CASABIANCA
The boy stood on the burning deck
Whence all but him had fled;
The flame that lit the battle's wreck
Shone round him o'er the dead.
Yet beautiful and bright he stood,
As born to rule the storm;
A creature of heroic blood,
A proud, though child-like form.
The flames roll'd on—he would not go
Without his Father's word;
That Father, faint in death below,
His voice no longer heard.
He call'd aloud:—"Say, Father,say
If yet my task is done?"
He knew not that the chieftain lay
Unconscious of his son.
"Speak, Father!" once again he cried
"If I may yet begone!
And"—but the booming shots replied,
And fast the flames roll'd on.
Upon his brow he felt their breath,
And in his waving hair,
And looked from that lone post of death,
In still yet brave despair.
And shouted but one more aloud,
"My Father, must I stay?"
While o'er him fast, through sail and shroud,
The wreathing fires made way,
They wrapt the ship in splendour wild,
They caught the flag on high,
And streamed above the gallant child,
Like banners in the sky.
There came a burst of thunder sound—
The boy—oh! where was he?
Ask of the winds that far around
With fragments strewed the sea!
With mast, and helm, and pennon fair,
That well had borne their part—
But the noblest thing which perished there
Was that young faithful heart!
Casabianca, It tells the story of Giocante Casabianca, a 12-year old boy, who was the son of Luce Julien Joseph Casabianca. Casabianca was the commander of Admiral de Brueys' flagship, l'Orient , Giocante Casabianca stayed at his post aboard the flagship L'Orient during the Battle of the Nile. Giocante Casabianca and his father both died in an explosion when the fire reached the gunpowder store.
Picture: The explosion of L'Orient during the Battle of the Nile
Painting by Philip James De Loutherbourg, 1800. © by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes