Felicia Dorothea Hemans(1793–1835)
Casabianca
The boy stood on the burning deck
Whence all but he had fled;
4. "Young Casabianca, a boy about thirteen yearswhen the flames had reached the powder"
old, son to the Admiral of the Orient, remained at [Hemans's note]. In the Battle of the Nile (August
his post (in the Battle of the Nile) after the ship 1, 1798), British admiral Horatio Nelson captured
had taken fire, and all the guns had been aban- and destroyed the French fleet in Aboukir Bay. Cf.
doned; and perished in the explosion of the vessel, Elizabeth Bishop, "Casabianca (p. 1515).
The flame that lit the battle's wreck
Shone round him o'er the dead.
Yet beautiful and bright he stood,
As born to rule the storm;
A creature of heroic blood,
A proud, though childlike form.
The flames roll'd on—he would not go
Without his father's word;
That father, faint in death below,
His voice no longer heard.
He cali'd aloud:—"Say, Father, say
If yet my task is done
He knew not that the chieftain lay
Unconscious of his son.
"Speak, Father! once again he cried,
"If I may yet be gone!
And but the booming shots replied,
And fast the flames roll'd on.
Upon his brow he felt their breath,
And in his waving hair,
And look'd from that lone post of death
In still, yet brave despair.
And shouted but once more aloud,
"My Father! must I stay
While o'er him fast, through sail and shroud,
The wreathing fires made way.
They wrapt the ship in splendor wild,
They caught the flag on high,
And stream'd above the gallant child,
Like banners in the sky.
There came a burst of thunder sound—
The boy—oh! where was he
Ask of the winds that far around
With fragments strew'd the sea!—
With mast, and helm, and pennon 0 fair,long narrow flag
That well had borne their part,
But the noblest thing which perish'd there
Was that young faithful heart!