Waterloo! Waterloo! Waterloo! Dismal plain! Pale death swirled together the sombre battalions In your theatre of woods, hillocks and valleys, Like a current bubbling up into an overfull urn. On one side Europe, on the other France. God at the bloody crash betrayed the heroes; Victory deserted, fate gave up. O Waterloo! Alas, I stop and weep! For those last soldiers of the last war Were great, they had conquered Crossed the Alps and the Rhine And their souls sang out in the bronze trumpets! (from “The expiation” of Victor Hugo)