10 Then off there flung in smiling joy, And held himself erect By just his horse's mane, a boy; 5 (So tight he kept his lips compressed, "Well," cried he, "Emperor, by God's grace We've got you Ratisbon! The Marshal's in the market-place, And you'll be there anon To see your flag-bird flap his vans Where I, to heart's desire, 15 Perched him!" The chief's eye flashed; his plans 20 The chief's eye flashed; but presently Softened itself, as sheathes A film the mother-eagle's eye When her bruised eaglet breathes; "You're wounded!" "Nay," his soldier's pride Touched to the quick, he said: "I'm killed, Sire!" And his chief beside, NOTES AND QUESTIONS For Biography see page 87. Historical Note. Ratisbon, a walled city of Bavaria, was besieged in 1809 by Napoleon. The Bavarians made such a vigorous defense for five days that Napoleon's victory was no small achievement. The poem, based on this incident, shows the beauty of a devotion to duty that forgets self. It also shows the admiration of soldiers for such a leader as Napoleon. Discussion. 1. Find lines that verify the statements made in the Introduction on page 95 about this poem. 2. What does the expression, "we French," tell you about the speaker? 3. Where was Napoleon at the time Ratisbon was "stormed"? 4. Describe in your own words the position in which he stood. 5. What were Napoleon's thoughts as he stood on the mound? 6. Why is his sentence not finished? 7. What would Napoleon think when he saw a horse galloping toward him? 8. At what was he surprised? 9. What lines make us feel his shock of horror? 10. What was the boy's message? 11. Had he reason for his "smiling joy"? 12. Why does the poet repeat the words, "The chief's eye flashed"? What did the flashing of the eye show? 13. What different thought caused his eye to soften? 14. To what does the poet compare the softening of Napoleon's eye? 15. Why does the thought of the eagle seem appropriate in connection with Napoleon? 16. Who is the hero of this story? 17. What thought gave him power to smile in spite of his terrible pain? 18. Read the lines from Tennyson on page 93. Why are they especially fitting to introduce a group of selections that includes many stories of heroic adventure? 19. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: prone; oppressive; flag-bird; van. Suggestions for Theme Topics. (Two-Minute Talks.) 1. A true war incident, preferably of the World War. 2. A story illustrating devotion to a leader and a cause. 3. A description of Napoleon's personal ap pearance. A BALLAD OF JOHN SILVER JOHN MASEFIELD We were schooner-rigged and rakish, with a long and lissome hull, And we flew the pretty colors of the cross-bones and the skull; 5 We'd a long brass gun amidship, like a well-conducted ship; We had each a brace of pistols and a cutlass at the hip; It's a point which tells against us, and a fact to be deplored, But we chased the goodly merchant-men and laid their ships aboard. Then the dead men fouled the scuppers, and the wounded filled the chains, And the paint-work all was spatter-dashed with other people's brains; She was boarded, she was looted, she was scuttled till she sank, And the pale survivors left us by the medium of the plank. 5 Oh! then it was (while standing by the taffrail on the poop) We could hear the drowning folk lament the absent chicken coop; Then, having washed the blood away, we'd little else to do Oh! the fiddle on the fo'c's'le, and the slapping naked soles, 10 And the genial "Down the middle, Jake, and curtsey when she rolls!" With the silver seas around us and the pale moon overhead, And the lookout not a-looking and his pipe-bowl glowing red. Ah! the pig-tailed, quidding pirates and the pretty pranks we played All have since been put a stop to by the naughty Board of Trade; 15 The schooners and the merry crews are laid away to rest, A little south the sunset in the Islands of the Blest. NOTES AND QUESTIONS Biography. John Masefield (1875- ) is an English poet. At an early age he took to sea and for several years was a sailor. This experience furnished the basis for Salt-Water Ballads and a collection of short sea-tales. During the World War Masefield made a study for the English government of the campaign on the Gallipoli Peninsula, having taken part in the engagement there, and served in France in Red Cross work. In 1916 the poet lectured in America, arousing great interest in his poetry. Discussion. 1. To whom does "We" refer? 2. What do the skull and cross-bones signify? 3. What was the black Jolly Roger? 4. What body of water was known as the Spanish Water, or Spanish Main? 5. How was the ship armored? 6. How were the sailors armed? For what purpose? 7. What did they do to the merchant ships? What did they do to the crews? 8. How did the pirates amuse themselves? 9. Mention several modern inventions which have forced the pirate to give up his business. 10. The character John Silver is found in the greatest of pirate stories, Treasure Island; have you read the book? 11. Find in the Glossary the meaning of lissome; brace; aboard; scuttled; salts. Phrases for Study fouled the scuppers, 143, 1 medium of the plank, 143, 4 filled the chains, 143, 1 Class Reading. Bring to class and read "The Tarry Buccaneer," Masefield (in Salt-Water Ballads). Suggested Theme Topic. How the American Navy put an end to the Tripolitan piracy. FLEURETTE * (The Wounded Canadian Speaks) ROBERT W. SERVICE My leg? It's off at the knee. Do I miss it? Well, some. You see 5 (I rather chuckle with glee To think how I've fooled that corn.) But I'll hobble around all right. It isn't that, it's my face. 10 Hardly a thing in place; Sort of gargoyle, you'd say. *From Rhymes of a Red Cross Man, by Robert W. Service; published by Barse and Hopkins. Nurse won't give me a glass, But I see the folks as they pass 15 Since I lay with my face to the wall, That poilu across the way, With the shrapnel wound on his head, 20 Has a sister; she came today To sit a while by his bed. Then sudden, a joyous cry; 25 The tripping of little feet; The softest, tenderest sigh; A voice so fresh and sweet, Clear as a silver bell, Fresh as the morning dews: 30 "C'est toi, c'est toi, Marcel! So over the blanket's rim I raised my terrible face, |