It made me think of Tennyson's "Charge of the Light Brigade."
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them,
Volley'd and thunder'd.
The guns and cannons kept up such a continual firing that the ground actually shook under our feet.
I wondered why so much powder and energy should be wasted on a helpless farm-house, and dreaded to think what the real thing must he, if this was only sham.
When it was apparently finished, and every one in the neighborhood had surrendered, they sounded a grand fanfare, and blew a mighty blast of trumpets, the officers dashed up full tilt to the Emperor, and announced, "Victory all along the line!"
I can't tell you how sweet the little Prince looked when he distributed the médaille de mérite to the brave warriors, who received it with due modesty, saluting gravely.
The Emperor rode about among the carriages and asked us ladies how we had liked it, and if there had been too much noise.
The company at dinner to-night looked particularly brilliant; there must have been a hundred and fifty people present, as the generals and the officers were asked to remain to dinner. I had one general next to me at table, the famous General Changarnier, who my other neighbor said had one foot in the grave and the other dans le plat. He was so old and thin and bony that if his uniform had not kept him up he would have crumbled together before my eyes, and have become a zero instead of a hero. However, he kept together while dinner lasted, for which I was thankful, and I returned him safely to posterity and to the salon.
Their Majesties devoted themselves exclusively to the Army after dinner; but they sent word by a chamberlain that we were to commence dancing, though they had not finished the cercle.
Waldteufel was already seated at the piano, waiting.