Ballads of the Fleet and Other Poems A New Edition With several Additional Pieces: By Rennell Rodd |
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THOBAL
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 | Ballads of the Fleet and Other Poems |  |
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THOBAL
There was bloody work in the border hills, as it drew to Easter-tide,
And the flag that waved for England was humbled there in its pride.
And the flag that waved for England was humbled there in its pride.
They were grim familiar tidings, those few dark words of doom,
For the wide outposts of Empire are marked by the lonely tomb;—
For the wide outposts of Empire are marked by the lonely tomb;—
There was no new phase in the story, but another page writ red,
The ambush laid, and the few too few, and the roll of English dead!
The ambush laid, and the few too few, and the roll of English dead!
And we doubted not of the duty done, we were sure they had died like men,
And we knew that the flag of England would float on its mast again.
And we knew that the flag of England would float on its mast again.
But it chanced there were thirty Ghoorkas who were marching on their way,
With fifty more of the Burman folk that have learned the word “obey,”
With fifty more of the Burman folk that have learned the word “obey,”
When the scouts brought in the tidings, and the blood lust made them mad,
These eighty men of the loyal folk led on by an English lad.
These eighty men of the loyal folk led on by an English lad.
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And he did not wait nor waver, he took no count of the odds,
For he knew that he stood for England in the face of the painted gods;
For he knew that he stood for England in the face of the painted gods;
Though the hills poured down their thousands, if the sturdy pluck held true,
He would stand his ground and show them what an English lad could do.
He would stand his ground and show them what an English lad could do.
So a week went by in silence, and at last the message came,
And the eighty men of Thobal had saved the English name.
And the eighty men of Thobal had saved the English name.
Then speak, oh mother island, for was it not well done?
Be proud of thy step-children, and proudest of thy son!
Be proud of thy step-children, and proudest of thy son!
Once more the world has seen it, far under alien skies,
The beating heart of England is where the old flag flies.
The beating heart of England is where the old flag flies.
What though they deem thou sleepest, and smile to see thee range,
And follow wandering voices on many a wind of change;
And follow wandering voices on many a wind of change;
What though men say thy gospel is the counter and the till,
The boys we send to the far world's end have the heart of the lion still—
The boys we send to the far world's end have the heart of the lion still—
The heart of Richard Grenville when he fought with the fifty-three,
As he bled to death in the battered hull that was lost in the Spanish sea;
As he bled to death in the battered hull that was lost in the Spanish sea;
The heart of Walter Raleigh, and the heart of Francis Drake,
The heart of all the heroes who have lived for England's sake;
The heart of all the heroes who have lived for England's sake;
The heart of those who ventured on many a hopeless quest,
Till their dear divine unreason had joined the east and west.
Till their dear divine unreason had joined the east and west.
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You boys that man the warships that are the ocean queen's,
Come back and tell your fathers what that name of England means.
Come back and tell your fathers what that name of England means.
Round all the world's wide girdle, in Asia's dark defiles,
In the yellow sands of torrid lands, in tempest-sundered isles,
In the yellow sands of torrid lands, in tempest-sundered isles,
O'er many a lonely station the trebled crosses wave,
For justice to the weaker, and for freedom to the slave!
For justice to the weaker, and for freedom to the slave!
God send her rulers wisdom,—the task to tame the lands,
The peril path of Empire is safe in these young hands.
The peril path of Empire is safe in these young hands.
Though the air be filled with strange new sound, and perplexed with doubtful creeds,
The boys we send to the far world's end still know what England needs.
The boys we send to the far world's end still know what England needs.
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