And spoke of a hope for the world in the coming wars 'And in that hope, dear soul, let trouble have rest, Knowing I tarry for thee,' and pointed to Mars As he glow'd like a ruddy shield on the Lion's breast. 2. And it was but a dream, yet it yielded a dear delight To have look'd, tho' but in a dream, upon eyes so fair, That had been in a weary world my one thing bright; And it was but a dream, yet it lighten'd my despair When I thought that a war would arise in defence of the right, That an iron tyranny now should bend or cease, The glory of manhood stand on his ancient height. Nor Britain's one sole God be the millionnaire : No more shall commerce be all in all, and Peace 3 And as months ran on and rumor of battle grew, It is time, it is time, O passionate heart,' said I (For I cleaved to a cause that I felt to be pure and true), It is time, O passionate heart and morbid eye, That old hysterical mock-disease should die.' And I stood on a giant deck and mixed my breath With a loyal people shouting a battle cry, Till I saw the dreary phantom arise and fly Far into the North, and battle, and seas of death. 4. Let it go or stay, so I wake to the higher aims Of a land that has lost for a little her lust of gold, And love of a peace that was full of wrongs and shames, Horrible, hateful, monstrous, not to be told; And hail once more to the banner of battle unroll'd! Tho' many a light shall darken, and many shall weep For those that are crush'd in the clash of jarring claims, Yet God's just doom shall be wreak'd on a giant liar; And many a darkness into the light shall leap, And shine in the sudden making of splendid names And noble thought be freer under the sun, And the heart of a people beat with one desire; For the long, long canker of peace is over and done And now by the side of the Black and the Baltic deep, And deathful-grinning mouths of the fortress, flames The blood-red blossom of war with a heart of fire. THE BROOK; AN IDYL. HERE, by this brook, we parted; I to the East And he for Italy · too late too late : One whom the strong sons of the world despise; O had he lived! In our school-books we say, Of those that held their heads above the crowd, They flourish'd then or then; but life in him |