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Walter Scott on Memorial Day

1771–1832 Scotland

← All quotes by Walter Scott

11 quotes

Although too much of a soldier among sovereigns, no one could claim with better right to be a sovereign among soldiers.

Life of Napoleon (1827)

Yet what can they see in the longest kingly line in Europe, save that it runs back to a successful soldier?

Like the dew on the mountain,
Like the foam on the river,
Like the bubble on the fountain,
Thou art gone, and forever!

The Lady of the Lake (1810)

Soon the shroud shall lap thee fast,
And the sleep be on thee cast
That shall ne'er know waking.

War's a fearsome thing. They'll be cunning that catches me at this wark again.

In the lost battle,
Borne down by the flying,
Where mingles war's rattle
With groans of the dying.

Marmion (1808)

One blast upon his bugle horn
Were worth a thousand men.

Lady of the Lake (1810)

Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er,
Dream of fighting fields no more:
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking,
Morn of toil, nor night of waking.

Lady of the Lake (1810)

Haste thee, haste thee, to be gone!
Earth flits fast and time draws on:
Gasp thy gasp, and groan thy groan!
Day is near the breaking.

"Charge, Chester, charge! On, Stanley, on!"
Were the last words of Marmion.

Marmion (1808)

Still from the sire the son shall hear
Of the stern strife, and carnage drear,
Of Flodden's fatal field,
When shiver'd was fair Scotland's spear,
And broken was her shield!

Marmion (1808)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Walter Scott (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.