PERSONS “ Pull hard , and make the Nothe , or down we go ! ” one says , says he . We pulled ; and bedtime brought the storm ; but snug at home slept we . Yet all the while our gallants after fighting through the day , Were beating up and down the dark , sou ’ - west of Cadiz Bay . The dark , The dark , Sou ’ - west of Cadiz Bay ! PERSONS Traverse the waters borne by one of such ; and thereto Bonaparte 's responses are : I “ The principles of honour and of truth which ever actuate the sender 's mind “ Herein are written largely ! Take our thanks : we read that this conjuncture undesigned I “ Unfolds felicitous means of showing you that still our eyes are set , as yours , on peace , “ To which great end the Treaty of Amiens must be the ground - work of our amities . ” I From London then : “ The path to amity the King of England studies to pursue ; “ With Russia hand in hand he is yours to close the long convulsions thrilling Europe through . ” I Still fare the shadowy missioners across , by Dover-road and Calais Channel-track , From Thames-side towers to Paris palace-gates ; from Paris leisurely to London back . I Till thus speaks France : “ Much grief it gives us that , being pledged to treat , one Emperor with one King , “ You yet have struck a jarring counternote and tone that keys not with such promising . I “ In these last word , then , of this pregnant parle ; I trust I may persuade your Excellency “ That in no circumstance , on no pretence , a party to our pact can Russia be . ” “ We gather not from your Imperial lines a reason why our words should be reweighed . I “ We hold Russia not as our ally that is to be : she stands fully - plighted so ; “ Thus trembles peace upon this balance-point : will you that Russia be let in or no ? ” I Then France rolls out rough words across the strait : “ To treat with you confederate with the Tsar , “ Presumes us sunk in sloughs of shamefulness from which we yet stand gloriously afar ! I “ The English army must be Flanders-fed , and entering Picardy with pompous prance , “ To warrant such ! Enough . Our comfort is , the crime of further strife lies not with France . ” Bursts into running flame , that all his signs of friendliness were met by moves for war . I Attend and hear , for hear ye faintly may , his manifesto made at Erfurt town , That to arms only dares he now confide the safety and the honour of his crown ! The Spanish people , handled in such sort , As chattels of a Court , Dream dreams of England . Messengers are sent In secret to the assembled Parliament , In faith that England 's hand Will stouten them to stand , And crown a cause which , hold they , bond and free Must advocate enthusiastically . PERSONS What can we wish for more ? Thanks to the frost and flood We are grinning crones — thin bags of bones Who once were flesh and blood . So foolish Life adieu , And ingrate Leader too . — Ah , but we loved you true ! Yet — he-he-he ! and ho-ho-ho !— We 'll never return to you .The fire sinks and goes out ; but the Frenchmen do not move . The day dawns , and still they sit on . In the background enter some light horse of the Russian army , followed by KUTUZOF himself and a few of his staff . He presents a terrible appearance now — bravely serving though slowly dying , his face puffed with the intense cold , his one eye staring out as he sits in a heap in the saddle , his head sunk into his shoulders . The whole detachment pauses at the sight of the French asleep . They shout ; but the bivouackers give no sign . They distracted and delayed us By the pleasant pranks they played us , And what marvel , then , if troopers , even of regiments of renown , On whom flashed those eyes divine , O , Should forget the countersign , O , As we tore CLINK ! CLINK ! back to camp above the town .