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Words and Deeds.
The soldier's boast—to meet, unmoved, Death's eye.
Allow that Zulu men know how to die,
Fighting against the spoiler in their land;
The savage virtue which they highest hold
They practise well; no lions half so bold.
But other virtues, too, we understand,
Being Englishmen and Christians; counting good
Justice, Unselfishness, and Brotherhood,—
Nay, best. We know the way to talk of things.
Allow that Zulu men know how to die,
Fighting against the spoiler in their land;
The savage virtue which they highest hold
They practise well; no lions half so bold.
But other virtues, too, we understand,
Being Englishmen and Christians; counting good
Justice, Unselfishness, and Brotherhood,—
Nay, best. We know the way to talk of things.
O God! are we the cruellest of hordes,
With deadliest weapons and with falsest words
Of any race the quiet moon enrings?
With deadliest weapons and with falsest words
Of any race the quiet moon enrings?
1879.
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