Last of these young gods, Guynemer
landed after one final circle, and took off his helmet, offering to the
setting sun his illuminated face, still full of the spirit of battle.
III. GUYNEMER IN CAMP
On the Somme Guynemer was one of the great French champions; on the
Aisne he became their king. No enemy could resist him, and his daring
appeared without bounds. On May 27 he attacked alone a squadron of six
two-seaters above Auberive at an altitude of 5000 meters, and compelled
them to go down to an altitude of 3600 meters. Before landing, he
pounced on another group of eight, scattering them and bringing down
one, completely smashed, with its fuselage linen in rags, among the
shell-holes in a field. He was like the Cid Campeador, to whom the Sheik
Jabias said:
...Vous eclatiez, avec des rayons jusqu'aux cieux,
Dans une preseance eblouissante aux yeux;
Vous marchiez, entoure d'un ordre de bataille;
Aucun sommet n'etait trop haut pour votre taille,
Et vous etiez un fils d'une telle fierte
Que les aigles volaient tous de votre cote..
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