Year: 1879

Ana ever upon the topmost roof banner OF England


blew.


Ay, but the foe sprung his mine many times ana "


chanced on day
Soon as the blast of that underground thunderclap
Dark thro The smoke and the sulphur like so many
Cannon-shot, musketshot, voley on voley, and yell
FierceV ON all the defences our myriad enemy fell.
What have they done where is ti Out yonder' oui"
storm at the water-gatei storm at the Baley-gate
surgipg and swaying all round as ocean on every
Plunges and heavos at bank that is daily drownd by
So many thousands that If they be bold enough. who
KIN or be kd. live or die, they shall know we are sol
Ready take aim at their leaders-their masses are
Backward they reel like the wave. like the wave fling
Flying oid at the last by the handful they could
And ever upon the opmos roof our banner Of England


blew.


Handful of men as we were, were English in heart
Strong with the strength of the to command to
Each Of us fought as If hope the garrison hung but
stll-could watch at ell pointsi we were every day
There was q whisper among u.s. but only whisper that
Children and wves-if the tigers leap into the fold un
awareg-


Every die at his post-and the foe may out1Ve Us


at last
Better fall by the hands that they love- than to fall
Roar upon roar in moment two mines by the enemy
Glove into perilous ohasms walls and poor pail
R1emGn true your heart but be that your hand
sharp is the fire of assault better amd your flank
Twice do hurl them to earth from the ladders to
u which they bad clung, .,,.,. - , ,,o,
Twice from the ditch where they sletef VIC oINe tne
And ever upon the topmos roof banner Of England
blew.


Then on another wild morning another wild earthquake


outtore


Clean from our lines of defence ten twelve good PAGES
Reman high on the roof hidden there from the light
One has leapt up on the breach. crying out: Follow
Mark bim-he fslsl then another, and him too and
Had they been bold enough them who tell but the
Boardngs and rafters and doors-an embrasurel make
Now doubie-charee it with grapel It charged and
Praise TO our Indian brothers. and let the dark face have


his duel


ThaDks the kindly dark faces who fought with US
Fought with the braves u.s. and drove them and
smote them. and slew,


That ever upon the topmos roof our banner in India
blew


Men will forget what suffer and not what do. We


can fight;


But TO the soldier all day and be sentinel all through the
Ever the mine assault saes, their lying alarms
Bugles and drums In the darkness and shoutDgs and
Ever tne labor of Atty that had to be done by fve
Ever the marvel among US that one should be left
Ever the day with it's tratorous death from the loop
Ever the night With its conless corpse be laid in the
Heat like the mouth OF hell, deluge of cataract
stencil OF old oal decaying and infinite Hes
Thoughts of the breezes OF May blowing over an Eng


lish field


Cholera scurvy and fever the wound that ooud be
Looping away of the limb by the piulpltiess knife
Torture and trouble IN vainfor it never could
yaIor of delicate women who tended the hospital bed
Horror Of women IN travail among the dying and dead,
Grief for perishing children and never a moment
Toll and ineffabe wearness faltering hopes Of relief
Havelock baed beaten. or butchered for all that
Then day night day and night. coming down the


still-shattered walls


Millions of musketb bullets, and thousands OF cannon
But ever upon the topmost roof our banner of England
Hark cannondade fusillade is it true what told
outlGm and Haveock breaking their way through the
Surely the pibroch OF Europe is ringing again
All on sudden the garrison utter 1ubilant shout
Havelocks glorious HighaDders answer with conquer


ing cheers,


Forth from their holes and their hidings and


children come


Blessing the wholesome white faces OF Haveocks good


fuslleers,


kissing tte hardened hand OF the Highlander wet


with their tears


Dance to the pibroch l-saved we are saved lis 1t


you is il yOui


Saved y the vaor Of Havelock saved by the blessing OF
"Hod it for Afteen days we have held it eighty


sevenl


And over aoft on the palace roof the old banner Of


England blew. ALFRED TRNNIsOE.