It becomes apparent that the French have a particular intention, the Allies only a general one. That of the French is to break through the enemy's centre and surround his right. To this end NAPOLEON launches fresh columns, and simultaneously OUDINOT supports VICTOR against EUGENE OF WURTEMBERG'S right, while on the other side of him the cavalry of MILHAUD and KELLERMAN prepares to charge. NAPOLEON'S combination is successful, and drives back EUGENE. Meanwhile SCHWARZENBERG is stuck fast, useless in the marshes between the Pleisse and the Elster. By three o'clock the Allied centre, which has held out against the assaults of the French right and left, is broken through by cavalry under MURAT, LATOUR-MAUBOURG, and KELLERMANN. The bells of Leipzig ring. CHORUS OF THE PITIES Those chimings, ill-advised and premature! Who knows if such vast valour will endure? The Austro-Russians are withdrawn from the marshes by SCHWARZENBERG. But the French cavalry also get entangled in the swamps, and simultaneously MARMONT is beaten at Mockern. Meanwhile NEY, to the north of Leipzig, having heard the battle raging southward, leaves his position to assist it. He has nearly arrived when he hears BLÜCHER attacking at the point he came from, and sends back some of his divisions. BERTRAND has kept open the west road to Lindenau and the Rhine, the only French line of retreat. Evening finds the battle a drawn one. With the nightfall three blank shots reverberate hollowly. SEMICHORUS I OF RUMOURS They sound to say that, for this moaning night, As Nature sleeps, so too shall sleep the fight; Neither the victor. SEMICHORUS II But, for France and him, Half-won is losing! CHORUS Yea, his hopes drop dim, Since nothing less than victory to-day Had saved a cause whose ruin is delay! The night gets thicker and no more is seen. SCENE III THE SAME, FROM THE TOWER OF THE PLEISSENBURG [The tower commands a view of a great part of the battlefield. Day has just dawned, and citizens, saucer-eyed from anxiety and sleeplessness, are discover watching.] FIRST CITIZEN The wind increased at midnight while I watched, With flapping showers, and clouds that combed the moon, Till dawn began outheaving this huge day, Pallidly--as if scared by its own issue; This day that the Allies with bonded might Have vowed to deal their felling finite blow. SECOND CITIZEN So must it be! They have welded close the coop Wherein our luckless Frenchmen are enjailed With such compression that their front has shrunk From five miles' farness to but half as far.-- Men say Napoleon made resolve last night To marshal a retreat. If so, his way Is by the Bridge of Lindenau.