Advance, advance, they’re on us now in hordes ;
Drums, sound the charge, draw sabres ! unsheath swords !
Forward, brave Ney, and sap these living walls,
Their iron squares are giving ‘neath our balls ;
Nearer, get nearer yet, fight face to face,
Our cannon for your swords will win a place ;
Nearer, get nearer yet, fight breast to breast,
Take life for life, let slaughter know no rest.
Flash upon flash, the bullet to its mark
Flies swiftly on ; the iron rain makes dark
The heavy day,^ and down in deadly showers
Upon the foe it falls. The distance lowers
With bomb-shells, lurid. Not a man will live
If but the sword another hour should give
To finish all its task. Then will these hosts
Have passed away in throngs of pallid ghosts.
(Edgar Quinet)
More Poetry from Edgar Quinet:
Edgar Quinet Poems based on Topics: Man, Life, Courage, Faces, Ghost, Place- Napoleon - Extract 1 (Edgar Quinet Poems)
- Napoleon - Extract 6 (Edgar Quinet Poems)
- Napoleon - Extract 8 (Edgar Quinet Poems)
- Napoleon - Extract 2 (Edgar Quinet Poems)
- Napoleon - Extract 4 (Edgar Quinet Poems)
- Napoleon - Extract 3 (Edgar Quinet Poems)
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