 | Ballads of the War |  |
70
In Memory of the late Earl of Ava
At Elands Laagte, for want of a mount, he gallantly acted as galloper to his Colonel all through the day on foot. He fell fighting at Ladysmith.
Beneath the pillared halls and purple hill
Of fair Athene, stands in carven stone
The man who brought the news from Marathon,
And died in act of bringing; for his will
O'ertaxed the heart that would its speed fulfil,
And broke it as he shouted “We have won!”
Our Britain boasts her battle-carrier son—
Ah! would to God his heart were beating still.
Of fair Athene, stands in carven stone
The man who brought the news from Marathon,
And died in act of bringing; for his will
O'ertaxed the heart that would its speed fulfil,
And broke it as he shouted “We have won!”
Our Britain boasts her battle-carrier son—
Ah! would to God his heart were beating still.
He too shall have the warrior's heart's meed
Who, light-foot as the deer of Clandeboye,
Ran without horse that dreadful battle morn;
Through storm of bullets urged his topmost speed,
That so his Colonel's word might well be borne,
And Briton's heart might feel the conqueror's joy.
Who, light-foot as the deer of Clandeboye,
Ran without horse that dreadful battle morn;
Through storm of bullets urged his topmost speed,
That so his Colonel's word might well be borne,
And Briton's heart might feel the conqueror's joy.
| Ballads of the War | |