1813.7
The Plains of Vittoria;
Or, The Death of the Brave
“T. B.”
The Morning Chronicle (July 6, 1813)
The London Chronicle, CXIV (July 7, 1813), p. 23

All hail to the Heroes who gloriously sought
    On the Plains of Vittoria[1] a grave,
Who in Liberty's cause irresistibly fought,
And the Upstart of Gallia convincingly taught
    That nothing can conquer the Brave.

What are titles? what wealth? but a glittering prize,
    After which we all franticly rave;
Life itself's but a meteor that flits through the skies;
And since 'tis decreed that all human race dies,
   What can equal the "DEATH OF THE BRAVE?"

Let us kneel round our Soldiers' immortaliz'd urn,
    And this boon let each bold Briton Crave:—
Oh! may I with Freedom's pure flame ever burn
With "WELLINGTON" fight, and victorious return,
    Or—die the sweet "DEATH OF THE BRAVE!"

Brompton.

Notes

1. In Spain at the battle of Vittoria on June 21, 1813, Wellington defeated Marshal Jourdan and King Joseph, the brother of Napoleon, fled to France. After this battle the French abandoned most of Spain.