The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
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 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
284
LORD ROBERTS' SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS
Monday, November 23, 1908.
At a moment in our history when our foremost statesmen stood
Mute and foiled and cowed and futile, things of clay and shapes of wood,
Rose a soldier, and he pleaded with the wavering multitude.
Mute and foiled and cowed and futile, things of clay and shapes of wood,
Rose a soldier, and he pleaded with the wavering multitude.
Never yet for God and England, soldier spake a nobler word.
While the querulous lords around him mixed in conclave and conferred
England's heart made solemn answer, and the starriest heights were stirred.
While the querulous lords around him mixed in conclave and conferred
England's heart made solemn answer, and the starriest heights were stirred.
Never yet austerer moment in the history of the race
Brought the halting nation grimly, yet superbly, face to face
With the God who guards our England by His sword-arm and His grace.
Brought the halting nation grimly, yet superbly, face to face
With the God who guards our England by His sword-arm and His grace.
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Never yet diviner instant in the days that were and are
Dawned in fire upon our planet, made man lordlier, kinglier far,
For the destiny of England shapes the future of our star.
Dawned in fire upon our planet, made man lordlier, kinglier far,
For the destiny of England shapes the future of our star.
All the constellations follow this our stately star's control
And the vast magnetic currents through the suns and systems roll
Hurled from planet unto planet, as on earth from soul to soul.
And the vast magnetic currents through the suns and systems roll
Hurled from planet unto planet, as on earth from soul to soul.
He who lost a son for England as he flashed along the fray,
Here in London, in the dimness of the English winter day,
Drew his sword again for England, and he flung the sheath away.
Here in London, in the dimness of the English winter day,
Drew his sword again for England, and he flung the sheath away.
Clearly, calmly, very gently, yet with somewhat of high scorn,
Spake the Soldier to the lordlets, and his fervent words were borne
Far beyond the English borders, to the sunset and the morn.
Spake the Soldier to the lordlets, and his fervent words were borne
Far beyond the English borders, to the sunset and the morn.
East and West, to all the cities where the British flag still flies
Sped the word that slew deception and that foiled the god of lies,
Scoffed at ever by the weaklings, welcomed ever by the wise.
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Scoffed at ever by the weaklings, welcomed ever by the wise.
Later on, in days we know not, when beyond our fairest dreams
England forth upon the peoples with a stainless splendour gleams,
Men will grasp what that word scattered of a thousand hellish schemes.
England forth upon the peoples with a stainless splendour gleams,
Men will grasp what that word scattered of a thousand hellish schemes.
Judas laughing, reincarnate, sat triumphant on a throne:
But he shuddered at the trumpet as the sudden blast was blown
And he knew his hour was over, and his boastings all outgrown.
But he shuddered at the trumpet as the sudden blast was blown
And he knew his hour was over, and his boastings all outgrown.
England's unreturning moment and the doom of traitorous hordes
Came like lightning through the midnight when with words like strokes of swords
Roberts spoke for truth and England to the people, and the lords.
Came like lightning through the midnight when with words like strokes of swords
Roberts spoke for truth and England to the people, and the lords.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |