English Narrative Poems

Narrative poetry, English; Readers -- Poetry
Then shook the hills with thunder riven,
    Then rushed the steed to battle driven,
    And louder than the bolts of heaven,                              15
    Far flashed the red artillery.

    But redder yet that light shall glow,
    On Linden's hills of stained snow,
    And bloodier yet the torrent flow
    Of Iser, rolling rapidly.                                         20

    'Tis morn, but scarce yon level sun
    Can pierce the war-clouds, rolling dun,
    Where furious Frank and fiery Hun
    Shout in their sulphurous canopy.

    The combat deepens. On, ye brave,                                 25
    Who rush to glory, or the grave!
    Wave, Munich! all thy banners wave!
    And charge with all thy chivalry!

    Few, few shall part where many meet!
    The snow shall be their winding-sheet,                            30
    And every turf beneath their feet
    Shall be a soldier's sepulchre.




BATTLE OF THE BALTIC


    I

    Of Nelson and the North,
    Sing the glorious day's renown,
    When to battle fierce came forth
    All the might of Denmark's crown,
    And her arms along the deep proudly shone;                         5
    By each gun the lighted brand,
    In a bold determined hand,
    And the Prince of all the land
    Led them on.


    II

    Like leviathans afloat,                                           10
    Lay their bulwarks on the brine;
    While the sign of battle flew
    On the lofty British line:
    It was ten of April morn by the chime:
    As they drifted on their path,                                    15
    There was silence deep as death;
    And the boldest held his breath,
    For a time.


    III

    But the might of England flush'd
    To anticipate the scene;                                          20
    And her van the fleeter rush'd
    O'er the deadly space between.
    "Hearts of oak!" our captain cried; when each gun
    From its adamantine lips
    Spread a death-shade round the ships,                             25
    Like the hurricane eclipse
    Of the sun.


    IV

    Again! again! again!
    And the havoc did not slack,
    Till a feeble cheer the Dane                                      30
    To our cheering sent us back;--
    Their shots along the deep slowly boom:--
    Then ceased--and all is wail,
    As they strike the shatter'd sail;
    Or, in conflagration pale,                                        35
    Light the gloom.


    V

    Out spoke the victor then,
    As he hailed them o'er the wave;
    "Ye are brothers! ye are men!
    And we conquer but to save:--                                     40
    So peace instead of death let us bring;
    But yield, proud foe, thy fleet,
    With the crews, at England's feet
    And make submission meet
    To our King."                                                     45


    VI
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English Narrative Poems

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