Incident of the French Camp by Robert Browning
During the French assault on Ratisbon, a boy with a shattered breast rides to Napoleon and reports that the city is taken and that he has placed the imperial flag there. When Napoleon notices his wound, the boy declares that he is killed and falls dead smiling beside him.
By Robert Browning · Genre: Narrative Poetry, War Poetry · 398 words
First lines
You know, we French stormed Ratisbon: / A mile or so away, / On a little mound, Napoleon / Stood on our storming-day; / With neck out-thrust, you fancy how, / Legs wide, arms locked behind, / As if to balance the prone brow / Oppressive with its mind.
Just as perhaps he mused "My plans / That soar, to earth may fall, / Let once my army-leader Lannes / Waver at yonder wall," -- / Out 'twixt the battery-smokes there flew / A rider, bound on bound / Full-galloping; nor bridle drew / Until he reached the mound.
Genres
- Narrative Poetry — Five rhymed stanzas recount a boy's ride to Napoleon, his report of victory, and his death.
- War Poetry — The assault on Ratisbon supplies the setting for a soldier's delivery of victory news despite a fatal chest wound.
Tags
battle · military messenger · fatal wounds · military pride · death
What this Textopian page supports
Incident of the French Camp is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Browning, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Browning
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Narrative Poetry, War Poetry
- Length: 398 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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