Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred,
For up came an order which
Some one had blunder'd.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!
"Take the guns, Nolan said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!"
No man was there 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,
Rode the six hundred.
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to 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.
IV
Flash'd all their sabres bare
Flash'd all at once in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wonder'd:
The Russian line they broke;
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to 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 from the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder'd.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!
A.T.