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Of his whole army； which so much abounded
In courage； was obliged to snatch a shield；
And rally back his Romans to the field。
Juan； who had no shield to snatch； and was
No Caesar； but a fine young lad； who fought
He knew not why； arriving at this pass；
Stopp'd for a minute； as perhaps he ought
For a much longer time； then； like an as
（Start not； kind reader； since great Homer thought
This simile enough for Ajax； Juan
Perhaps may find it better than a new one）…
Then； like an ass； he went upon his way；
And； what was stranger； never look'd behind；
But seeing； flashing forward； like the day
Over the hills； a fire enough to blind
Those who dislike to look upon a fray；
He stumbled on； to try if he could find
A path； to add his own slight arm and forces
To corps； the greater part of which were corses。
Perceiving then no more the mandant
Of his own corps； nor even the corps； which had
Quite disappear'd… the gods know howl （I can't
Account for every thing which may look bad
In history； but we at least may grant
It was not marvellous that a mere lad；
In search of glory； should look on before；
Nor care a pinch of snuff about his corps）：…
Perceiving nor mander nor manded；
And left at large； like a young heir； to make
His way to… where he knew not… single handed；
As travellers follow over bog and brake
An 'ignis fatuus；' or as sailors stranded
Unto the nearest hut themselves betake；
So Juan； following honour and his nose；
Rush'd where the thickest fire announced most foes。
He knew not where he was； nor greatly cared；
For he was dizzy； busy； and his veins
Fill'd as with lightning… for his spirit shared
The hour； as is the case with lively brains；
And where the hottest fire was seen and heard；
And the loud cannon peal'd his hoarsest strains；
He rush'd； while earth and air were sadly shaken
By thy humane discovery； Friar Bacon！
And as he rush'd along； it came to pass he
Fell in with what was late the second column；
Under the orders of the General Lascy；
But now reduced； as is a bulky volume
Into an elegant extract （much less massy）
Of heroism； and took his place with solemn
Air 'midst the rest； who kept their valiant faces
And levell'd weapons still against the glacis。
Just at this crisis up came Johnson too；
Who had 'retreated；' as the phrase is when
Men run away much rather than go through
Destruction's jaws into the devil's den；
But Johnson was a clever fellow； who
Knew when and how 'to cut and e again；'
And never ran away； except when running
Was nothing but a valorous kind of cunning。
And so； when all his corps were dead or dying；
Except Don Juan； a mere novice； whose
More virgin valour never dreamt of flying
From ignorance of danger； which indues
Its votaries； like innocence relying
On its own strength； with careless nerves and thews；…
Johnson retired a little； just to rally
Those who catch cold in 'shadows of Death's valley。'
And there； a little shelter'd from the shot；
Which rain'd from bastion； battery； parapet；
Rampart； wall； casement； house；… for there was not
In this extensive city； sore beset
By Christian soldiery； a single spot
Which did not bat like the devil； as yet；
He found a number of Chasseurs； all scatter'd
By the resistance of the chase they batter'd。
And these he call'd on； and； what 's strange； they came
Unto his call； unlike 'the spirits from
The vasty deep；' to whom you may exclaim；
Says Hotspur； long ere they will leave their home。
Their reasons were uncertainty； or shame
At shrinking from a bullet or a bomb；
And that odd impulse； which in wars or creeds
Makes men； like cattle； follow him who leads。
By Jove！ he was a noble fellow； Johnson；
And though his name； than Ajax or Achilles；
Sounds less harmonious； underneath the sun soon
We shall not see his likeness： he could kill his
Man quite as quietly as blows the monsoon
Her steady breath （which some months the same still is）：
Seldom he varied feature； hue； or muscle；
And could be very busy without bustle；
And therefore； when he ran away； he did so
Upon reflection； knowing that behind
He would find others who would fain be rid so
Of idle apprehensions； which like wind
Trouble heroic stomachs。 Though their lids so
Oft are soon closed； all heroes are not blind；
But when they light upon immediate death；
Retire a little； merely to take breath。
But Johnson only ran off； to return
With many other warriors； as we said；
Unto that rather somewhat misty bourn；
Which Hamlet tells us is a pass of dread。
To Jack howe'er this gave but slight concern：
His soul （like galvanism upon the dead）
Acted upon the living as on wire；
And led them back into the heaviest fire。
Egad！ they found the second time what they
The first time thought quite terrible enough
To fly from； malgre all which people say
Of glory； and all that immortal stuff
Which fills a regiment （besides their pay；
That daily shilling which makes warriors tough）…
They found on their return the self…same wele；
Which made some think； and others know； a hell e。
They fell as thick as harvests beneath hail；
Grass before scythes； or corn below the sickle；
Proving that trite old truth； that life 's as frail
As any other boon for which men stickle。
The Turkish batteries thrash'd them like a flail；
Or a good boxer； into a sad pickle
Putting the very bravest； who were knock'd
Upon the head； before their guns were cock'd。
The Turks； behind the traverses and flanks
Of the next bastion； fired away like devils；
And swept； as gales sweep foam away； whole ranks：
However； Heaven knows how； the Fate who levels
Towns； nations； worlds； in her revolving pranks；
So order'd it； amidst these sulphury revels；
That Johnson and some few who had not scamper'd；
Reach'd the interior talus of the rampart。
First one or two； then five； six； and a dozen；
Came mounting quickly up； for it was now
All neck or nothing； as； like pitch or rosin；
Flame was shower'd forth above； as well 's below；
So that you scarce could say who best had chosen；
The gentlemen that were the first to show
Their martial faces on the parapet；
Or those who thought it brave to wait as yet。
But those who scaled； found out that their advance
Was favour'd by an accident or blunder：
The Greek or Turkish Cohorn's ignorance
Had palisado'd in a way you 'd wonder
To see in forts of Netherlands or France
（Though these to our Gibraltar must knock under）…
Right in the middle of the parapet
Just named； these palisades were primly set：
So that on either side some nine or ten
Paces were left； whereon you could contrive
To march； a great convenience to our men；
At least to all those who were left alive；
Who thus could form a line and fight again；
And that which farther aided them to strive
Was； that they could kick down the palisades；
Which scarcely rose much higher than grass blades。
Among the first；… I will not say the first；
For such precedence upon such occasions
Will oftentimes make deadly quarrels burst
Out between friends as well as allied nations：
The Briton must be bold who really durst
Put to such trial John Bull's partial patience；
As say that Wellington at Waterloo
Was beaten… though the Prussians