makes many. Yes; ay; yes!

SOULT

I fear that Ney has compromised us here
Just as at Jena; even worse!

NAPOLEON

No less
Must we support him now he is launched on it....
The miracle is that he is still alive!

[NEY and his mass of cavalry again pass the English batteries
and disappear amid the squares beyond.]

Their cannon are abandoned; and their squares
Again environed--see! I would to God
Murat could be here! Yet I disdained
His proffered service.... All my star asks now
Is to break some half-dozen of those blocks
Of English yonder. He was the man to do it.

[NEY and D'ERLON'S squadrons are seen emerging from the English
squares in a disorganized state, the attack having failed like
the previous ones. An aide-de-camp enters to NAPOLEON.]

AIDE

The Prussians have debouched on our right rear
From Paris-wood; and Losthin's infantry
Appear by Plancenoit; Hiller's to leftwards.
Two regiments of their horse protect their front,
And three light batteries.

[A haggard shade crosses NAPOLEON'S face.]

NAPOLEON

What then! That's not a startling force as yet.
A counter-stroke by Domon's cavalry
Must shatter them. Lobau must bring his foot
Up forward, heading for the Prussian front,
Unrecking losses by their cannonade.

[Exit aide. The din of battle continues. DOMON'S horse are soon
seen advancing towards and attacking the Prussian hussars in front
of the infantry; and he next attempts to silence the Prussian
batteries playing on him by leading up his troops and cutting
down the gunners. But he has to fall back upon the infantry
of LOBAU. Enter another aide-de-camp.]

AIDE

These tiding I report, your Majesty:--
Von Ryssel's and von Hacke's Prussian foot
Have lately sallied from the Wood of Paris,
Bearing on us; no vast array as yet;
But twenty thousand loom not far behind
These vanward marchers!

NAPOLEON

Ah! They swarm thus thickly?
But be they hell's own legions we'll defy them!--
Lobau's men will stand firm.

[He looks in the direction of the English lines, where NEY'S
cavalry-assaults still linger furiously on.]

But who rides hither,
Spotting the sky with clods in his high haste?

SOULT

It looks like Colonel Heymes--come from Ney.

NAPOLEON [sullenly]

And his face shows what clef