Cremona Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BBCCD EFGGD HHAA FFDD IIJJ KKLLD MMAA FFCC NNIID KKOO PPOO QQHHD DDDDD RRIID SSTT OQQ UUVVD BBTTD LLTT TTTT

The French Army including a part of the Irish Brigade under Marshal Villeroy held the fortified town of Cremona during the winter of Prince Eugene with the Imperial Army surprised it one morning and owing to the treachery of a priest occupied the whole city before the alarm was given Villeroy was captured together with many of the French garrison The Irish however consisting of the regiments of Dillon and of Burke held a fort commanding the river gate and defended themselves all day in spite of Prince Eugene's efforts to win them over to his cause Eventually Eugene being unable to take the post was compelled to withdraw from the cityA
-
The Grenadiers of Austria are proper men and tallB
The Grenadiers of Austria have scaled the city wallB
They have marched from far awayC
Ere the dawning of the dayC
And the morning saw them masters of CremonaD
-
There's not a man to whisper there's not a horse to neighE
Of the footmen of Lorraine and the riders of DupresF
They have crept up every streetG
In the market place they meetG
They are holding every vantage in CremonaD
-
The Marshal Villeroy he has started from his bedH
The Marshal Villeroy has no wig upon his headH
'I have lost my men ' quoth heA
'And my men they have lost meA
And I sorely fear we both have lost Cremona '-
-
Prince Eugene of Austria is in the market placeF
Prince Eugene of Austria has smiles upon his faceF
Says he 'Our work is doneD
For the Citadel is wonD
And the black and yellow flag flies o'er Cremona '-
-
Major Dan O'Mahony is in the barrack squareI
And just six hundred Irish lads are waiting for him thereI
Says he 'Come in your shirtJ
And you won't take any hurtJ
For the morning air is pleasant in Cremona '-
-
Major Dan O'Mahony is at the barrack gateK
And just six hundred Irish lads will neither stay nor waitK
There's Dillon and there's BurkeL
And there'll be some bloody workL
Ere the Kaiserlics shall boast they hold CremonaD
-
Major Dan O'Mahony has reached the river fortM
And just six hundred Irish lads are joining in the sportM
'Come take a hand ' says heA
'And if you will stand by meA
Then it's glory to the man who takes Cremona '-
-
Prince Eugene of Austria has frowns upon his faceF
And loud he calls his Galloper of Irish blood and raceF
'MacDonnell ride I prayC
To your countrymen and sayC
That only they are left in all Cremona '-
-
MacDonnell he has reined his mare beside the river dykeN
And he has tied the parley flag upon a sergeant's pikeN
Six companies were thereI
From Limerick and ClareI
The last of all the guardians of CremonaD
-
'Now Major Dan O'Mahony give up the river gateK
Or Major Dan O'Mahony you'll find it is too lateK
For when I gallop backO
'Tis the signal for attackO
And no quarter for the Irish in Cremona '-
-
And Major Dan he laughed 'Faith if what you say be trueP
And if they will not come until they hear again from youP
Then there will be no attackO
For you're never going backO
And we'll keep you snug and safely in Cremona '-
-
All the weary day the German stormers cameQ
All the weary day they were faced by fire and flameQ
They have filled the ditch with deadH
And the river's running redH
But they cannot win the gateway of CremonaD
-
All the weary day again again againD
The horsemen of Dupres and the footmen of LorraineD
Taafe and HerbersteinD
And the riders of the RhineD
It's a mighty price they're paying for CremonaD
-
Time and time they came with the deep mouthed German roarR
Time and time they broke like the wave upon the shoreR
For better men were thereI
From Limerick and ClareI
And who will take the gateway of CremonaD
-
Prince Eugene has watched and he gnaws his nether lipS
Prince Eugene has cursed as he saw his chances slipS
'Call off Call off ' he criedT
'It is nearing eventideT
And I fear our work is finished in Cremona '-
-
Says Wauchop to McAulliffe 'Their fire is growing slack '-
Says Major Dan O'Mahony 'It is their last attackO
But who will stop the gameQ
While there's light to play the sameQ
And to walk a short way with them from Cremona '-
-
And so they snarl behind them and beg them turn and comeU
They have taken Neuberg's standard they have taken Diak's drumU
And along the winding PoV
Beard on shoulder stern and slowV
The Kaiserlics are riding from CremonaD
-
Just two hundred Irish lads are shouting on the wallB
Four hundred more are lying who can hear no slogan callB
But what's the odds of thatT
For it's all the same to PatT
If he pays his debt in Dublin or CremonaD
-
Says General de Vaudray 'You've done a soldier's workL
And every tongue in France shall talk of Dillon and of BurkeL
Ask what you will this dayT
And be it what it mayT
It is granted to the heroes of Cremona '-
-
'Why then ' says Dan O'Mahony 'one favour we entreatT
We were called a little early and our toilet's not completeT
We've no quarrel with the shirtT
But the breeches wouldn't hurtT
For the evening air is chilly in Cremona '-

Arthur Conan Doyle



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about Cremona poem by Arthur Conan Doyle


 
Best Poems of Arthur Conan Doyle

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 4 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets