Works

Convert the below file as per the specification in this project's "Instructions" for Grok.

I was diverting Ennui till the Post came in by looking over Martial—& lighting on an Epigram the 68^th I think of the 8^th Book it put it in my Head to make this Ballad on the News¹ brought from Egypt by the Flora,

From Egypt old Rome in the Days of Domitian
    To make her Tyrannical Emperor smile;
Fresh Roses brought over for Winter’s Provision
    To bloom round the Tyber as once round the Nile.

But bold Abercrombie¹ whom Britons confide in
    **His Flora** sent home with far different Spoil:
Th’invincible Army of Frenchmen deriding
    Their Standard he seiz’d on the banks of the Nile.

Thus end the Exploits of renown’d Buonaparte
    Who fell upon Egypt with Force & with Guile;
Throwing Dust in the Eyes of each Mussulman hearty.
    Dust—pregnant with Plagues on the Banks of the Nile.

Of Warriors ill fated if England must tell soon
    Her losses tho’ deep She’ll repair in a While;
With Moore Smith Berry, Ball, Trowbridge & Nelson,
    A Hero we’ll count for each Mouth of the Nile.

La Vie est ans le Sang, c’est une Veritè
    Generalement reconnüe:
    Sur ce Principe continüe,
Suc le San du peuple en pleine Libertè
Alain; tu parviendras a L’Immortalitè.

Footnotes

1. General Ralph Abercromby defeated the French, near Alexandria, on March 21, 1801, which cost him his life, He died of wounds, on March 28.↩︎