[_Nine verses, on the battle generally, precede the lines below, which
refer to the charge of the Light Brigade, illustrated by Leech, in No.
32.--J. H. S._]
But who is there, with patient tongue the sorry tale to tell,
How our Light Brigade, true martyrs to the point of honour, fell!
"'Twas sublime, but 'twas not warfare," that charge of woe and wrack,
That led six hundred to the guns, and brought two hundred back!
Enough! the order came to charge, and charge they did--like men:
While shot and shell and rifle-ball played on them down the glen.
Though thirty guns were ranged in front, not one drew bated breath,
Unfaltering, unquestioning, they rode upon their death!
Nor by five times their number of all arms could they be stayed;
And with two lives for one of ours, e'en then, the Russians paid;
Till torn with shot and rent with shell, a spent and bleeding few,--
Life was against those fearful odds,--from the grapple they withdrew.
But still like wounded lions, their faces to the foe,
More conquerors than conquered, they fell back stern and slow;
With dinted arms and weary steeds--all bruised and soiled and worn--
Is this the wreck of all that rode so bravely out this morn?
Where thirty answered muster at dawn now answer ten,
Oh, woe's me for such officers!--Oh, woe's me for such men!
Whose was the blame? Name not his name, but rather seek to hide.
If he live, leave him to conscience--to God, if he have died:
But you, true band of heroes, you have done your duty well:
Your country asks not, to what end; it knows but how you fell!
[Illustration: 32.--THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE. BY LEECH, NOVEMBER
25, 1854.]
NOTE.--In Part 1. of this article, the "Portrait of the Railway
Panic," illustration No. 17, was erroneously ascribed to Doyle; the
artist was William Newman, one of Mr. Punch's first recruits.
(_To be continued._)
_Miss Cayley's Adventures._