| George Herbert Clarke, ed. (1873–1953). A Treasury of War Poetry. 1917. |
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| 100. Before Action |
| | | By William Noel Hodgson (“Edward Melbourne”) |
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| BY all the glories of the day, | |
| And the cool evening’s benison: | |
| By the last sunset touch that lay | |
| Upon the hills when day was done: | |
| By beauty lavishly outpoured, | 5 |
| And blessings carelessly received, | |
| By all the days that I have lived, | |
| Make me a soldier, Lord. | |
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| By all of all men’s hopes and fears, | |
| And all the wonders poets sing, | 10 |
| The laughter of unclouded years, | |
| And every sad and lovely thing: | |
| By the romantic ages stored | |
| With high endeavour that was his, | |
| By all his mad catastrophes, | 15 |
| Make me a man, O Lord. | |
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| I, that on my familiar hill | |
| Saw with uncomprehending eyes | |
| A hundred of Thy sunsets spill | |
| Their fresh and sanguine sacrifice, | 20 |
| Ere the sun swings his noonday sword | |
| Must say good-bye to all of this:— | |
| By all delights that I shall miss, | |
| Help me to die, O Lord. | |
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