To Kosciusko

What it is

This is a poem by James Henry Leigh Hunt, published in 1816, titled "To Kosciusko." Its subtitle says that Kościuszko never fought for Buonaparte or the Allies. The poem describes him keeping his patient valour in the rural shade, and it pictures a wounded wanderer whom men kiss on the hand. A note in the text records a story told by Mrs. West about the Duke of Bedford, who kissed Kościuszko's hand while the painter was at work on his portrait. The text is available on Wikisource.

Why it matters

The poem shows that Kościuszko was admired by English writers while he was still alive. Leigh Hunt wrote about him at a time when European politics were shaped by Napoleon and the great powers. The poem reveals how a radical writer could use Kościuszko as an example of courage and principle.

Look closer

• What qualities does the poet praise in Kościuszko, and which images does he use to show them?
• Why might a poet of 1816 choose to describe him as a man who stayed out of the wars of that time?
• What does the poem leave out about Kościuszko's campaigns and about the people of Poland?