Old Year Leaves Being Old Verses Revised: By H. T. Mackenzie Bell ... New Edition |
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AN EPISODE IN THE BATTLE OF
FUENTES D'HONORE.
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 | Old Year Leaves |  |
276
AN EPISODE IN THE BATTLE OF FUENTES D'HONORE.
1811.
The horse of the armies, in hostile array,
Haste to prove their proud prowess in mortal affray—
And the soldiers' fierce oaths that are bandied around
Add a fresh sense of horror to battle's stern sound.
Thus the squadrons are nearing each other, when lo!
An hussar leaves our line and makes straight for the foe,
And stung by his tauntings to furious force,
Direct at one soldier he urges his horse—
Who, seeing such frenzy of hate with sore fear,
Sets spurs to his steed, and swift speeds for the rear,
While the other his charger gives rashly the rein,
And both gallop recklessly over the plain.
Our men greet their comrade with cheers long and loud,
While the French are struck mute as he flies through their crowd;
So the chase is continued far, far, in advance
Of the glancing of bayonet or glittering of lance;
Yet our gallant hussar is in perilous plight,
The enemy near him—no friends now in sight:
And to reach his companions perforce he must go
Through the densely ranged ranks of the furious foe—
Who, deeming their victory a certainty, vow
Though he passed their line once, he will not pass it now.
And hard they press on him—escape seems in vain,
Though he spur his steed onward with loose slackened rein.
Haste to prove their proud prowess in mortal affray—
And the soldiers' fierce oaths that are bandied around
Add a fresh sense of horror to battle's stern sound.
Thus the squadrons are nearing each other, when lo!
An hussar leaves our line and makes straight for the foe,
And stung by his tauntings to furious force,
Direct at one soldier he urges his horse—
Who, seeing such frenzy of hate with sore fear,
Sets spurs to his steed, and swift speeds for the rear,
277
And both gallop recklessly over the plain.
Our men greet their comrade with cheers long and loud,
While the French are struck mute as he flies through their crowd;
So the chase is continued far, far, in advance
Of the glancing of bayonet or glittering of lance;
Yet our gallant hussar is in perilous plight,
The enemy near him—no friends now in sight:
And to reach his companions perforce he must go
Through the densely ranged ranks of the furious foe—
Who, deeming their victory a certainty, vow
Though he passed their line once, he will not pass it now.
And hard they press on him—escape seems in vain,
Though he spur his steed onward with loose slackened rein.
But the men of his regiment are anxious to save
A comrade, though reckless, thus daring and brave;
So, drawing their sabres, swift forward they dash
And charge on the cowards with crest-cleaving crash.
Thus the moment which seemed his sad fate to have sealed
A goodly array of our soldiers revealed,
And amid the mad melée of general strife
He regained his companions with honour and life.
A comrade, though reckless, thus daring and brave;
278
And charge on the cowards with crest-cleaving crash.
Thus the moment which seemed his sad fate to have sealed
A goodly array of our soldiers revealed,
And amid the mad melée of general strife
He regained his companions with honour and life.
| Old Year Leaves | |