From the sheet music at the Library of Congress, published in Boston by Geo. P. Reed, 1845: THE FUNERAL OF NAPOLEON Words by Leonard C. McPhail, music by John M. White. [1] He comes! He comes! the muffled drums announce his solemn march Hark! Hark! the cannon’s roar, See! See! the banners dance. The Circeuil rests beneath the triumphal Arch, Hear! Hear! the cry! “Napoléon Vive la France!” [2] They bring him from his Island grave, far o’er the distant sea, To the place he sigh’d for, where doth lave, the Seine, its waters free; There follow in that lengthen’d line, His comrades brave and true, They bow them down, at Glory’s shrine, Nor think of Waterloo, But Lodi’s bridge, Marengo’s field, Spread all their Trophies out, And Austerlitz, and Moscow’s shield, Are born amid the Shout Of thousands who in line advance, “Napoléon, Vive la France.” [3] He rests! He rests! beneath the dome of Glory’s Temple now; Once more! Once more! returns he home, with Laurels on his brow; His last great Triumph now is gained, Is heard his dying pray’r, The Conq’ror sleeps where once he reign’d, By banks so green and fair. Unheeded pass the Holy man, With flambeau burning bright, The flashing spear, and scimeter, Full senseless on his sight, As on this ear the cry, “Napoléon, Vive la France.” [4] The Organ’s peal, nor Clarion’s sound, disturb his deep repose, His arms are rusting in their sheath, He heeds no fleeting shows, But hark! they chant his Requiem, The Cerceuil seems to swell, As distant sounds the rolling Drum, And tolling of the bell, Yet not for this, the Hero wakes from out his lengthen’d dream, ’Tis the stirring cry, that often breaks, from mountain and from stream, A Cry, which makes each hearts blood dance, “Napoléon, Vive la France.”
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