quote · Legacy record
War, horrid war! oh! would ye understand That direful word—that scourge of every land, Oh! then peruse the well-known leaves that time Himself hath traced in characters sublime: Consult the archives of many a vast domain Where pomp, and power, and crime once held their reign, And view with retrospective eye Th’ Imperial States whose awful destiny It was to fade, decay, and disappear, With scarce a trace to say “We once were here!” Yet wars and battles mark’d their passing day With strife tumultuous, and wild affray.
War, horrid war! oh! would ye understand That direful word—that scourge of every land, Oh! then peruse the well-known leaves that time Himself hath traced in characters sublime: Consult the archives of many a vast domain Where pomp, and power, and crime once held their reign, And view with retrospective eye Th’ Imperial States whose awful destiny It was to fade, decay, and disappear, With scarce a trace to say “We once were here!” Yet wars and battles mark’d their passing day With strife tumultuous, and wild affray.
In print by 1888 AD · industrial
Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.
Meaning not yet available
An individual explanation has not yet been added. We do not substitute a generic description for an interpretation of these particular words.
Begin with source-checked readings and explanations ↗Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Count Frederick Von Erlach (identity unresolved)
Attribution: unknown - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- In print by 1888 AD · industrial
In print by 1888: recorded in A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888). Collection publication is an upper bound for this wording, not its earliest origin, composition date or the author's lifetime.
An author lifetime, approximate period or collection date is not necessarily the date when these words were first written or spoken. - Recorded source
- A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888) (1888 AD)
Page 652 · printed citation: Count Frederick Von Erlach · subject: WAR
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.