Thought shall be the harder, heart the keener,
Thought shall be the harder, heart the keener,Courage the greater as our might lessens
Courage the greater as our might lessensThe Battle of Maldon (translated by R. K. Gordon, 1926.)
Lang was duty officer and saluted when Jack performed his pre-dawn inspection of the defences. “Hannibal ad portas,” Lang said. “Hannibal is at the gates.”
Hannibal ad portas“I heard the drums,” Jack confirmed.
Colonel Wahiba emerged from his quarters, looking drawn as he adjusted his fez. “The Mahdi has arrived,” he said.
“The Mahdi or Osman Zubeir,” Jack agreed.
“They’ll outnumber us about ten to one,” Lang said, “but at least we’ll be fighting rather than sitting still.”
Jack nodded. “Have you heard of General Grant, Lang?”
“The American fellow, sir?
