And with a devilish thirst for blood, again I joined the fray.
At last we rallied all our strength, and charged o’er heaps of slain:
Some fought to death; some wavered—then fled[502] across the plain.
Well, boy, the rest is all confused: there was a fearful rout;
I saw our troopers chase the foe, and heard their maddened shout.
Then came a blank: my senses reeled, I know not how I fell;
I seemed to grapple with a foe, but that I cannot tell.
My mind was gone: when it came back I saw the moon[503] on high,
Around me all was still[504] as death. I gazed[505] up at the sky,
And watched the glimmering stars above,—so quiet did they seem,—