Transcription
The Siege of Valenciennes at Astley’s being the chit-chat of the day, we give our readers a specimen of the Airs of this truly celebrated piece. The following is one, sung by Mr. Decastro, habited as one of the 15th Light Dragoons.
1.
When sent the intrenchments [sic] to cover,
Each danger we boldly despise;
And oft is our task to discover
Where the force of the enemy lies:
Still forward we dash,
While bombs and balls clash,
And the foe on all sides giving way,
Still, still we pursue,
And cut our way through,
And true British valour display.
2.
Our high-mettled horses we spur on to battle,
Who snort in defiance of powder or ball;
And though hissing bullets on each side may rattle,
We fearless push on while the enemy fall:
E’er mindful of duty,
And fair-taken booty,
The right of a soldier, and true spoil of war:
For Britons e’er fight,
Not for plunder but right,
For honor’s their standard at home or afar.*
*The writer of this spirited air lays particular stress on the excellence of the discipline of a Light Dragoon, by portraying him in the act of cutting his way through every impediment, in defiance of danger, rather than suffer himself to be taken prisoner but the enemy; and more particularly seems to dwell on that find subordination in the British Troops, which constantly reminds them, that the duty of a good soldier is not the pursuit of plunder, but such spoil as may fall to their lot by the chance of war, and fairly won in the field by the point of the swords.
