"Great praise the Duke of Marlboro' won, "Why, 'twas a very wicked thing!" Said little Wilhelmine. "And everybody praised the Duke "Why, that I cannot tell," said he, 52 INCIDENT OF THE FRENCH CAMP1 ROBERT BROWNING You know, we French stormed Ratisbon: A mile or so away, On a little mound, Napoleon Stood on our storming-day; With neck out-thrust, you fancy how, 'Legs wide, arms locked behind, As if to balance the prone brow 1. The French under Napoleon overcame the Austrians at Ratisbon, Bavaria, in 1809. The story of the poem is true; but the hero was a man, not a boy. Just as perhaps he mused, "My plans Waver at yonder wall," Out 'twixt the battery-smokes there flew Until he reached the mound. Then off there flung in smiling joy, By just his horse's mane, a boy: (So tight he kept his lips compressed, You looked twice e'er you saw his breast "Well," cried he, "Emperor, by God's grace We've got you Ratisbon ! To see your flag-bird flap his vans Where I, to heart's desire, Perched him!" The chief's eye flashed; his plans Soared up again like fire. The chief's eye flashed; but presently Softened itself, as sheathes A film the mother-eagle's eye When her bruised eaglet breathes; "You're wounded!" "Nay," his soldier's pride Touched to the quick, he said: "I'm killed, Sire!" And his chief beside, Smiling the boy fell dead. 53 THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE 1 ALFRED TENNYSON Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death, Rode the six hundred. "Forward, the Light Brigade !" Cannon to right of them, Cannon in front of them Volleyed and thundered; Stormed at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well; Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell Rode the six hundred. 1. The charge described in this poem took place in 1854 at the battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. Because the soldiers were fond of the, poem, Tennyson sent to those at Sebastopol a thousand copies. Flashed all their sabers bare, All the world wondered: Right through the line they broke; Cossack and Russian Reeled from the saber stroke Shattered and sundered. Then they rode back, but not— Cannon to right of them, Volleyed and thundered. They that had fought so well Came through the jaws of Death, Back from the mouth of Hell, All that was left of them, Left of six hundred. When can their glory fade? All the world wondered. Noble six hundred. 54 THE BATTLE OF NASEBY 1 THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY (By Obadiah Bind-their-kings-in-chains-and-their-nobleswith-links-of-iron, Sergeant in Ireton's Regiment.) Oh! wherefore come ye forth, in triumph from the North, With your hands, and your feet, and your raiment all red? And wherefore doth your rout send forth a joyous shout? And whence be the grapes of the wine-press which ye tread? Oh evil was the root, and bitter was the fruit, And crimson was the juice of the vintage that we trod; For we trampled on the throng of the haughty and the strong, Who sate in the high places, and slew the saints of God. It was about the noon of a glorious day of June, That we saw their banners dance, and their cuirasses 2 shine, And the Man of Blood was there, with his long essenced hair, And Astley, and Sir Marmaduke, and Rupert of the Rhine. 1. The battle of Naseby, 1645, was the first important victory of the Puritans under Cromwell over the Royalists under Charles I. Concerning it Cromwell afterwards wrote: "I can say this of Naseby, that when I saw the enemy draw up and march in gallant order towards us, and we a company of poor ignorant men, I could not, riding alone about my business, but smile out to God in praises, in assurance of victory, because God would by things that are not bring to naught things that are. Of which I had great assurance; and God did it.' The story is represented as being told by a sergeant, whose name indicates the zeal of the Puritans. 2. Cuirasses. Breastplates. 3. Man of blood. Charles I. |