那是在一八一五年六月十八日，在滑铁卢那永远值得纪念的血淋淋的战场上，英国人对法国军队的大炮发出了响亮的轰鸣声;拿破仑在圣赫勒拿岛时还记得这件事，并为此深感懊悔。18日的早晨是阴郁而令人沮丧的，但是英国人很快就从前一个雨夜所经受的严寒中恢复过来;每个人都准备擦亮自己的手臂，迎接即将到来的战斗。然后上午就在双方的战斗安排中度过了，法国人的大炮在十一点半的时候发出了响亮的嘎嘎声;进攻的命令立刻下达，子弹像闪电一样飞来飞去，天空似乎被撕裂了。波拿巴眺望血战战场的地方是“美丽联盟”的农家，它有一些保护;这一天的大部分时间他都呆在那儿，两手放在背后，惊惶不安地踱来踱去。威灵顿公爵站在拉海耶后面的一座桥上，看着英军的大阵，在最危险的地方，高贵的公爵被发现在四面八方的枪林弹雨中。乌日蒙是威灵顿公爵阵地的关键，这个阵地自然是非常坚固的，白天是公爵和他的参谋们的一大收获，冷溪近卫军毫不气馁地坚守到最后。 The French 2nd Corps were principally directed during the day To carry Hougemont farmhouse without delay; So the farmhouse in quick succession they did attack, But the British guns on the heights above soon drove them back. But still the heavy shot and shells ploughed through the walls; Yet the brave Guards resolved to hold the place no matter what befalls; And they fought manfully to the last, with courage unshaken, Until the tower of Hougemont was in a blaze but still it remained untaken. By these desperate attacks Napoleon lost ten thousand men, And left them weltering in their gore like sheep in a pen; And the British lost one thousand men-- which wasn't very great, Because the great Napoleon met with a crushing defeat. The advance of Napoleon on the right was really very fine, Which was followed by a general onset upon the British line, In which three hundred pieces of artillery opened their cannonade; But the British artillery played upon them, and great courage displayed. For ten long hours it was a continued succession of attacks; Whilst the British cavalry charged them in all their drawbacks; And the courage of the British Army was great in square at Waterloo, Because hour after hour they were mowed down in numbers not a few. At times the temper of the troops had very nearly failed, Especially amongst the Irish regiments who angry railed; And they cried: " When will we get at them? Show us the way That we may avenge the death of our comrades without delay" "But be steady and cool, my brave lads," was their officers' command, While each man was ready to charge with gun in hand; Oh, Heaven! if was pitiful to see their comrades lying around, Dead and weltering in their gore, and cumbering the ground. It was a most dreadful sight to behold, Heaps upon heaps of dead men lying stiff and cold; While the cries of the dying was lamentable to hear; And for the loss Of their comrades many a soldier shed a tear. Men and horses fell on every aide around, Whilst heavy cannon shot tore up the ground; And musket balls in thousands flew, And innocent blood bedewed the field of Waterloo. Methinks I see the solid British square, Whilst the shout of the French did rend the air, As they rush against the square of steel. Which forced them back and made them reel. And when a gap was made in that square, The cry of "Close up! Close up!" did rend the air, "And charge them with your bayonets, and make them fly! And Scotland for ever! be the cry." The French and British closed in solid square, While the smoke of the heavy cannonade darkened the air; Then the noble Picton deployed his division into line, And drove back the enemy in a very short time. Then Lord Anglesey seized on the moment, and charging with the Greys, Whilst the Inniskillings burst through everything, which they did always; Then the French infantry fell in hundreds by the swords of the Dragoons; Whilst the thundering of the cannonade loudly booms. And the Eagles of the 45th and 105th were all captured that day, And upwards of 2000 prisoners, all in grand array; But, alas! at the head of his division, the noble Picton fell, While the Highlanders played a lament for him they loved so well. Then the French cavalry receded from the square they couldn't penetrate, St