Page:Wessex poems and other verses (IA wessexpoemsother00hard).pdf/81

 "He had speech that night on the morrow's designs With his chiefs by the bivouac fire, While the belt of flames from the enemy's lines Flared nigher him yet and nigher.

"Three sky-lights then from the girdling trine Told, 'Ready!' As they rose Their flashes seemed his Judgment-Sign For bleeding Europe's woes.

"'Twas seen how the French watch-fires that night Glowed still and steadily: And the Three rejoiced, for they read in the sight That the One disdained to flee. . ..

"—Five hundred guns began the affray On next day morn at nine; Such mad and mangling cannon-play Had never torn human line.