| Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922. | | | | Reinforcements | | By Thomas Toke Lynch (1818–1871) |
| | | WHEN little boys with merry noise | |
| In the meadows shout and run; | |
| And little girls, sweet woman buds, | |
| Brightly open in the sun; | |
| I may not of the world despair, | 5 |
| Our God despaireth not, I see; | |
| For blithesomer in Eden’s air | |
| These lads and maidens could not be. | |
| |
| Why were they born, if Hope must die? | |
| Wherefore this health, if Truth should fail? | 10 |
| And why such Joy, if Misery | |
| Be conquering us and must prevail? | |
| Arouse! our spirit may not droop! | |
| These young ones fresh from Heaven are; | |
| Our God hath sent another troop, | 15 |
| And means to carry on the war. | | | | |
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