eye' For her brother was a soldier too, and not afraid to die. And if a comrade seek her love, I ask her in my name To listen to him kindly, without regret or shame; And to hang the old sword in its place (my father's sword and mine), For the honour of old Bingen-dear Bingen on the Rhine! " There's another-not a sister; in the happy days gone by, You'd have known her by the merriment that sparkled in her eye; Too innocent for coquetry-too fond for idly scorning,- O friend, I fear the lightest heart makes sometimes heaviest mourning! Tell her the last night of my life (for ere this moon be risen My body will be out of pain-my soul be out of prison) I dreamed I stood with her, and saw the yellow sunlight shine On the vine-clad hills of Bingen-fair Bingen on the Rhine! "I saw the blue Rhine sweep along; I heard, or seemed to hear, The German songs we used to sing in chorus sweet and clear; And down the pleasant river, and up the slanting hill, That echoing chorus sounded, through the evening calm and still; And her glad blue eyes were on me, as we passed with friendly talk Down many a path beloved of yore, and well-remembered walk; And her little hand lay lightly, confidingly in mine;- But we'll meet no more at Bingen-lovely Bingen on the Rhine!" His voice grew faint and hoarser; his grasp was childish weak; His eyes put on a dying look; he sighed, and ceased to speak. His comrade bent to lift him, but the spark of life had fled; The soldier of the Legion in a foreign land-was dead! And the soft moon rose up slowly, and calmly she looked down On the red sand of the battle-field, with bloody corpses strown Yea, calmly on that dreadful scene her pale light seemed to shine, As it shone on distant Bingen-fair Bingen on the Rhine! Saturday morning, 27th July, 1867.
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Date of publication:
1867 shelfmark: L.C.1269(174)a
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