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234 THE GOLDEN TREASURY OF |
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Again comes a column to death and defeat ! What is it in these who shall now do the storming
That makes every Georgian spring to his feet ? " O God ! what a pity ! " they cry in their cover,
As rifles are readied and bayonets made tight; " 'Tis Meagher and his fellows ! their caps have green clover; 'Tis Greek to Greek now for the rest of the fight 1 " Twelve hundred the column, their rent flag before them, With Meagher at their head, they have dashed at the hill! Their foemen are proud of the country that bore them ;
But, Irish in love, they are enemies still. Out rings the fierce word, " Let thein have it! " The rifles Are emptied point-blank in the hearts of the foe: It is green against green ; but a principle stifles The Irishman's love in the Georgian's blow. The column has reeled, but it is not defeated; In front of the guns they re-form and attack; Six times they have done it and six times retreated ; Twelve hundred they came and two hundred go back. Two hundred go back with the chivalrous story;
The wild day is closed in the night's solemn shroud; A thousand lie dead, but their death was a glory That calls not for tears—the Green Badges are proud ! Bright honor be theirs who for honor were fearless, Who charged for their flag to the grim cannon's mouth; And honor to them who were true, though not tearless.— |
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