 | Voices and visions |  |
93
FOUR CHORUSES
I
CHORUS OF UNTHINKING TOILERS
Through years and years,
Fate's living jeers,
We've soaked our blood in bread and tears.
What wonder now
If bold of brow
Its nauseous vileness we avow?
Fate's living jeers,
We've soaked our blood in bread and tears.
What wonder now
If bold of brow
Its nauseous vileness we avow?
Go, search the spots
Where squalor squats,
Custodian of our loathsome lots;
Then dare to blame
The frenzied shame
That riotous in revolt would flame.
Where squalor squats,
Custodian of our loathsome lots;
Then dare to blame
The frenzied shame
That riotous in revolt would flame.
Then dare to tell
If life may dwell
This side the grave in ghastlier hell;
Then dare to speak,
Ye rich and sleek,
Of tolerance that should make us meek.
If life may dwell
This side the grave in ghastlier hell;
Then dare to speak,
Ye rich and sleek,
Of tolerance that should make us meek.
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From dens of slums
Our chorus comes,
From penury's pale martyrdoms.
To judge us fair
Would be to share
The abysmal deeps of our despair.
Our chorus comes,
From penury's pale martyrdoms.
To judge us fair
Would be to share
The abysmal deeps of our despair.
We, reared in dearth,
Dull rabble of earth,
Were branded prisoners at our birth.
To each befell,
As each learned well,
The heirloom of a dungeon cell.
Dull rabble of earth,
Were branded prisoners at our birth.
To each befell,
As each learned well,
The heirloom of a dungeon cell.
On each the curse
Was wreaked adverse
Of ragged beggary for his nurse;
To each the cheer
Of want's chill sneer
Became his cradle and swaddling-gear.
Was wreaked adverse
Of ragged beggary for his nurse;
To each the cheer
Of want's chill sneer
Became his cradle and swaddling-gear.
While new suns rise,
Our roaming eyes
Glare haggard at the unaidful skies.
While new suns fade
Our worn feet wade
Through rubble and slush whose filths degrade.
Our roaming eyes
Glare haggard at the unaidful skies.
While new suns fade
Our worn feet wade
Through rubble and slush whose filths degrade.
No more we heed,
In our strong need,
Mild-murmuring patience if she plead;
With maxims wise
In vain she sighs
For suffering to philosophise.
In our strong need,
Mild-murmuring patience if she plead;
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In vain she sighs
For suffering to philosophise.
Nay, is it strange
Our fancies range
Through visions of volcanic change?
Or that intrigue
Would vengeance league
To attest our terrible fatigue?
Our fancies range
Through visions of volcanic change?
Or that intrigue
Would vengeance league
To attest our terrible fatigue?
Shrewd tongues may prate
That this hot hate
Its mad self would annihilate;
Yet captive pain
At least would gain
Some transient shattering of its chain.
That this hot hate
Its mad self would annihilate;
Yet captive pain
At least would gain
Some transient shattering of its chain.
Ah, sweet to stray
Through frantic fray
For even one red tempestuous day!
Ah, sweet to shower,
For one wild hour,
The slaves' wrath on the despot's power!
Through frantic fray
For even one red tempestuous day!
Ah, sweet to shower,
For one wild hour,
The slaves' wrath on the despot's power!
II
CHORUS OF SO-CALLED CHRISTIANS
Do not heed their foolish plaints;
Dense they teem with envious taints.
Dense they teem with envious taints.
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Chaste religion's holy dawn
Spurn they, anarchy's dull spawn.
Spurn they, anarchy's dull spawn.
When we bid them to endure,
Their responses rise impure.
Their responses rise impure.
Blasphemy their speech outrolls
That appals our Christian souls.
That appals our Christian souls.
They have often dared to claim
We are Christians but in name.
We are Christians but in name.
They have insolently said:
‘Not for such as you Christ bled.’
‘Not for such as you Christ bled.’
Mouthing at us, in coarse glee,
His ‘Leave all and follow me,’
His ‘Leave all and follow me,’
They have insolently cried
Shame upon our greed and pride.
Shame upon our greed and pride.
‘Pah! You Christians?’ they have scoffed,
‘Housed in ease, clad warm and soft,
‘Housed in ease, clad warm and soft,
‘Giving from your golden store
Stray gratuities, and no more?
Stray gratuities, and no more?
‘Tell us, would such boons be priced
Precious in the eyes of Christ?
Precious in the eyes of Christ?
‘Was not this the creed that taught
Self-disdain in deed and thought?
Self-disdain in deed and thought?
‘Each He loved in like degree,
Sacrifice and charity.
Sacrifice and charity.
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Slight the second would He rate
If the first were not its mate.
If the first were not its mate.
‘Give not save the gift be blent
With your own impoverishment.
With your own impoverishment.
‘Give not save at heart ye choose
From your feet to strip the shoes.
From your feet to strip the shoes.
‘Give not save the mood invoke
From your back to pluck the cloak.
From your back to pluck the cloak.
‘This is Christ, and this alone
His clear doctrine, blood and bone.
His clear doctrine, blood and bone.
‘If ye spurn such holy thrall,
Best ye did not give at all.
Best ye did not give at all.
‘Take some other creed, and be
Buddhist, Mussulman, Parsee,
Buddhist, Mussulman, Parsee,
‘Brahman, Jew, so ye evade
This coarse Christian masquerade!’
This coarse Christian masquerade!’
[OMITTED]
Thus the raucous cries have rung,
Hot from many a reckless tongue.
Hot from many a reckless tongue.
We but hold them void of sense,
Pitying their impertinence.
Pitying their impertinence.
Serious heed we scarce have lent
Their anarchical ferment.
Their anarchical ferment.
We not Christians?—we that pray
Night and morn in holiest way!
Night and morn in holiest way!
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We that reverently brood
On our own rare rectitude;
On our own rare rectitude;
Aid the poor, and yet restrain
Prodigalities insane;
Prodigalities insane;
Love our neighbour, yet disclose
No grand philanthropic pose;
No grand philanthropic pose;
Lie not, steal not, do, in fact,
All that Scripture's laws exact!
All that Scripture's laws exact!
—Nay, with idiot rant let these
Blusterers prattle what they please!
Blusterers prattle what they please!
How could Christ, alive to-day,
Our gentility gainsay,
Our gentility gainsay,
Or demand that we should flee
From respectability!
From respectability!
Altered lands and altered skies
He Himself would recognise—
He Himself would recognise—
Years wherethrough fresh thoughts have ranged,
Habits, fashions, customs changed.
Habits, fashions, customs changed.
Nineteen centuries' gloom and shine
Part New York from Palestine;
Part New York from Palestine;
Hold at each far-sundered hem
London and Jerusalem;
London and Jerusalem;
Broad in severance, verge from verge
Hudson and Euphrates urge;
Hudson and Euphrates urge;
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Thames and Jordan, tide from tide,
Incontestably divide.
Incontestably divide.
—Wherefore, at thy throne-foot now,
Heavenly Hierarch, we bow,
Heavenly Hierarch, we bow,
Feeling thine approval sure
Of our decorous lives and pure;
Of our decorous lives and pure;
Confident thou wilt not think
Duty and piety we blink,
Duty and piety we blink,
For the simple cause that we
Take religion rationally,
Take religion rationally,
Nor its precious codes attire
In cheap spangles and red fire.
In cheap spangles and red fire.
III
CHORUS OF THINKING TOILERS
We scorn the insurgence of that shriek
Which far too oft is flung
From feverish lips that only speak
With acrimonious tongue;
No more we crave, no more we plead
Than Justice would herself concede.
Which far too oft is flung
From feverish lips that only speak
With acrimonious tongue;
No more we crave, no more we plead
Than Justice would herself concede.
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The lands are loud, the lands are hot
With hates of ravenous rage;
The labourer loathes his drudging lot,
He loathes his vassalage;
He learns at last his own large power,
He longs to make his tyrants cower.
With hates of ravenous rage;
The labourer loathes his drudging lot,
He loathes his vassalage;
He learns at last his own large power,
He longs to make his tyrants cower.
Yet we, rough labour's burly brood,
That ache in thew and bone,
The murderous paroxysmal mood
Disfavour and disown;
We rate as weapons weak and slight
Incendiarism and dynamite.
That ache in thew and bone,
The murderous paroxysmal mood
Disfavour and disown;
We rate as weapons weak and slight
Incendiarism and dynamite.
At learning's font stray draughts we drank,
Yet sweet as May's mild rains;
Deep in our thirsting souls they sank
And vitalised our veins.
Invaluable the draught to us,
For its ennobling stimulus!
Yet sweet as May's mild rains;
Deep in our thirsting souls they sank
And vitalised our veins.
Invaluable the draught to us,
For its ennobling stimulus!
The rare elixir cleared our glance,
Like sunshine scattering snow;
Mankind must cope with ignorance
And lay its cohorts low.
Life hath no genie, luck no elf,
To help him till he helps himself.
Like sunshine scattering snow;
Mankind must cope with ignorance
And lay its cohorts low.
Life hath no genie, luck no elf,
To help him till he helps himself.
'Tis vain to dream our freedom's day
Fortuitously shall rise;
Millennial morrows long delay
The bloom of their bright skies;
From darkness and turmoil are drawn
The peace and splendour of their dawn.
Fortuitously shall rise;
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The bloom of their bright skies;
From darkness and turmoil are drawn
The peace and splendour of their dawn.
A century since, beyond the sea,
Our motto and watchword flamed;
Of Liberty, Equality,
Fraternity 'twas framed.
Where battle and massacre prevailed,
It towered unsoiled and unassailed.
Our motto and watchword flamed;
Of Liberty, Equality,
Fraternity 'twas framed.
Where battle and massacre prevailed,
It towered unsoiled and unassailed.
But though man's mind hath striven to free
His fate from creeds unsound,
Though liberty and equality
In largess he hath found,
Still doth fraternity remain
Thus far his unaccomplished gain.
His fate from creeds unsound,
Though liberty and equality
In largess he hath found,
Still doth fraternity remain
Thus far his unaccomplished gain.
Sweet thoughts of help may haunt his ken,
But these coarse interests gloom;
Men do not love their fellow-men,
Howe'er they so assume.
We paupers, prospering by their aid,
Know just how grudgingly 'tis paid.
But these coarse interests gloom;
Men do not love their fellow-men,
Howe'er they so assume.
We paupers, prospering by their aid,
Know just how grudgingly 'tis paid.
They love us not; their happier lives
Are swayed by severing powers;
They love their parents, children, wives,
As we in turn love ours;
Why blame their souls if unenticed
By the grand altruism of Christ?
Are swayed by severing powers;
They love their parents, children, wives,
As we in turn love ours;
Why blame their souls if unenticed
By the grand altruism of Christ?
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That rigorous and divine unrest
Obeys but one clear call;
Spontaneous throbs it in the breast,
Or fails to throb at all;
More firm than subterranean gold,
The future doth its fires enfold.
Obeys but one clear call;
Spontaneous throbs it in the breast,
Or fails to throb at all;
More firm than subterranean gold,
The future doth its fires enfold.
Rich beauty of its unrisen day,
While time's tides onward sweep,
Our children's children's children may
Inestimably reap.
For us the hid seeds torpid cower;
For them shall blaze the effulgent flower.
While time's tides onward sweep,
Our children's children's children may
Inestimably reap.
For us the hid seeds torpid cower;
For them shall blaze the effulgent flower.
‘They serve who only stand and wait,’
Sang Milton, long ago.
Our toil is harsh; our need is great;
Our trust in heaven ebbs low;
We wait, yet ah! not idly stand;
We bow tired back, ply wearied hand.
Sang Milton, long ago.
Our toil is harsh; our need is great;
Our trust in heaven ebbs low;
We wait, yet ah! not idly stand;
We bow tired back, ply wearied hand.
Complaint is fatuous; wrath even worse;
Revolts fresh wrongs evolve;
We can but hope the unholy curse
In blessing may dissolve—
In bounteous blessing without flaw—
When Love grows universal law!
Revolts fresh wrongs evolve;
We can but hope the unholy curse
In blessing may dissolve—
In bounteous blessing without flaw—
When Love grows universal law!
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IV
CHORUS OF EVERYDAY OPTIMISTS
‘Heigh! the stream of pompous prattle!
Ho! the gush of high-flown tattle!
Life 's a bow to bravely bend;
Life 's a coin to wisely spend.
We, for all that say us nay,
Answer: ‘Folderolderado,’
Answer: ‘Folderolderay!’
Ho! the gush of high-flown tattle!
Life 's a bow to bravely bend;
Life 's a coin to wisely spend.
We, for all that say us nay,
Answer: ‘Folderolderado,’
Answer: ‘Folderolderay!’
‘Why, if you 've with want fought vainly,
Scold society insanely?
How may any man dare think
That the world should wait his wink?
We, to all who claim he may,
Toss our ‘Folderolderado,’
Fling our ‘Folderolderay.’
Scold society insanely?
How may any man dare think
That the world should wait his wink?
We, to all who claim he may,
Toss our ‘Folderolderado,’
Fling our ‘Folderolderay.’
‘True, it 's heartily distressful
Not to find one's self successful;
Yet you'll scarce revoke missed aims
Calling skilled shots ugly names.
All such babble is apt to weigh
Light as—folderolderado,
Light as—folderolderay.
Not to find one's self successful;
Yet you'll scarce revoke missed aims
Calling skilled shots ugly names.
All such babble is apt to weigh
Light as—folderolderado,
Light as—folderolderay.
‘If the rich and poor were equals,
How absurd would be the sequels!
Millionaire and pauper peers,
Where would work find volunteers?
Each man toil so long each day?
Pooh! mere folderolderado!
Pah! mere folderolderay!
How absurd would be the sequels!
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Where would work find volunteers?
Each man toil so long each day?
Pooh! mere folderolderado!
Pah! mere folderolderay!
‘Socialism 's a madhouse revel;
Anarchy 's a masquing devil.
Greet your joys; accept your cares;
Go to church and say your prayers.
Every other earthly way
Is but folderolderado,
Is but folderolderay!
Anarchy 's a masquing devil.
Greet your joys; accept your cares;
Go to church and say your prayers.
Every other earthly way
Is but folderolderado,
Is but folderolderay!
‘Read good books, but writing sceptic
Hold obnoxious and dyspeptic;
It can ne'er (wise, witty or terse)
Re-create the universe.
When such task it would essay
Cry it ‘Folderolderado,’
Cry it ‘Folderolderay!’
Hold obnoxious and dyspeptic;
It can ne'er (wise, witty or terse)
Re-create the universe.
When such task it would essay
Cry it ‘Folderolderado,’
Cry it ‘Folderolderay!’
‘Swing to men like Herbert Spencer
No encomiastic censer;
Darwin, Huxley, Tyndall, bring
No devout burnt-offering.
If you hear they 've ‘come to stay,’
Laugh your ‘Folderolderado,’
Laugh your ‘Folderolderay!
No encomiastic censer;
Darwin, Huxley, Tyndall, bring
No devout burnt-offering.
If you hear they 've ‘come to stay,’
Laugh your ‘Folderolderado,’
Laugh your ‘Folderolderay!
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‘Proffer all time-worn traditions
Your unqualified submissions;
Gaze askance at silly storms
Big with picturesque reforms.
Quick their bubbles, glittering gay,
Turn to folderolderado,
Turn to folderolderay!
Your unqualified submissions;
Gaze askance at silly storms
Big with picturesque reforms.
Quick their bubbles, glittering gay,
Turn to folderolderado,
Turn to folderolderay!
‘Take the world as you have found it;
Neither seek to gauge nor sound it.
In this one stanch maxim rest:
Everything that is, is best.
You'll but follow, if thence you stray,
Wraiths like—folderolderado,
Ghosts like—folderolderay!’
Neither seek to gauge nor sound it.
In this one stanch maxim rest:
Everything that is, is best.
You'll but follow, if thence you stray,
Wraiths like—folderolderado,
Ghosts like—folderolderay!’
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