I stumbled across the writings Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–1899), a famous orator and lawyer known as "the great agnostic." While I don't agree with him religiously, I agree with his speech about Napoleon—well, except I've seen his tomb, and it's red Egyptian granite, not black Egyptian marble. I rearranged parts. Read more here: https://redtreetimes.com/2021/02/22/ingersoll-and-napoleon/ LYRICS: I saw him in Egypt in the shadows of the pyramids I saw him walking upon the banks of the Seine contemplating suicide I saw him putting down the mob in the streets of Paris I saw him at the head of the army of Italy I saw him at Marengo, at Ulm and Austerlitz I saw him conquer the Alps I saw him at Toulaine I saw him crossing the bridge at Lodi with the tricolor in his hand I saw him in Russia, his legions like winter’s withered leaves And I said I would rather have been a French peasant I would rather have been a French peasant I would rather have been a French peasant and worn wooden shoes I saw him at Leipsic in defeat and disaster driven by a million bayonets back upon Paris clutched like a wild beast, banished to Elba I saw him escape and retake an Empire by the force of his genius I saw him upon the frightful field of Waterloo when chance and fate combined to wreck the fortunes of their former king And I saw him at St. Helena with his hands crossed behind him gazing out upon the sad and solemn sea I thought of the orphans and widows he had made of the tears that had been shed for his glory and of the only woman who had ever loved him pushed from his heart by the cold hand of ambition... And I said I would rather have been a French peasant I would rather have been a French peasant I would rather have been a French peasant and worn wooden shoes And I said I would rather have been a French peasant I would rather have been a French peasant I would rather have been a French peasant and worn wooden shoes I would rather have lived in a hut with a vine growing over the door and the grapes growing purple in the kisses of the autumn sun I would rather have been that poor peasant with my loving wife by my side knitting as the day died out of the sky (with my children upon my knee and their arms about me.) I would rather have been that man and gone down to the tongueless silence of the dreamless dust than to have been that imperial impersonation of force and murder known as Napoleon the Great. And I said I would rather have been a French peasant I would rather have been a French peasant I would rather have been a French peasant and worn wooden shoes A little while ago I stood by the grave of Napoleon and gazed upon the sarcophagus of black Egyptian marble I leaned over the balustrade and thought about the career of the greatest soldier of the modern world. And I said I would rather have been a French peasant I would rather have been a French peasant I would rather have been a French peasant and worn wooden shoes And so I would ten thousand times...more

Dust on the statues blood in the streets History whispers it never repeats Echoes of emperors in corporate suites Chained to the cycle chained to defeat The lesson in Rome's rise is the fall (fall!) The marble veins become cracks in the wall We stare at our screens they feasted in halls (hard fall!) Doomed to collapse rinse repeat it all? Ash in the air shadows grow tall Bankers and kings dancing at the ball Build the tower just to watch it crawl The higher we climb the harder we sprawl Are we the architects of our own pain Sowing the seeds for a fiery rain The lesson in Rome's rise is the fall (fall!) The marble veins become cracks in the wall We stare at our screens they feasted in halls (hard fall!) Doomed to collapse rinse repeat it all? Sands in the hourglass slipping away Empires crumble no matter who prays Bones in the soil where the golden roads lay We think we're eternal but we're just the claymore

Perfume of myrrh, the palace waits, Silk and mirrors, golden gates. A year of oils, her skin made new, The hidden star the king once knew. For such a time as this, (Esther 4:14) If I perish, I perish. (Esther 4:16) Spare my people— (Esther 7:3) Spare my people. (Esther 7:3) “Esther had not revealed her nationality…” (Esther 2:10) A crown of gold, a secret star, A queen unknown to who they are. But Mordecai sat by the gate, And heard the whispers, schemes of hate. The gallows built, the edicts fall, A death decree against them all. For such a time as this, (Esther 4:14) If I perish, I perish. (Esther 4:16) Spare my people— (Esther 7:3) Spare my people. (Esther 7:3) “Do not think that you will escape…” (Esther 4:13) His message burned, it shook her soul, No silent queen could play that role. “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14) The hour struck, the moment sure, The dice were cast, the lamps endure. For such a time as this, (Esther 4:14) If I perish, I perish. (Esther 4:16) Spare my people— (Esther 7:3) Spare my people. (Esther 7:3) “…I will go to the king, against the law.” (Esther 4:16) Through velvet halls she walked in awe. She faced the throne, her courage cherish, “And if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16) “Grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request.” (Esther 7:3) “How can I bear to see disaster fall?” (Esther 8:6) The gallows wait, the courtiers stall. For such a time as this, (Esther 4:14) If I perish, I perish. (Esther 4:16) Spare my people— (Esther 7:3) Spare my people. (Esther 7:3) “Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments… six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics.” (Esther 2:12) Echoed in smoke, the spotlight fades— Her words still ringing, the dice still played…more