| |
1914
FOR all we have and are, | |
| For all our children’s fate, | |
| Stand up and take the war. | |
| The Hun is at the gate! | |
| Our world has passed away | 5 |
| In wantonness o’erthrown. | |
| There is nothing left to-day | |
| But steel and fire and stone! | |
| Though all we knew depart, | |
| The old Commandments stand:— | 10 |
| “In courage keep your heart, | |
| In strength lift up your hand.” | |
| |
| Once more we hear the word | |
| That sickened earth of old:— | |
| “No law except the Sword | 15 |
| Unsheathed and uncontrolled.” | |
| Once more it knits mankind, | |
| Once more the nations go | |
| To meet and break and bind | |
| A crazed and driven foe. | 20 |
| |
| Comfort, content, delight, | |
| The ages’ slow-bought gain, | |
| They shrivelled in a night. | |
| Only ourselves remain | |
| To face the naked days | 25 |
| In silent fortitude, | |
| Through perils and dismays | |
| Renewed and re-renewed. | |
| Though all we made depart, | |
| The old Commandments stand:— | 30 |
| “In patience keep your heart, | |
| In strength lift up your hand.” | |
| |
| No easy hope or lies | |
| Shall bring us to our goal, | |
| But iron sacrifice | 35 |
| Of body, will, and soul. | |
| There is but one task for all— | |
| One life for each to give. | |
| What stands if Freedom fall? | |
| Who dies if England live? | 40 |
| |
