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Anonymous translation
HOT was the day and bloody the fight, | |
| Cool was the evening and quiet the night. | |
| From the edge of the wood in the valley below | |
| Three times the shrill signal-trumpet did blow; | |
| Sounding so loudly at break of the day, | 5 |
| To call the brave dragoons once more to the fray. | |
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| Hastily forming in long battle-row, | |
| Each man finds his place, and they all charge the foe. | |
| But, alas! all the troopers return not again,— | |
| Many shall rise nevermore from the plain. | 10 |
| They come to reveille with strong life flushing red; | |
| They lie at recall pale, bleeding, and dead. | |
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| Riderless horses with broken rein, | |
| Uncontrolled, wander afar o’er the plain. | |
| But, hark! from the wood in the valley below | 15 |
| Once more the shrill signal-trumpet doth blow. | |
| But, see the black steed, how he pricks up his ear, | |
| And, neighing, rejoices the trumpet to hear. | |
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| Behold the brave bay with the wound on his flank, | |
| Forgetting his pain, seeks his place in the rank. | 20 |
| And then, flecked with blood, see that gallant old gray; | |
| Though he halts on three legs, how he pants for the fray! | |
| Hastily forming in long battle-row, | |
| Each steed finds his place, and they all charge the foe. | |
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| The steed, like his rider, obeys the command; | 25 |
| When the shrill signal sounds, in his place he doth stand. | |
| Over three hundred were counted that day, | |
| Riderless horses who joined in the fray; | |
| Over three hundred saddles, O horrible sight! | |
| Were emptied at once in that terrible fight! | 30 |
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| Over three hundred, O glorious brave! | |
| Out of every four, one has there found his grave. | |
| Over three hundred, O glorious steed! | |
| Loyal and faithful in time of sore need. | |
| Honor the brave, who to Gravelotte went, | 35 |
| And honor the steeds of the Guard Regiment. | |
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