ART HISTORY ADVENT CALENDAR: DAY 2

 

Week of Death

2nd of December - Gustavus Adolphus 

Since it is Sagittarius season and Gustavus Adolphus and Queen Christina have both of their birthdays coming up...

Inspired by thirst

for glory, on the field of battle quaffed

instead death's bitter draught.

The last word was missing in his epic song:

the word that crowns every achievement.

The mourners have done their duty, right or wrong:

they wrote it in blood and bereavement.

He left us when we (and he) expected it the least, 

in the prime of his life and at the climax of his career,

before he could be tarnished by the failing vigour of an older age

or by the corruption brought upon him by success. 

A single bullet, just like any other, 

suddenly struck his back and entered his noble chest, 

to quench a flame that never could or should have burned brighter.