 | English Roses |  |
57
CHIVALRY.
Chivalry? It has no meaning,
But when every woman can
Go whene'er she listeth, leaning
On the empire as one man;
When her needs are every brother's,
And his own and not another's;
While ten thousand strong right arms
Rise, for wrongs which falsehood smothers—
To redress insulted charms;
When her honour to the nation
Is its jewel and salvation,
Shielded from the breath of harms.
But when every woman can
Go whene'er she listeth, leaning
On the empire as one man;
When her needs are every brother's,
And his own and not another's;
While ten thousand strong right arms
Rise, for wrongs which falsehood smothers—
To redress insulted charms;
When her honour to the nation
Is its jewel and salvation,
Shielded from the breath of harms.
Chivalry? It is the beating
Pulse within the breast of all,
Life of life, and not retreating
Till the last foundations fall.
More than Fate itself and clearer
Than the trumpet's call and nearer
To the fountain-head of things,
This holds woman's welfare dearer
Than the majesty of kings.
Nor have bulwarks yet been planted,
So divine and so enchanted
As its heavenly shadowings.
Pulse within the breast of all,
Life of life, and not retreating
Till the last foundations fall.
More than Fate itself and clearer
Than the trumpet's call and nearer
To the fountain-head of things,
This holds woman's welfare dearer
Than the majesty of kings.
Nor have bulwarks yet been planted,
So divine and so enchanted
As its heavenly shadowings.
Chivalry? It came from heaven
With immortal souls, and trod
Earth remoulded by its leaven
For the dwelling-place of God.
Breathing all religion's meetness
With a more than human sweetness,
Dawned its light upon the lands;
Giving men the one completeness
Wanted, and fair golden bands.
O its joy of revelation
Was their spirit's inspiration,
And gave courage to their hands.
With immortal souls, and trod
Earth remoulded by its leaven
For the dwelling-place of God.
Breathing all religion's meetness
With a more than human sweetness,
Dawned its light upon the lands;
Giving men the one completeness
Wanted, and fair golden bands.
O its joy of revelation
Was their spirit's inspiration,
And gave courage to their hands.
58
Chivalry? Thou son of Mary,
It is walking in Thy track,
Though the winds and weathers vary
And we suffer wrath and wrack;
When each maiden high and lowly
Is alike a sister holy,
Reverenced in rags or lace,
And our hearts that once beat slowly
Yield to them the loftiest place;
When with purer love and gnosis
They receive apotheosis,
As their right and God-like grace.
It is walking in Thy track,
Though the winds and weathers vary
And we suffer wrath and wrack;
When each maiden high and lowly
Is alike a sister holy,
Reverenced in rags or lace,
And our hearts that once beat slowly
Yield to them the loftiest place;
When with purer love and gnosis
They receive apotheosis,
As their right and God-like grace.
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