 | Ballads of the War |  |
92
The Relief of Ladysmith
TO GENERAL BULLER
Ladysmith ours?
Now praised be the powers!
Here's to you, Buller, my heart and my hand!
Bells rouse the people,
And flags from each steeple
Flutter to utter the joy of the land.
Now praised be the powers!
Here's to you, Buller, my heart and my hand!
Bells rouse the people,
And flags from each steeple
Flutter to utter the joy of the land.
Thrice unprevailing,
With courage unfailing,
Doggedly British, you still dared the deed;
Knowing what faced you,
You knew how we placed you,
Valiant and gallant to help at our need.
With courage unfailing,
Doggedly British, you still dared the deed;
Knowing what faced you,
You knew how we placed you,
Valiant and gallant to help at our need.
Thanks like a fountain
Shall flow; for each mountain
Flame-girt and steel-girt in anger arose,
Ridge to ridge yielding
More desperate shielding,
All the ground—trench and mound—packed with the foes.
Shall flow; for each mountain
Flame-girt and steel-girt in anger arose,
Ridge to ridge yielding
More desperate shielding,
All the ground—trench and mound—packed with the foes.
93
Not that for mothers,
For sisters, for brothers,
You fought incessantly twelve fighting days,
But that you played the game
True to our ancient name,
Buller! ne'er fuller was Britain of praise.
For sisters, for brothers,
You fought incessantly twelve fighting days,
But that you played the game
True to our ancient name,
Buller! ne'er fuller was Britain of praise.
Ladysmith ours?
Fly flags from all towers!
Half-mast were better! we think of the dead:
They who at Freedom's gate
Thundered and met their fate,
We own them, we crown them; the heroes you led.
Fly flags from all towers!
Half-mast were better! we think of the dead:
They who at Freedom's gate
Thundered and met their fate,
We own them, we crown them; the heroes you led.
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