The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon Part 179

A knot of figures, comprising WELLINGTON with a suite of general and other staff-officers, ride backwards and forwards in front of the English lines, where each regimental colour floats in the hands of the junior ensign. The DUKE himself, now a man of forty- six, is on his bay charger Copenhagen, in light pantaloons, a small plumeless hat, and a blue cloak, which shows its white lining when blown back.

On the French side, too, a detached group creeps along the front in preliminary survey. BONAPARTE--also forty-six--in a grey overcoat, is mounted on his white arab Marengo, and accompanied by SOULT, NEY, JEROME, DROUOT, and other marshals. The figures of aides move to and fro like shuttle-c.o.c.ks between the group and distant points in the field. The sun has begun to gleam.]

SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

Discriminate these, and what they are, Who stand so stalwartly to war.

SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

Report, ye Rumourers of things near and far.

SEMICHORUS I OF RUMOURS [chanting]

Sweep first the Frenchmen's leftward lines along, And eye the peaceful panes of Hougomont-- That seemed to hold prescriptive right of peace In fee from Time till Time itself should cease!-- Jarred now by Reille's fierce foot-divisions three, Flanked on their left by Pire's cavalry.-- The fourfold corps of d'Erlon, spread at length, Compose the right, east of the famed chaussee-- The shelterless Charleroi-and-Brussels way,-- And Jacquinot's alert light-steeded strength Still further right, their sharpened swords display.

Thus stands the first line.

SEMICHORUS II

Next behind its back Comes Count Lobau, left of the Brussels track; Then Domon's horse, the horse of Subervie; Kellermann's cuira.s.sed troopers twinkle-tipt, And, backing d'Erlon, Milhaud's horse, equipt Likewise in burnished steelwork suns.h.i.+ne-dipt: So ranks the second line refulgently.

SEMICHORUS I

The third and last embattlement reveals D'Erlon's, Lobau's, and Reille's foot-cannoniers, And horse-drawn ordnance too, on ma.s.sy wheels, To strike with cavalry where s.p.a.ce appears.

SEMICHORUS II

The English front, to left, as flanking force, Has Vandeleur's hussars, and Vivian's horse; Next them pace Picton's rows along the crest; The Hanoverian foot-folk; Wincke; Best; Bylandt's brigade, set forward fencelessly, Pack's northern clansmen, Kempt's tough infantry, With gaiter, epaulet, spat, and {philibeg}; While Halkett, Ompteda, and Kielmansegge Prolong the musters, near whose forward edge Baring invests the Farm of Holy Hedge.

SEMICHORUS I

Maitland and Byng in Cooke's division range, And round dun Hougomont's old lichened sides A dense array of watching Guardsmen hides Amid the peaceful produce of the grange, Whose new-kerned apples, hairy gooseberries green, And mint, and thyme, the ranks intrude between.-- Last, westward of the road that finds Nivelles, Duplat draws up, and Adam parallel.

SEMICHORUS II

The second British line--embattled horse-- Holds the reverse slopes, screened, in ordered course; Dornberg's, and Arentsschildt's, and Colquhoun-Grant's, And left of them, behind where Alten plants His regiments, come the "Household" Cavalry; And nigh, in Picton's rear, the trumpets call The "Union" brigade of Ponsonby.

Behind these the reserves. In front of all, Or inters.p.a.ced, with slow-matched gunners manned, Upthroated rows of threatful ordnance stand.

[The clock of Nivelles convent church strikes eleven in the distance. Shortly after, coils of starch-blue smoke burst into being along the French lines, and the English batteries respond promptly, in an ominous roar that can be heard at Antwerp.

A column from the French left, six thousand strong, advances on the plantation in front of the chateau of Hougomont. They are played upon by the English ordnance; but they enter the wood, and dislodge some battalions there. The French approach the buildings, but are stopped by a loop-holed wall with a ma.s.s of English guards behind it. A deadly fire bursts from these through the loops and over the summit.

NAPOLEON orders a battery of howitzers to play upon the building.

Flames soon burst from it; but the foot-guards still hold the courtyard.]

SCENE II

THE SAME. THE FRENCH POSITION

[On a hillock near the farm of Rossomme a small table from the farmhouse has been placed; maps are spread thereon, and a chair is beside it. NAPOLEON, SOULT, and other marshals are standing round, their horses waiting at the base of the slope.

NAPOLEON looks through his gla.s.s at Hougomont. His elevated face makes itself distinct in the morning light as a gloomy resentful countenance, blue-black where shaven, and stained with snuff, with powderings of the same on the breast of his uniform. His stumpy figure, being just now thrown back, accentuates his stoutness.]

NAPOLEON

Let Reille be warned that these his surly sets On Hougomont chateau, can scarce defray Their mounting bill of blood. They do not touch The core of my intent--to pierce and roll The centre upon the right of those opposed.

Thereon will turn the outcome of the day, In which our odds are ninety to their ten!

SOULT

Yes--prove there time and prompt.i.tude enough To call back Grouchy here. Of his approach I see no sign.

NAPOLEON [roughly]

Hours past he was bid come.

--But naught imports it! We are enough without him.

You have been beaten by this Wellington, And so you think him great. But let me teach you Wellington is no foe to reckon with.

His army, too, is poor. This clash to-day Is more serious for our seasoned files Than breakfasting.

SOULT

Such is my earnest hope.

NAPOLEON

Observe that Wellington still labours on, Stoutening his right behind Gomont chateau, But leaves his left and centre as before-- Weaker, if anything. He plays our game!

[WELLINGTON can, in fact, be seen detaching from his main line several companies of Guards to check the aims of the French on Hougomont.]

Let me re-word my tactics. Ney leads off By seizing Mont Saint-Jean. Then d'Erlon stirs, And heaves up his division from the left.

The second corps will move abreast of him The sappers nearing to entrench themselves Within the aforesaid farm.

[Enter an aide-de-camp.]