War Lyrics dedicated to the friends of the dead. By A. and L. Shore. Second edition, with additions |
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INKERMAN. |
 | War Lyrics |  |
31
INKERMAN.
Murderous morn, whose dawn was lost in cloud!
Drizzling rain, soon mixed with death's red dew!
Mound of doom, of which our tears are proud!
English hearts to desperate duty true!
Drizzling rain, soon mixed with death's red dew!
Mound of doom, of which our tears are proud!
English hearts to desperate duty true!
Inkerman! by all these martyrs' fall
Made the word of wonder that thou art!—
England, tear-stained Priestess, vows you all
To a fame stern, solemn, and apart.
Made the word of wonder that thou art!—
England, tear-stained Priestess, vows you all
To a fame stern, solemn, and apart.
Hot with hatred, raving mad with wine,
Drunk from wicked vows, o'er the dark land,
Up the hill, swarmed Russian line on line—
But they met there that serene, stern band.
Drunk from wicked vows, o'er the dark land,
Up the hill, swarmed Russian line on line—
But they met there that serene, stern band.
32
And the hideous, blindfold, stabbing fight,
(Death by bayonets dashed to and fro)
Struggled on, with but the hell-fire light
Shot and shell upon their murders throw.
(Death by bayonets dashed to and fro)
Struggled on, with but the hell-fire light
Shot and shell upon their murders throw.
Darkly hewed from hundreds down to scores,
Firm our Guardsmen hold their hill of woes—
Round Death's brave despair, unheeded roars
Still in huger waves that sea of foes.
Firm our Guardsmen hold their hill of woes—
Round Death's brave despair, unheeded roars
Still in huger waves that sea of foes.
But the French—oh, loyal hearts well done!—
Breathless with fierce joy to share our fate,
In they rush and onward, all in one,
Cheering, charging, gloriously elate!
Breathless with fierce joy to share our fate,
In they rush and onward, all in one,
Cheering, charging, gloriously elate!
Oh ye Hours! on blood-clogged wheels, at last,
Roll away the dismal, splendid day!
And the flight of souls, by cannon-blast
Chased all day through Death's wide gateway, stay!
Roll away the dismal, splendid day!
And the flight of souls, by cannon-blast
Chased all day through Death's wide gateway, stay!
33
All is over!—Dare we ask who fell?
Noble name on name comes thick and fast—
Till sobs choke the voice that tries to tell
All it cost us to prevail at last.
Noble name on name comes thick and fast—
Till sobs choke the voice that tries to tell
All it cost us to prevail at last.
Many a veteran, sealing a life's truth,
In his last, his best there offered up—
Many a gentle, happy soldier youth
Drained his first, last draught from War's wine-cup.
In his last, his best there offered up—
Many a gentle, happy soldier youth
Drained his first, last draught from War's wine-cup.
To his eyes dream-dazzled seemed the strife,
But a game played gaily by the brave;
All the boy-heart panting with new life,
Rushed through the war-riot to the grave.
But a game played gaily by the brave;
All the boy-heart panting with new life,
Rushed through the war-riot to the grave.
French and English, let them heart by heart,
Deathmates tried and true, as brothers lie!
Weep as friends, together though apart,
You whose homes your heroes left to die!
Deathmates tried and true, as brothers lie!
Weep as friends, together though apart,
You whose homes your heroes left to die!
A. November 28, 1854.
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