New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-02
RETROSPFCTIOM
1s57-1ss2.
From "vcrses Written in Inda.'


From "verses Written in Inda.'
As cross the nowcr.bed. laid with tsste
Where the old grove sheltered a sandy wastos
How soft the gcraniums CLEAN in
The light OF "A dusty crimson sky
YES. only the tree, remember, and /.
Thing, once spoken. and done. hard bv
The spot where We now stand dreaming.
Tha; year when the tempest Of muiiny broke.
And the empire swaycd Ike storm bent oak.
When the scpoys gave 10 quarter
When ISLAM had risen and Delhi fell.
And thi- plain furnace hot a, hell
We were campcf. three English. beside that well:
We had nothing but shade and water.
Hour after hour. tin the DAY was spent.
We had watched our rc~'lc-s regiment.
And the soldiers whispering round rs
In the glazing noon-iid heat, and yet
our hearts .agh low when The I'd orb set.
And the soft dark night Ike falling net
IN its unseen mcshcs bound us.
He was my Colonel and she his wife;
We had little comfort or hope I'm life,
And he said Is il worth complaining.
As You look M the sullcr scpoys' line.
That they hide hut the hour and await the ..gn
That hall end our care, ln the fierce sunshine
And the III, Of a rough campaigning
at shall never be heard in the English host
That lost my oior- and left my post
From trcachcrou, band 10 noe nc,
Yet stand ready ctwas there he stood
ITO die a. "A Christian soldier should.
With my wife and my friend beside no.
Then he claspcd her close in warm embrace.
And he TOOK my hand but marked her face
And the flashing glance she gave me
For the mutinous eyes -ad " llie Is s"ect
While nerve, have couragc and heart can beat;
VIII YOU crouch like bare AZ the hunters feet.
VIII You die like a fool, or save mo y
So sadalcd in silence orr horses ih!ec 80.
aud The night. As now, wa. falling.
And thc air WAS heavy, how, with scent.
And Just outside at The scpoy tent
The armed sentry came ana went.
We could hear his comrades ealing
And whispered Up: twill be lighter soon.
SEQ tie faint forcslow Of The rising moon,
Let your wife mount Qulci-God spccd her.
Her Arab can pAllDp. ne nc"d- mo- Ian.
We can break their line Nil, , sudden c rAIn'
80 win You ride last or lead her
Lightly the lady to saddle sprung.
iHt tie othcr's hand 10 the bride olunr.
And he said " DO yc All hctray mel
! serve the Queen and trust the Lord;
Shall I stain my honor and break ms word1
move NOT hence While wear th- sword.
And charge you BOTH obey mo
Then none for a moment spoke or moved;
one look she gave me- The woman i92''''
A. there cane one tap Of the sepoy'4 drum:
And the light air shook WIN The trenp ana the hui
! can sec their bayoncts eli,ten'
viii 4. screen Your wife from a cruel dchthI
Remember the troth ,on pleli"d.
And yonr home bon the faI.on summer DAYS.
And a Young lie lost for an empty phrase
Eut ne said: Wherever STAY. she stays
We shall meet our end united
Then cried: Ills the craze Of a fcvcrcd brain.
Nill Won take vOur hald from Ter bride rem,
VIII Won mount and i'd" t' 10. never
He said And Size bent from her saddle low.
And she touched nv check and whispered "" co.
with her ewes all full of espar and woe
Good by. sweetheart. for cvcrl"
And then? ono shot and her rein was free,
And fat and furious ana ne
out Of the grove were lying
The white smoke rose. and the leaves were stirred
inf only the solemn branches heard
OF sound or motion. Of sign or word,
A. he lay beneath them dying.
4 shout. a vpllcy. rushing ride:
rhe low moon led a.. and side 10y side
We followed from dark 70 daWninS
over the streams and the silent plain.
All sights and shadows and sounds again
And figures are lifting acrV-- my brain;
And the meeting OF eyes at morning.
Ycs. this was the hour. and that was the epot'
AID thc mufc tree know NhO fired that shot,
But ihc secret well they're keeping
How they hcchOn and bend In the gathering gloom
o,cr tlc ,oping mound where the roses blooml
can flat be an old forgotten tomb.
IL il there that the Colonies Sleeping -
" " ALFRED LYALL.