The Charge of the Light Brigade (Gedicht)
# The Charge of the Light Brigade (Gedicht)

The Charge of the Light Brigade (engl. „Die Attacke der Leichten Brigade“ oder „Der Todesritt der leichten Brigade“) ist ein Gedicht von Alfred Lord Tennyson.

## Hintergrund

Das Gedicht beschrieb einen Angriff britischer Kavalleristen in der Schlacht von Balaklawa. Sie erlangte Berühmtheit wegen der großen Verluste der Brigade und der Umstände, die zur Attacke geführt hatten. Die Schlacht von Balaklawa fand im Krimkrieg zwischen dem russischen Zarenreich und den Alliierten (Briten, Franzosen, Osmanisches Reich) am 25. Oktober 1854 statt.

## Text

Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. "Forward, the Light Brigade! "Charge for the guns!" he said: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.

"Forward, the Light Brigade!" Was there a man dismay'd? Not tho' the soldier knew Someone had blunder'd: Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell Rode the six hundred.

Flash'd all their sabres bare, Flash'd as they turn'd in air, Sabring the gunners there, Charging an army, while All the world wonder'd: Plunged in the battery-smoke Right thro' the line they broke; Cossack and Russian Reel'd from the sabre stroke Shatter'd and sunder'd. Then they rode back, but not Not the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell, They that had fought so well Came thro' the jaws of Death Back from the mouth of Hell, All that was left of them, Left of six hundred.

When can their glory fade? O the wild charge they made! All the world wondered. Honor the charge they made, Honor the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred.

## Übertragungen ins Deutsche

Die bekannteste Nachdichtung im deutschsprachigen Raum stammt von Theodor Fontane und trägt den Titel Balaklawa.

