The Warrior-Captain - Songs and Dances of Death is a song cycle for voice (bass) and piano by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky

"The battle rages, swords are flashing, Like hungry beasts the cannons roar; The horses neigh, the squadrons gallop, The stream runs crimson, dyed with gore. The burning noon-day sees the slaughter, And still at sunset the fight endures. "

"The last gleams vanish, still unyielding, The foe maintains a stubborn front. Now falls the night upon the carnage, And in the gloaming all disperse. Silence reigns; only the darkness hears The wounded crying unto Heaven."

"See, there, where fall the livid moon-rays, Astride upon a charger pale, Rides a warrior wan and grisly, whose name is Death. There, in the dusk, He hears their pitiful complaining; Surveys the ghastly field with pride: Moves like a leader triumphant,Over the scene of glory and pain. Then climbs a hillock, Gazes round him on dead and dying, grimly smiling...Now over the seething field of slaughter Rings out stern and clear his voice:" ...........