<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">The Charge of the 9th Lancers</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">MELINITE, lyddite, darkened heaven,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%"> But straight at the guns the Lancers rode</p><p class="line">By the light of the rage that in them glowed--</p><p class="line">Straight at the guns, the deadly Eleven</p><p class="line">That had raked and shelled them seven times seven.</p><p class="line">With never a halt or a needless word--</p><p class="line">With never a screen from the shattering breath</p><p class="line">Of a myriad iron throats of death--</p><p class="line">At the cannon in ambush our horsemen spurred,</p><p class="line">Fiercely, grimly--their fathers' sons--</p><p class="line">And slew the gunners beside their guns,</p><p class="line">And captured the cannon, the roaring Eleven,</p><p class="line">That deafened the earth and darkened the heaven.</p><p class="line">Then their dauntless remnant came</p><p class="line">Out of the hurricane, out of the flame,</p><p class="line">Covered with smoke and dust and fame.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Shout, you shires, with a chorus sent</p><p class="line">Ringing from Caithness right to Kent,</p><p class="line">From far Northumberland down past Devon!</p><p class="line">Shout for your heroes, Britain's sons,</p><p class="line">Who stifled the breath of the thundering guns.</p><p class="line">The courage that lifted their hearts shall leaven</p><p class="line">All who go forth in England's name,</p><p class="line">Born to o'ercome as these o'ercame,</p><p class="line">And winnow the earth with the flail of Heaven.</p></div></body></html> · Great War