The Songs of Ensign Stål/Canto 5

It was the brave Lieutenant Zidén,
Who had a custom his own:
Alone the front he would always gain:—
"Advance, my boys of Vasa!
No lagging must now be shown!"

He foremost would march in peril's pursuit,
His men must follow his track.
God pity him that was slow on foot,
When once the commander shouted,
"Hurrah! men of mine, attack!"

And thus he led, in his wonted wise,
His little valiant band,
Spurned needless trouble and exercise;
"Close follow my pathway, warriors!"
These words were his great command.

And a-front looked he, nor glanced he around,
When drawn to dangers so dread.
How near his men to his steps were bound,
He scarcely a thought had given,
Till deep into battle he'd sped.

But not before he had met the foe,
Begun to strike and to slay,
Looked he behind him, their speed to know,

His treasured boys of Vasa,—
How close they had followed his way.

If they to a unit around their guide
Had battled loyally,
Then all was splendid, and loud he cried,
"Huzza! 'Twas a brave maneuver!
And now we are masters, we!"

But if they walked, while he running came
To battle before his men,
"May God have pity for such a shame!
Like turtles they've moved to battle;
Now lag they behind again!"

Zidén had led, when the war arose,
A troop of full fifty men;
But they had crumbled until the close;
With twenty boys of Vasa
He stood in the army then.

But if with fewer, or if with more,
He gave but a passing glance;
He followed his mode of long before;
"Press close on my footsteps, comrades,-
Now swift on the march,-advance!"

At Virta Bridge did he last contend,-
The battle where brave he led;
Upon one instant did all depend;
Fahlander, Malm and Duncker
Swift down to the strand had sped.

​There Tutschkoff stood with his thousand strong,
Six hundred only had we;
"In columns three we shall march along!"
Commanded Colonel Fahlander,
"Who comes the first of the three?"

This question heard Lieutenant Zidén;
By Heaven! It had instant heed.
"Advance", he ordered, "ye dexterous men,
Hurrah now, my boys of Vasa!
Tis men who to-day proceed!"

Nor was this battle indeed the first
He shrieked to his warriors so;
But ne'er before with such battle-thirst,
Such heedlees haste, had he hurried
As now, to engage the foe.

Before his men to the charge could bound,
Three wounds he had won, deep-wrought;
Then failed his strength, and he looked around,
Looked backward to see what succor,
What valor his fellows brought.

He sank to earth, but he searched keen-eyed;
Was it some illusion? Nay!
His corporal aged lay by his side,
His only man of Vasa;
The others had quit the fray.

The column came, it came right near,
Upon it he fixed his look;
"My men, will they there in the ranks appear?"

In vain; not a man beheld he!
Then patience him forsook.

"The others now march to triumphant fame,
But nowhere are seen my men!
God pity us all! It is such a shame!
Like turtles they've moved to battle;
Now lag they behind again!"

This murmur his aged corporal heard,
And lifted his dying head;
"Restrain, Lieutenant, your hasty word!
No charge of shame must be spoken;
The bravest of troops you've led!

"Alas! Had the others like us marched forth,
Then had we not perished entire;
Now we to our last man bite the earth,
For in front moved the troops of Vasa,
And on us gave the enemy fire!

"You looked not back, O Lieutenant, again,
When 'forward' had been your call;
But your order we heard, and we followed then,-
Not a man behind was lagging,—
Till on glory's path came his fall!"

Then raised the Lieutenant his arm with zest,
From the blood-red sand where he sat;
His features glowed, and his wounded breast
At the moment of death rose proudly,
As he swung his riven hat:

"Ah! If they of glorious wounds all fell,
Ere the others had passed them by,
And followed the steps of their leader well,—
Hurrah! 'Twas a brave maneuver!
And now we as heroes die!"