A batch of war ballads By Martin F. Tupper |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. | X.
FRENCH ALLIANCE. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
 | A batch of war ballads |  |
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X. FRENCH ALLIANCE.
Rochefoucault and others tell us,
In our friendships to take heed
Lest our friends hereafter sell us,
Turning to be—foes in need;
And old Talleyrand advises
Every man his friends to greet
Much as foes in fair disguises,
And his foes as friends to treat!
In our friendships to take heed
Lest our friends hereafter sell us,
Turning to be—foes in need;
And old Talleyrand advises
Every man his friends to greet
Much as foes in fair disguises,
And his foes as friends to treat!
Well; we won't despise the sages,
But will hear them out, good sooth;
Proverbs are the pith of ages,
Pretty near the heart of truth:
But, without unduly scorning
Those old pundits of this earth,
We need not expound their warning
Into worse than it is worth.
But will hear them out, good sooth;
Proverbs are the pith of ages,
Pretty near the heart of truth:
But, without unduly scorning
Those old pundits of this earth,
We need not expound their warning
Into worse than it is worth.
No,—we've not the least suspicion
But of unison with us,—
Everybody's present mission
Is to stop this recreant Russ;
Everybody means to do it,
And to make him pay the shot;
Deeply must the despot rue it,
Might were Right if he did not.
But of unison with us,—
Everybody's present mission
Is to stop this recreant Russ;
Everybody means to do it,
And to make him pay the shot;
Deeply must the despot rue it,
Might were Right if he did not.
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But when this is once effected,
There remains one query still,
Must the Popular-Elected
Not reflect his people's will?
May our strange ally, Sieur Crapaud,
Not be glad to snatch this chance
Of waving Oriflamme for drapeau
Over us, as well as France?
There remains one query still,
Must the Popular-Elected
Not reflect his people's will?
May our strange ally, Sieur Crapaud,
Not be glad to snatch this chance
Of waving Oriflamme for drapeau
Over us, as well as France?
Freely would we give him credit
For good sense and conduct too,—
But he meant it, when he said it,
He must wipe out Waterloo!
'Tis his destiny, he knows it;
And, if “Fleur de lis” revives,—
That's the sop, he simply throws it
To his Cerberus,—and thrives!
For good sense and conduct too,—
But he meant it, when he said it,
He must wipe out Waterloo!
'Tis his destiny, he knows it;
And, if “Fleur de lis” revives,—
That's the sop, he simply throws it
To his Cerberus,—and thrives!
Cherbourg rings with sturdy labour,
Troops are drilling night and day;
Just as well for some near neighbour
As for others far away!
Yes,—if “Danai bring a present,”
It were well to look ahead,
Lest what now may seem so pleasant
Turn at last to loss instead!
Troops are drilling night and day;
Just as well for some near neighbour
As for others far away!
Yes,—if “Danai bring a present,”
It were well to look ahead,
Lest what now may seem so pleasant
Turn at last to loss instead!
It is well: we stand together,
Fighting nobly for the right;
But, consider calmly whether,
Had there been no Eastern fight,
We should not have felt more jealous
Of such armaments in France?
O remember,—Frenchmen tell us
Friends may turn to foes perchance!
Fighting nobly for the right;
But, consider calmly whether,
Had there been no Eastern fight,
We should not have felt more jealous
Of such armaments in France?
O remember,—Frenchmen tell us
Friends may turn to foes perchance!
| A batch of war ballads | |