The Charge of the Light Brigade

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

          Half a league, half a league,
          Half a league onward,
          All in the valley of Death
          Rode the six hundred.
          "Forward, the Light Brigade!
          Charge for the guns," he said:
          Into the valley of Death
          Rode the six hundred.

          "Forward, the Light Brigade
          Was there a man dismay'd?
          Not tho' the soldier knew
          Some one had blunder'd:
          Theirs not to make reply,
          Theirs not to reason why,
          Theirs but to do and die:
          Into the valley of Death
          Rode the six hundred.

          Cannon to the right of them,
          Cannon to the left of them,
          Cannon in front of them
          Volley'd and thunder'd;
          Storm'd at with shot and shell,
          Boldly they rode and well,
          Into the jaws of Death,
          Into the mouth of Hell
          Rode the six hundred.

          Flash'd all their sabres bare,
          Flash'd as they turn'd in air
          Sabring the gunners there,
          Charging an army, while
          All the world wonder'd:
          Plunged in the battery-smoke
          Right thro' the line they broke;
          Cossack and Russian
          Reel'd from the sabre-stroke
          Shatter'd and sunder'd.
          Then they rode back, but not,
          Not the six hundred.

          V. Cannon to the right of them
          Cannon to the left of them,
          Cannon behind them
          Volley'd and thunder'd;
          Storm'd at with shot and shell,
          While horse and hero fell,
          They that had fought so well
          Came thro' the jaws of Death,
          Back from the mouth of Hell,
          All that was left of them,
          Left of six hundred.

          VI. When can their glory fade?
          O the wild charge they made!
          All the world wonder'd.
          Honor the charge they made!
          Honor the Light Brigade,
          Noble six hundred!