Select Poetry.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 388, 19 July 1879, Page 3

Select Poetry.

IN MEMORIAM

MELVILLE AND OOGHILL. TThe bodies of Lieutenants Melville and Coghill were found three hundred yards from the Luffallo River, together with the colors of the 24th Regiment which they had succeeded in saving.— Cape lown Telegraph, 4th February. 3879.] Isandula. January 22. ISA Amid this thickest caimane The flag of battle stood, Fortresserl by slain defenders. Who had died as heroes should— Li d, fiercely lighting to uphold That Ensign’s old renown. Till by o'erwhelming numbers The flag at last went down— Went do n, but not till thousands Of the savage foe were slain, And the last of its devoted guard Was butchered on the plain. ’Twas then two youthful heroes Charged through the yelling horde, A path of carnage cleaving. To its rescue, with the sword, And from out the demon fury Of tli t terrible melee, From heart of savage massacre, Bore orrt the colors free. ’Twas rescued, bravely rescued, But, alas ! the. prize was won By blood, the noblest ever That heroic deed hato done ; For when the dreadful morrow Showed the dead-encumbered ground, There—a gore-dyed shroud and trophy The rescued flag was found. Now, glory to the gallant dead ! In highest strain be sung— A pieon from our heart of hearts, Although our own bo wrung With sympathetic sorrow— For the anguished souls that mourn The young, the brave, the loved and lost, From life by glory tern. For the sad and hopeless yearning Of the desolated heart. To which God’s pity can alone in time a bairn impart. But, be it still remembered That, at duty’s stern behest— At bidding of devotion, Under honors highest, test. Those valiant soldiers gave us— While unfolds the roll of time— This lesson to heroic hearts, Of all the most sublime That life, is less than honor— And duty, more than death —• That deeds like theirs cre.ite in man Sublime, heroic faith ; That, whenever England’s honor Calls forth her sons m bleed, They shall emulate the glory Of this daring, dauntless deed. On i urest marble graven. Let their valiance and their name, In England’s Judy Temple Be consecrate to Fame, That coming generations May read'the glorious scroll. With throbbing hearts uplifted. With deep homage of the soul. CiiAKr.cs Casey Carlow, Ireland, March 5, 1579,