168 



A NIGHT ATTACK. 



Aw^y f 



The woods ring back the sound : 

 The stern rocks shout a voice around. 

 The watch-fires gleam with deadlier light. 

 The stars are shrouding in affright. 

 Away ! 



Who quails beneath the darkness now ? 

 Who feels the coward stamp his brow ? 

 None answer. — Vengeance' call hath sped 

 From yonder field of bretliren-dead. 

 Away ! 



They deem not of our dark career, 

 They reck not of our onset near. 

 A torrent in the gloom may shed 

 Oblivion o'er the sleepers' bed. 



Away f 



Keen swords, to night, shall loose the flood 

 Of many a well-tried foeman's blood : 

 And though we prove not victors all 

 What boots it where the dead may fall. 

 Away ! 



Rose on the flashing gust a sigh ? 

 Ha ! 't was the orphans' lonely cry. 

 Think of your fated kinsmen's home 

 Where gladness never more may come. 

 Away I 



What, blades all bared ? — the red flames' glance 

 Reveals their madly wheeling dance. 

 Hurrah ! the wild winds may not flee 

 More wildly to the strife than we. 

 Away I 



A dim, low thunder rocks the hills ; 

 An earthquake motion through them thrills. 

 Hot foam is hissing round like spray. 

 Who checks the midnight charge ? Away ! 

 Away ! 



Franz. 



