TENNYSON’S LAST POEM.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume IV, Issue 524, 9 May 1882, Page 2

TENNYSON’S LAST POEM.

CHARGE OF THE HEAVY BRIGADE,

The Ne%v York Herald republishes from the Independent, to which [it was cabled on the morning of its publication in Macmillan’s Magazine, the new poem by Mr Tennyson, entitled “ The charge of the Heavy Brigade,” which he has written as a companion piece to the Balaclava charge. The Herald'says:—‘’The event he commemorates has long waited fer its poet. Its conception Avas so bold, it success so inexplicable, that a suspicion of fable has always hung round it. Sir James Scarlett, and his 300 troopers, Enniskillens and Scots Greys, found themselves opposed to 3000 Russian horse. Sir James, with an aide-de-camp, orderly, and trumpeter, rode up the hill where the enemy had halted, fought his way through, then fo ight his way back, and was in time to lead so effective a charge that the Russians ‘surged and wavered, and reeled, up the hill, up the hill, up the hid, out of the field, over the brow', and away.’ Tennyson’s poem has much of the old cavalry ring. Its metre is skilfully varied to describe the fortunes of the combatants, galloping in dactyls, charging in anapests, sabring iu spondees. But it has not the directness of its predecessor. It is not as simple, as lucid, as dramatic. It is plainly an imitation, and, as such, foredoomed to failure.” CHARGE OF THE lIEAVV BRIGADE. I. The clxarge of the gallant Three Hundred, the Heavy Brigade! Down the lull, down the hill, thousands of Russians, Thousands of horsemen drew to the valley —and stayed. For Scarlett and Scarlett’s Three Hundred were riding by When the points of the Russian lances broke in on the sky ; And he called “ Left wheel into line 1” and they wheeled and obeyed. Then he looked at the host that had halted, he knew not why. And he turned half round, and he bade his trumpeter sound “To the charge !’’ and he rode on ahead, as he waved his blade To the gallant Three Hundred, whose glory will never die, “Follow and up the hill 1” Up the hill, up the hill, follow the Heavy Brigade.

The trumpet, the gallop, the charge and the might of the fight ! Down the hill, slowly, thousands of Russians Drew to the valley, and halted at last on the height With a wing pushed out the left and a wing to the right. But Scarlett was far on ahead, and he dashed up alone Through the great grey slope of men ; And he whirled his sabre, he held his own Like an Englishman there and then. And the three that were nearest him followed with force, Wedged themselves between horse and horse, Fought for their lives in the narrow gap they had made, Four amid thousands; and up the hill, up the hill, Galloped the gallant Three Hundred, the Heavy Brigade. hi. Fell, like a cannon-shot, Burst, like a thunderbolt, Crashed, Hke a hurricane,

Broke through the mass from below, Drove through the midst of the foe, Plunged up and down, to and fro, Rode, flashing blow upon blow, Brave Enniskillens and Greys, Whirling their sabres in circles of light; And some of us, all in amaze, Were held for a while from the fight, And were only standing at gaze, When the dark muffied Russian crowd Folded its wings from the left and the right And rolled them round like a cloud— Oh 1 mad for the charge and the battle were wo When our own good red coats sank from sight Like drops of blood in a dark grey sea ; And we turned to each other, muttering, all dismayed, “ Lost aro the gallant Three Hundred, the Heavy Brigade !” IV. But they rode, like victors and lords,_ Through the rorest of lances and swords ; In the heart of the Russian hordes They rode, or they stood at bay ; Struck with the sword-hand and slew ; Down with the bridle-hand drew The foe from the saddle, and threw Under foot there iu the fray ; Ranged like a storm, or stood like a rock In the wave of a stormy day ; Til’ suddenly shock upon shock, Staggered the mass from without ; For our men galloped up with a cheer and a shout, And the Russians surged and wavered, and reeled. Up the hill, up the hill, up the hill, out of the field, Over the brow and away, v. Glory to each and to all, and the charge that they made ! Glory to all the Three Hundred, the Heavy Brigade !