They stood upon the ramparts, and they knew that all was
lost,
One silent pray'r to Heaven they breathed, for earth one tender sigh,
When they saw the dusty cloud above the approaching host,
They grasp'd each other by the hand and bravely turned to die.
Like a cornfield in the sunshine waved the flashing line of steel,
Long as Old England's name is known, or spoken England's tongue,
And the arid plain rang loudly with the chargers' steel-clad heel,
The gallant stand of that brave band shall by her men be sung.
With murmur like the distant surge came on the swarthy foe;
Their cheek shall blanch, their eye shall flash, as o'er the sparkling wine,
Above the blood-stained banner waved, o'er craven hearts below,
They speak of that brave action of the gallant Delhi nine:
Then turned they from the ramparts, to protect the magazine;
WILLOUGHBY, RAYNOR, FORREST, SHAW, BUCKLEY
Stern were the looks, and firm the hearts of those brave men
I ween, SCULLY, CROW, EDWARDS, and STEWART
Their pulses bounded boldly, and so boldly flashed each eye,
As theses brave men of Delhi took the post where they should die,
Then out spoke gallant WILLOUGHBY unto the gallant eight,
"Let others fly, be our's to die, if need be, by this gate!
"Our dear ones may deplore us, but shall proudly mourn our fall,
"Our country shall remember us, and God be with us all"
No time lost they, but inwardly they prayed for aid Divine,
And with the gate shut out the world, that gallant band of nine.
Like bounding wave the traitors raved, and boomed against the wall;
Firm as a rock before the shock the nine defied them all.
But spake their guns, all thundered-tongued, and backwards reel'd the foe,
As through them swept that storm of grape, and hundreds were laid low,
Loud yelled the savage traitor mob, alike with fear and hate,
As man by man the cowards ran, or fell before that gate,
Calmly the savage cry to yield our British brethren heard;
Calmly the gallant nine fired on, but answer'd not a word,
That band of heroes calmly stood, defending well that gate,
The swarthy foe around them closed, and well they met their fate.
One silent pray'r to Heaven they breathed, for earth one tender sigh,
When they saw the dusty cloud above the approaching host,
They grasp'd each other by the hand and bravely turned to die.
Like a cornfield in the sunshine waved the flashing line of steel,
Long as Old England's name is known, or spoken England's tongue,
And the arid plain rang loudly with the chargers' steel-clad heel,
The gallant stand of that brave band shall by her men be sung.
With murmur like the distant surge came on the swarthy foe;
Their cheek shall blanch, their eye shall flash, as o'er the sparkling wine,
Above the blood-stained banner waved, o'er craven hearts below,
They speak of that brave action of the gallant Delhi nine:
Then turned they from the ramparts, to protect the magazine;
WILLOUGHBY, RAYNOR, FORREST, SHAW, BUCKLEY
Stern were the looks, and firm the hearts of those brave men
I ween, SCULLY, CROW, EDWARDS, and STEWART
Their pulses bounded boldly, and so boldly flashed each eye,
As theses brave men of Delhi took the post where they should die,
Then out spoke gallant WILLOUGHBY unto the gallant eight,
"Let others fly, be our's to die, if need be, by this gate!
"Our dear ones may deplore us, but shall proudly mourn our fall,
"Our country shall remember us, and God be with us all"
No time lost they, but inwardly they prayed for aid Divine,
And with the gate shut out the world, that gallant band of nine.
Like bounding wave the traitors raved, and boomed against the wall;
Firm as a rock before the shock the nine defied them all.
But spake their guns, all thundered-tongued, and backwards reel'd the foe,
As through them swept that storm of grape, and hundreds were laid low,
Loud yelled the savage traitor mob, alike with fear and hate,
As man by man the cowards ran, or fell before that gate,
Calmly the savage cry to yield our British brethren heard;
Calmly the gallant nine fired on, but answer'd not a word,
That band of heroes calmly stood, defending well that gate,
The swarthy foe around them closed, and well they met their fate.
By The Hon. W. Wallace
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