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1770–1850

Six thousand Veterans practis'd in War's game...

William Wordsworth

Six thousand Veterans practis'd in War's game, Tried Men, at Killicranky were array'd Against an equal Host that wore the Plaid, Shepherds and Herdsmen.— Like a whirlwind came

The Highlanders, the slaughter spread like flame; And Garry thundering down his mountain-road Was stopp'd, and could not breathe beneath the load Of the dead bodies.‘ Twas a day of shame

For them whom precept and the pedantry Of cold mechanic battle do enslave. Oh! for a single hour of that Dundee Who on that day the word of onset gave!

Like conquest would the Men of England see; And her Foes find a like inglorious Grave.

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Six thousand Veterans practis'd in War's game... · William Wordsworth · Poetry Cove