rge
on the English midst, with great blocks of the Imperial Guard at
the back of them. The rattle of their drums, their fanfarades,
and their bands playing "Veillons au salut de l'Empire" contrast
with the quiet reigning on the English side.

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-cocks 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 cuirassed troopers twinkle-tipt,
And, backing d'Erlon, Milhaud's horse, equipt
Likewise in burnished steelwork sunshine-dipt:
So ranks the second line refulgently.

SEMICHORUS I

The third and last embattlement reveals
D'Erlon's, Lobau's, and Reille's f