THE ROLL OF THE KETTLEDRUM.
155
Open'd their volley of guns on our right,
Puffs of grey smoke, veiling gleams of red flame,
Curling to leeward, were seen on the height
Where the batteries were posted, as onward we came.
Puffs of grey smoke, veiling gleams of red flame,
Curling to leeward, were seen on the height
Where the batteries were posted, as onward we came.
Spreading before us their cavalry lay,
Squadron on squadron, troop upon troop;
We were so few, and so many were they—
Eagles wait calmly the sparrow-hawk's stoop.
Squadron on squadron, troop upon troop;
We were so few, and so many were they—
Eagles wait calmly the sparrow-hawk's stoop.
Forward! still forward! steed answering steed
Cheerily neigh'd, while the foam-flakes were toss't.
From bridle to bridle—the top of our speed
Was gain'd, but the pride of our order was lost.
Cheerily neigh'd, while the foam-flakes were toss't.
From bridle to bridle—the top of our speed
Was gain'd, but the pride of our order was lost.
One was there, leading by nearly a rood,
Though we were racing he kept to the fore,
Still as a rock in his stirrups he stood,
High in the sunlight his sabre he bore.
Though we were racing he kept to the fore,
Still as a rock in his stirrups he stood,
High in the sunlight his sabre he bore.
Suddenly tottering, backwards he crash't,
Loudly his helm right in front of us rung;
Iron hoofs thunder'd, and naked steel flash't
Over him—youngest, where many were young.
Loudly his helm right in front of us rung;
Iron hoofs thunder'd, and naked steel flash't
Over him—youngest, where many were young.
