"Soft thy skin as silken skein, Soft as woman's hair thy mane, Tender are thine eyes and true; All thy hoofs like ivory shine, Polished bright; O life of mine, Leap, and rescue Kurroglou!" Kyrat, then, the strong and fleet, Drew together his four white feet, Paused a moment on the verge, Measured with his eye the space, And into the air's embrace Leaped as leaps the ocean surge. As the ocean surge o'er sand Bears a swimmer safe to land, Kyrat safe his rider bore; Rattling down the deep abyss Fragments of the precipice Rolled like pebbles on a shore. Roushan's tasseled cap of red Trembled not upon his head; Careless sat he and upright; Neither hand nor bridle shook, Nor his head he turned to look, As he galloped out of sight. Flash of harness in the air, Seen a moment, like the glare Of a sword drawn from its sheath; Thus the phantom horseman passed, And the shadow that he cast Leaped the cataract underneath. Reyhan the Arab held his breath While this vision of life and death Passed above him. "Allahu!" Cried he. "In all Koordistan Lives there not so brave a man As this Robber Kurroglou!" HELPS TO STUDY. Notes and Questions. What does the first stanza tell? The second? What is the purpose of the fifth stanza? What comparison is found in the seventh stanza? In the eighth? In the ninth? What do we mean by "figure of speech?" Illustrate. State in your own words the thought in the eleventh stanza. In next to the last stanza give the meaning of the last three lines. What lesson of heroism does this poem give you? Whom should you call the hero of this tale? Who is Allah? Where is Koordistan? Words and Phrases for Discussion. "phantom" "verge" "caravan" "abyss" "garden-girt" "cataract" * * * * * THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE AT BALAKLAVA ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. "Forward, the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns!" he said: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. "Forward, the Light Brigade!" Was there a man dismay'd? Not tho' the soldier knew Some one had blunder'd: Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.