FROWNING, the mountain stronghold stood,
Whose front no mortal could assail;
For more than twice three hundred years
The terror of the Indian vale.
By blood and fire the robber band
Answered the helpless village wail.
Hot was his heart and cool his thought,
When Napier from his Englishmen
Up to the bandits’ rampart glanced,
And down upon his ranks again.
Summoned to dare a deed like that,
Which of them all would answer then?
What sullen regiment is this
That lifts its eyes to dread Cutchee?
Abased, its standard bears no flag.
For thus the punishment shall be
That England metes to Englishmen
Who shame her once by mutiny.
From out the disgraced Sixty-Fourth
There stepped a hundred men of might.
Cried Napier: “Now prove to me
I read my soldiers’ hearts aright!
Form! Forward! Charge, my volunteers!
Your colors are on yonder height!”
So sad is shame, so wise is trust!
The challenge echoed bugle-clear.
Like fire along the Sixty-Fourth
From rank to file rang cheer on cheer.
In death and glory up the pass
They fought for all to brave men dear.
Old is the tale, but read anew
In every warring human heart.
What rebel hours, what coward shame,
Upon the aching memory start!
To find the ideal forfeited,
—What tears can teach the holy art?
Thou great Commander! leading on
Through weakest darkness to strong light;
By any anguish, give us back
Our life’s young standard, pure and bright.
O fair, lost Colors of the soul!
For your sake storm we any height.
