Poems: New and Old Part 9

This they all with a joyful mind Bear through life like a torch in flame, And falling fling to the host behind-- "Play up! play up! and play the game!"

{80}.

'The Vigil'

England! where the sacred flame Burns before the inmost shrine, Where the lips that love thy name Consecrate their hopes and thine, Where the banners of thy dead Weave their shadows overhead, Watch beside thine arms to-night, Pray that G.o.d defend the Right.

Think that when to-morrow comes War shall claim command of all, Thou must hear the roll of drums, Thou must hear the trumpet's call.

Now before they silence ruth, Commune with the voice of truth; England! on thy knees to-night Pray that G.o.d defend the Right.

Hast thou counted up the cost, What to foeman, what to friend?

Glory sought is Honour lost, How should this be knighthood's end?

{81}.

Know'st thou what is Hatred's meed?

What the surest gain of Greed?

England! wilt thou dare to-night Pray that G.o.d defend the Right?

Single-hearted, unafraid, Hither all thy heroes came, On this altar's steps were laid Gordon's life and Outram's fame.

England! if thy will be yet By their great example set, Here beside thine arms to-night Pray that G.o.d defend the Right.

So shalt thou when morning comes Rise to conquer or to fall, Joyful hear the rolling drums, Joyful hear the trumpets call.

Then let Memory tell thy heart; "'England! what thou wert, thou art!'"

Gird thee with thine ancient might, Forth! and G.o.d defend the Right!

{82}.

'The Sailing of the Long-ships'

(OCTOBER, 1899).

They saw the cables loosened, they saw the gangways cleared, They heard the women weeping, they heard the men that cheered; Far off, far off, the tumult faded and died away, And all alone the sea-wind came singing up the Bay.

"I came by Cape St. Vincent, I came by Trafalgar, I swept from Torres Vedras to golden Vigo Bar, I saw the beacons blazing that fired the world with light When down their ancient highway your fathers pa.s.sed to fight.

"O race of tireless fighters, flushed with a youth renewed, Right well the wars of Freedom befit the Sea-kings' brood; Yet as ye go forget not the fame of yonder sh.o.r.e, The fame ye owe your fathers and the old time before.

"Long-suffering were the Sea-kings, they were not swift to kill, But when the sands had fallen they waited no man's will;

{83}.

Though all the world forbade them, they counted not nor cared, They weighed not help or hindrance, they did the thing they dared.

"The Sea-kings loved not boasting, they cursed not him that cursed, They honoured all men duly, and him that faced them, first; They strove and knew not hatred, they smote and toiled to save, They tended whom they vanquished, they praised the fallen brave.

"Their fame's on Torres Vedras, their fame's on Vigo Bar, Far-flashed to Cape St. Vincent it burns from Trafalgar; Mark as ye go the beacons that woke the world with light When down their ancient highway your fathers pa.s.sed to fight."

{84}.

'Waggon Hill'

Drake in the North Sea grimly prowling, Treading his dear Revenge's deck, Watched, with the sea-dogs round him growling, Galleons drifting wreck by wreck.

"Fetter and Faith for England's neck, f.a.ggot and Father, Saint and chain,-- Yonder the Devil and all go howling, Devon, O Devon, in wind and rain!"

Drake at the last off Nombre lying, Knowing the night that toward him crept, Gave to the sea-dogs round him crying This for a sign before he slept:-- "Pride of the West! What Devon hath kept Devon shall keep on tide or main; Call to the storm and drive them flying, Devon, O Devon, in wind and rain!"

Valour of England gaunt and whitening, Far in a South land brought to bay,

{85}.

Locked in a death-grip all day tightening, Waited the end in twilight gray.

Battle and storm and the sea-dog's way Drake from his long rest turned again, Victory lit thy steel with lightning, Devon, O Devon, in wind and rain!

{86}.

'The Volunteer'

"He leapt to arms unbidden, Unneeded, over-bold; His face by earth is hidden, His heart in earth is cold.

"Curse on the reckless daring That could not wait the call, The proud fantastic bearing That would be first to fall!"

O tears of human pa.s.sion, Blur not the image true; This was not folly's fashion, This was the man we knew.

{87}.

'The Only Son'

O bitter wind toward the sunset blowing, What of the dales to-night?

In yonder gray old hall what fires are glowing, What ring of festal light?

'"In the great window as the day was dwindling I saw an old man stand; His head was proudly held and his eyes kindling, But the list shook in his hand."'

O wind of twilight, was there no word uttered, No sound of joy or wail?

'"'A great fight and a good death,' he muttered; 'Trust him, he would not fail.'"'

What of the chamber dark where she was lying For whom all life is done?

'"Within her heart she rocks a dead child, crying 'My son, my little son.'"'

{88}.

'The Grenadier's Good-Bye'