War Lyrics dedicated to the friends of the dead. By A. and L. Shore. Second edition, with additions |
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THE BEARER OF THE FATAL ORDER. |
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THE BEARER OF THE FATAL ORDER.
“Oh! is this not the most glorious
Life that ever man could lead?”—
Throbbing from a day victorious,
Burning for what should succeed,
Life that ever man could lead?”—
Throbbing from a day victorious,
Burning for what should succeed,
Met not then the storm-dark morrow,
With its lightning charge thine eyes—
Useless glory, bitter sorrow,
From a frantic sacrifice?
With its lightning charge thine eyes—
Useless glory, bitter sorrow,
From a frantic sacrifice?
Like a shot the word was flung,
Short and sharp, from Chief to Chief,
And the squadron forward sprung,
But thy triumph-trance was brief.
Short and sharp, from Chief to Chief,
And the squadron forward sprung,
But thy triumph-trance was brief.
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Hill and plain one sheet of foes,
Gaily fliest thou to th' attack—
Victim ere the sabres close,
Only thy swift steed comes back!
Gaily fliest thou to th' attack—
Victim ere the sabres close,
Only thy swift steed comes back!
Instant came the bounding bullet,
Tearing out a dying scream,
Plunging in thy heart to cool it,
'Midst the mad flames of its dream.
Tearing out a dying scream,
Plunging in thy heart to cool it,
'Midst the mad flames of its dream.
Fatal messenger! first corse
Flung upon those funeral plains,
Covered soon with England's loss,
Yet how rich in Glory's gains!
Flung upon those funeral plains,
Covered soon with England's loss,
Yet how rich in Glory's gains!
Gazing on those doomed Hussars,
Going full speed to their tombs,
See we not their souls like stars,
Lighting up Death's boundless glooms?
Going full speed to their tombs,
See we not their souls like stars,
Lighting up Death's boundless glooms?
A. March 5, 1855.
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