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October 9, 1899
(Outbreak of Boer War)
“HERE is nothing new nor aught unproven,” say the Trumpets, | |
| “Many feet have worn it and the road is old indeed. | |
| “It is the King—the King we schooled aforetime!” | |
| (Trumpets in the marshes—in the eyot at Runnymede!) | |
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| “Here is neither haste, nor hate, nor anger,” peal the Trumpets, | 5 |
| “Pardon for his penitence or pity for his fall. | |
| “It is the King!”—inexorable Trumpets— | |
| (Trumpets round the scaffold at the dawning by Whitehall!) * * * * * | |
| “He hath veiled the Crown and hid the Sceptre,” warn the Trumpets, | |
| “He hath changed the fashion of the lies that cloak his will. | 10 |
| “Hard die the Kings—ah hard—dooms hard!” declare the Trumpets, | |
| Trumpets at the gang-plank where the brawling troop-decks fill! | |
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| Ancient and Unteachable, abide—abide the Trumpets! | |
| Once again the Trumpets, for the shuddering ground-swell brings | |
| Clamour over ocean of the harsh, pursuing Trumpets— | 15 |
| Trumpets of the Vanguard that have sworn no truce with Kings! | |
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| All we have of freedom, all we use or know— | |
| This our fathers bought for us long and long ago. | |
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| Ancient Right unnoticed as the breath we draw— | |
| Leave to live by no man’s leave, underneath the Law. | 20 |
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| Lance and torch and tumult, steel and grey-goose wing | |
| Wrenched it, inch and ell and all, slowly from the King. | |
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| Till our fathers ’stablished, after bloody years, | |
| How our King is one with us, first among his peers. | |
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| So they bought us freedom—not at little cost— | 25 |
| Wherefore must we watch the King, lest our gain be lost. | |
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| Over all things certain, this is sure indeed, | |
| Suffer not the old King: for we know the breed. | |
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| Give no ear to bondsmen bidding us endure. | |
| Whining “He is weak and far”; crying “Time shall cure.” | 30 |
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| (Time himself is witness, till the battle joins, | |
| Deeper strikes the rottenness in the people’s loins.) | |
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| Give no heed to bondsmen masking war with peace. | |
| Suffer not the old King here or overseas. | |
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| They that beg us barter—wait his yielding mood— | 35 |
| Pledge the years we hold in trust—pawn our brother’s blood— | |
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| Howso’ great their clamour, whatsoe’er their claim, | |
| Suffer not the old King under any name! | |
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| Here is naught unproven—here is naught to learn. | |
| It is written what shall fall if the King return. | 40 |
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| He shall mark our goings, question whence we came, | |
| Set his guards about us, as in Freedom’s name. | |
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| He shall take a tribute, toll of all our ware; | |
| He shall change our gold for arms—arms we may not bear. | |
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| He shall break his Judges if they cross his word; | 45 |
| He shall rule above the Law calling on the Lord. | |
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| He shall peep and mutter; and the night shall bring | |
| Watchers ’neath our window, lest we mock the King— | |
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| Hate and all division; hosts of hurrying spies; | |
| Money poured in secret, carrion breeding flies. | 50 |
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| Strangers of his counsel, hirelings of his pay, | |
| These shall deal our Justice: sell—deny—delay. | |
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| We shall drink dishonour, we shall eat abuse | |
| For the Land we look to—for the Tongue we use. | |
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| We shall take our station, dirt beneath his feet, | 55 |
| While his hired captains jeer us in the street. | |
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| Cruel in the shadow, crafty in the sun, | |
| Far beyond his borders shall his teachings run. | |
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| Sloven, sullen, savage, secret, uncontrolled, | |
| Laying on a new land evil of the old— | 60 |
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| Long-forgotten bondage, dwarfing heart and brain— | |
| All our fathers died to loose he shall bind again. | |
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| Here is naught at venture, random nor untrue— | |
| Swings the wheel full-circle, brims the cup anew. | |
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| Here is naught unproven, here is nothing hid: | 65 |
| Step for step and word for word—so the old Kings did! | |
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| Step by step, and word by word: who is ruled may read. | |
| Suffer not the old Kings: for we know the breed— | |
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| All the right they promise—all the wrong they bring. | |
| Stewards of the Judgment, suffer not this King! | 70 |
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