IV Description of a Battle
Yet still Lord Marmion’s falcon flew’
With wavering flight’, while fiercer grew
Around, the battle yell.
The border slogan rent the sky’,
A Home’! a Gordon’! was the cry’;
Loud’ were the clanging blows’;
Advanced’,—forced back’,—now low’,—now high’,
The pennon sunk’—and rose’;
As bends the bark’s mast in the gale’,
When rent are rigging’, shrouds’, and sail’,
It wavered ’mid the foes’.
The war, that for a space did fail’,
Now trebly thundering swelled the gale’,
And Stanley’! was the cry;
A light on Marmion’s visage spread’,
And fired his glazing eye’:—
With dying’ hand’, above his head’,
He shook the fragment of his blade’,
And shouted’,—“Victory’!
Charge’, Chester’, charge’! On’ Stanley’, on’!”—
Were the last words of Marmion.