"O mother, mother, mother!" she said, "So strange it seems to me. "Yet here's a kiss for my mother dear, She clad herself in a russet° gown, She went by dale,° and she went by down, The lily-white doe Lord Ronald had brought Dropped her head in the maiden's hand, Down stepped Lord Ronald from his tower: "O Lady Clare, you shame your worth! Why come you dressed like a village maid, That are the flower of the earth?" "If I come dressed like a village maid, "Play me no tricks," said Lord Ronald, Oh, and proudly stood she up! Her heart within her did not fail; She looked into Lord Ronald's eyes, He laughed a laugh of merry scorn; He turned and kissed her where she stood; "If you are not the heiress born, And I," said he, "the next in blood Words: trow-believe; betrothed-engaged; cleave-cling, hold to; russet-brown homespun; dale-valley; down-hill. THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (The event which gave birth to this martial poem happened during the Crimean War between Russia and Turkey, in which England assisted Turkey. The gallant charge of six hundred English troopers against an army division will stand for all time as an example of reckless daring in the face of almost certain death. Whatever we may think of the officer who blundered, our admiration will go out to the unflinching courage of the men.) "Forward the Light Brigade!" Was there a man dismayed? Cannon to right of them, Cannon in front of them Volleyed and thundered; Stormed at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell, Rode the six hundred. Flashed all their sabers bare, All the world wondered. Plunged in the battery-smoke, Right through the line they broke: Cossack and Russian Reeled from the saber-stroke, Shattered and sundered. Then they rode back, but not, Not the six hundred. Cannon to right of them, |