Poems By Richard Chenevix Trench: New ed |
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BALAKLAVA. |
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181
BALAKLAVA.
Many a deed of faithful daring may obtain no record here,
Wrought where none could see or note it, save the one Almighty Seer.
Wrought where none could see or note it, save the one Almighty Seer.
Many a deed, awhile remembered, out of memory needs must fall,
Covered, as the years roll onward, by oblivion's creeping pall:
Covered, as the years roll onward, by oblivion's creeping pall:
But there are which never, never, to oblivion can give room,
Till in flame earth's records perish, till the thunderpeal of doom:
Till in flame earth's records perish, till the thunderpeal of doom:
And of these through all the ages married to immortal fame,
One is linked, and linked for ever, Balaklava, with thy name;
One is linked, and linked for ever, Balaklava, with thy name;
With thine armies three that wond'ring stood at gaze and held their breath,
With thy fatal lists of honour, and thy tournament of death.
With thy fatal lists of honour, and thy tournament of death.
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O our brothers that are sleeping, weary with your great day's strife,
On that bleak Crimean headland, noble prodigals of life,
On that bleak Crimean headland, noble prodigals of life,
Eyes which ne'er beheld you living, these shall dearly mourn you dead,
All your squandered wealth of valour, all the lavish blood ye shed.
All your squandered wealth of valour, all the lavish blood ye shed.
And in our eyes tears are springing; but we bid them back again;
None shall say, to see us weeping, that we hold your offering vain;
None shall say, to see us weeping, that we hold your offering vain;
That for nothing, in our sentence, did that holocaust arise,
With a battle-field for altar, and with you for sacrifice.
With a battle-field for altar, and with you for sacrifice.
Not for nought; to more than warriors armed as you for mortal fray,
Unto each that in life's battle waits his Captain's word ye say—
Unto each that in life's battle waits his Captain's word ye say—
‘What by duty's voice is bidden, there where duty's star may guide,
Thither follow, that accomplish, whatsoever else betide.’
Thither follow, that accomplish, whatsoever else betide.’
This ye taught; and this your lesson solemnly in blood ye sealed:
Heroes, martyrs, are the harvest Balaklava's heights shall yield.
Heroes, martyrs, are the harvest Balaklava's heights shall yield.
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