Des jägers muth ist immer grün, Und aus dem grünen muth soll blühn Ein blümlein blutig roth, Soll heissen feindes tod. * * Mein schatz gab mir ’nen silbern ring, Dass ich ihr einen gold’nen bring’; Der ring soll sein entwandt Von eines Franzmanns hand! Rückert.
“The jäger’s courage (like his raiment) is evergreen, and out of the green courage shall spring a blood-red flowret, and be called Death to the Foe! * * My beloved gave to me a silver ring, that I may bring her a ring of gold. The ring shall be taken from a Frenchman’s hand!”
XXIV. ----“A firelock snatched From forth a Frenchman’s hand whom he did urge At sword point till he slew him,” &c.
Tancredi con un colpo il ferro crudo Del nemico ribatte, e lui fere anco: Nè poi, ciò fatto, in ritirarsi tarda, Ma si raccoglie, e si ristringe in guarda. Tasso, Gerus. _Lib._ vi. 43.
XXVI. “Like gallant chief whose port gives courage to each man.”
----como sabio capitão, Tudo corria, e via, e a todos dava Com presença e palavras coração. Camóens, _Lus._ iv. 36.
XXIX. ----“The mountain’s brow Doth bear a signal tower whose beechen arms.”
“Longa was also to send some men over the river to Andarlasa, to seize a telegraph which the French used to communicate between the left and centre of their line.” Napier, xxii. 4.
XXXIV. “And ‘_adelante!_’ crying, waved his sword.”
“_Adelante!_” which signifies “forward,” is the word of encouragement used at charging in the Spanish service.
“Saved ‘the fair boy,’ and smote the French with one accord.”
This act of bravery was performed almost literally as described, by an officer of the 43rd regiment named Havelock. The Spaniards shouted for _el chico blanco_, “the fair boy,” and followed him into the abatis.
XXXVIII. “But saw great Arthur now with Lyncean ken.”
ἴδεν Λυγκεὺς. κείνου γὰρ ἐπιχθονίων πάντων γένετ’ ὀξύτατον ὄμμα. Pind. _Nem._ x.
“Lynceus saw. For his sight was of all men’s the sharpest.” See also Theocritus. (_Idyl._ 27.) “Lynceo perspicacior” became an adage.
----Prolesque Aphareïa Lynceus Et velox Idas. Ovid. _Met._ viii. 304.
XL. “‘Lay down your arms!’ he shouted to the host.”
This adventure actually occurred to the gallant Colborne. “Accompanied by only one of his staff and half-a-dozen riflemen, he crossed their march unexpectedly, and with great presence of mind and intrepidity ordered them (three hundred men) to lay down their arms, an order which they thinking themselves entirely cut off obeyed.” (Napier, _Hist._ book xxii. chap. 4.)