Old Year Leaves Being Old Verses Revised: By H. T. Mackenzie Bell ... New Edition |
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A DIRGE OF DECAY. |
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 | Old Year Leaves |  |
96
A DIRGE OF DECAY.
[_]
Near Argelez in the Department of the Hautes Pyrénées, France, are several ruins of old castles said to have been built by the English in the 15th century.
Within these walls
Now half-forgotten, lonely and decayed,
Only the birds their resting-place have made,
And scarce a step within them ever falls.
Now half-forgotten, lonely and decayed,
Only the birds their resting-place have made,
And scarce a step within them ever falls.
Yet doubtless here
Stupendous deeds of valour have been wrought,—
Deeds that to many thousands then were fraught
With heart-felt weal or deep and direful fear.
Stupendous deeds of valour have been wrought,—
Deeds that to many thousands then were fraught
With heart-felt weal or deep and direful fear.
Brave of the brave
Our soldiers must assuredly have been,
So long to hold for our proud Island-queen
This land which then seemed far across the wave.
Our soldiers must assuredly have been,
So long to hold for our proud Island-queen
This land which then seemed far across the wave.
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Yes, far from aid,
From friends, from home, must have appeared their lot,
And yet (O courage great!) they faltered not,
Nor, filled with craven terror, were afraid;
From friends, from home, must have appeared their lot,
And yet (O courage great!) they faltered not,
Nor, filled with craven terror, were afraid;
Not even though
Full oft encompassed, like unto a stag
By hounds engirt; but rallied round their flag,
And kept its honour stainless from the foe.
Full oft encompassed, like unto a stag
By hounds engirt; but rallied round their flag,
And kept its honour stainless from the foe.
Why is it then
That low in ruins are these castles laid?
It is because old courage had decayed,—
It is because old fire had left our men.
That low in ruins are these castles laid?
It is because old courage had decayed,—
It is because old fire had left our men.
This should we learn
While earth remaineth thus,—wars cannot cease;
That everything hath limits,—even peace;
So let the lamp of ancient courage burn.
While earth remaineth thus,—wars cannot cease;
That everything hath limits,—even peace;
So let the lamp of ancient courage burn.
| Old Year Leaves | |