“That stern and appalling shout which the British soldier is wont to give upon the edge of battle, and which no enemy ever heard unmoved.” Napier, _Hist._ book xxi. c. 5. XXXIV. “Soult was now so near, &c.” “Lord Wellington suddenly stopped in a conspicuous place, he desired that both armies should know he was there, and a double spy who was present pointed out Soult, then so near that his features could be plainly distinguished. The English general, it is said, fixed his eyes attentively upon this formidable man, and, speaking as if to himself, said: ‘Yonder is a great commander, but he is a cautious one and will delay his attack to ascertain the cause of these cheers; that will give time for the sixth division to arrive and I shall beat him.’ And certain it is that the French general made no serious attack that day.” Napier, _ibid._ XXXVI. “But vain its poise ’gainst that enormous height.” “Some guns were pushed in front of Zabaldíca, but the elevation required to send the shot upward rendered their fire ineffectual.” Napier, _ibid._ “’Tis Nature’s storm-artillery ushers in the night.” “A terrible storm, the usual precursor of English battles in the Peninsula, brought on premature darkness and terminated the dispute.” Napier, _ibid._ XXXVII. “Dumb be your voices, while the thunder-chime, &c.” Bedecke deinen himmel, Zeus, Mit wolkendunst, und übe! Goethe (_Prometheus_). “Curtain thy heavens, Zeus, with clouds and mist, and exercise thy arm!” “While roar the elements with rage sublime,” &c. Nè quivi ancor dell’ orride procelle Ponno appieno schivar la forza e l’ira; Ma sono estinte or queste faci or quelle, E per tutto entra l’acque, e’l vento spira * * La pioggia ai gridi, ai venti, al tuon s’accorda D’orribile armonía, che’l mondo assorda. Tasso. _Gerus. Lib._ vii. 122. --“Ye feel as feathers, dust.” ----La materia humana-- Viento, humo, polvo, y esperanza vana! Lope de Vega, _Sonetos_. XXXIX. “Pack’s corps, whose swift approach by Soult unguest.” General Pack was in command of the sixth division till this battle, when he was wounded, and the command passed to general Pakenham. XL. “Stern was the fight, and Gaul had battled ne’er so well.” Throughout the entire Peninsular campaigns, the French never fought with such desperate valour as on this and the few preceding and following days. In Soult they had the utmost confidence; they saw that a crisis had arrived, and trembled for France. “The fight raged close and desperate on the crest of the position, charge succeeded charge, and each side yielded and recovered by turns; yet this astounding effort of French valour was of little avail.” Napier, _ibid._ XLI. ----“Lusia’s rifles swell the fray.”