*AN INCIDENT OF THE FRENCH CAMP*

This poem is written by an English poet Robert Browning (1812- 1889). His poems breathe a cheerful optimism and they are a stirring call to great endeavor. His style, because of the weight of his thoughts, often becomes very interesting to read. The range of his characters and subjects are wide.

In this poem he tells the story of the self-sacrifice of a brave young French soldier. Napoleon, the Emperor was eagerly waiting for the news of the French attack on Ratisbon, a city in Austria. The Soldier rode fast to meet his Emperor with the news of victory. But he had been shot through his chest. He was alive only to report the news and the proud part he played in putting up their national flag in the market place of the town.

The French attacked the city of Ratisbon. Napoleon, the Emperor was about a mile away. He was standing on a little mound. He was in his usual posture of neck thrust forward, legs wide and arms tied back. He was in deep thinking and only the sky was the limit to his ambitious plans. Yet they would all fail if they did not succeed in the war on that particular day. He was therefore wafting anxiously to get the message to know whether his general Lannes would take Ratisbon that day.

Napoleon was anxiously waiting for the news of their attack on Ratisbon. Then a rider was seen coming out of the smoke of the battle. He stopped just in front of the Emperor and got down. He held himself erect only by holding on tightly to the mane of his horse. With an effort of will power he seemed to prevent the blood flowing from his wound. He had been shot through his chest. But the Emperor did not notice it at first. The Soldier had brought the happiest news. He was keen on delivering it with his last breath.

The soldier told the Emperor that by the grace of God they had taken Ratis on city. The Marshal was in the market place. The Soldier himself had put up the flag there. The golden eagle seemed to flap his wings and fly. Napoleon's anxiety was relieved. His eyes shone with hope again. But he was surprised to see the wound of the soldier as Napoleon thought that the soldier was a mere messenger and asked him whether he was wounded. The young man was hurt to hear that he had been mistaken to be only a messenger of the news. saying that he had been killed, he fell dead with a smile on his lips. He was so happy to have made that great sacrifice for the sake of his Nation and the Emperor.