 | Poems |  |
“GOD AND THE RIGHT!”
What shall my cry be, O world, in thy fight?
What but that old shout of saint and of knight,
That cry of martyrs, rung out in God's sight,
“God and the right!”
What but that old shout of saint and of knight,
That cry of martyrs, rung out in God's sight,
“God and the right!”
Yes, O my soul, press on, casting out fear!
Gird on thy armour, and spur on, God's knight,
Through the world's battle-field, ring thy cry clear,
“God and the right!”
Gird on thy armour, and spur on, God's knight,
Through the world's battle-field, ring thy cry clear,
“God and the right!”
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Many thy foes, and fierce, that thou must rout;
Dread are the hosts thy arm, fearless, must smite;
Dauntlessly cleave them down; strength's in that shout,
“God and the right!”
Dread are the hosts thy arm, fearless, must smite;
Dauntlessly cleave them down; strength's in that shout,
“God and the right!”
On—be thy shield over innocence flung!
Strike for the weak! for the desolate smite;
Wronged are the poor? be thine arm for them strung!
“God and the right!”
Strike for the weak! for the desolate smite;
Wronged are the poor? be thine arm for them strung!
“God and the right!”
On—against tyranny, level thy lance!
On—turn all wrong and oppression to flight!
Shouting that battle-shout, dread no mischance!
“God and the right!”
On—turn all wrong and oppression to flight!
Shouting that battle-shout, dread no mischance!
“God and the right!”
In heart and purpose pure, if they be few
Who by thy side, for thy Master, will fight,
Cast thou fear out as thou criest anew,
“God and the right!”
Who by thy side, for thy Master, will fight,
Cast thou fear out as thou criest anew,
“God and the right!”
Doubt not! despair not! all fearing is sin;
They can but win who in God's service smite;
Singly be heard thy cry o'er the world's din,
“God and the right!”
They can but win who in God's service smite;
Singly be heard thy cry o'er the world's din,
“God and the right!”
Wounded thou wilt be,—faint,—oft hard bestead,
Overpowered—beaten down—pressed with affright,
Yet, in the strength of that shout, on all tread!
“God and the right!”
Overpowered—beaten down—pressed with affright,
Yet, in the strength of that shout, on all tread!
“God and the right!”
Thou can'st but conquer at last; all, endure;
Thou shalt be victor in His name whose might
Is in thy shout that thy triumph makes sure,
“God and the right!”
Thou shalt be victor in His name whose might
Is in thy shout that thy triumph makes sure,
“God and the right!”
| Poems | |