And ever weaker grows thro' acted crime, Or seeming-genial venial fault, Recurring and suggesting still! He seems as one whose footsteps halt, Toiling in immeasurable sand, And o'er a weary sultry land, Far beneath a blazing vault, Sown in a wrinkle of the monstrous hill, The city sparkles like a grain of salt. THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE. 1. HALF a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. "Charge," was the captain's cry; Their's not to reason why, Their's not to make reply, Their's but to do and die, Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. 2. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well; Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell, Rode the six hundred. 3. Flash'd all their sabres bare, Flash'd all at once in air, Sabring the gunners there, Charging an army, while All the world wonder'd: Plunged in the battery-smoke THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE. 153 Fiercely the line they broke; Strong was the sabre-stroke: Making an army reel Shaken and sunder'd. Then they rode back, but not, Not the six hundred. 4. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, They that had struck so well Rode thro' the jaws of Death, Half a league back again, Up from the mouth of Hell, All that was left of them, Left of six hundred. M |