The Country Town and Other Poems By the late William John Courthope ... With a Memoir by A. O. Prickard |
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NINETEEN HUNDRED |
 | The Country Town and Other Poems |  |
79
NINETEEN HUNDRED
[_]
A New Year's Greeting from the British People to the Troops of the British Empire in South Africa.
Though other stars shine o'er your heads,
And other seasons roll
Round your far tents and mountain beds,
Yet present in the soul,
O valiant hearts, in absence near,
With you we hail the dawning year.
And other seasons roll
Round your far tents and mountain beds,
Yet present in the soul,
O valiant hearts, in absence near,
With you we hail the dawning year.
Northward the story of your deeds
The lightning current brings:
Hope, triumph, gloom, each hour succeeds:
But swifter are the wings,
The pride, the pain, each moment new,
That speed our spirits south to you.
The lightning current brings:
Hope, triumph, gloom, each hour succeeds:
But swifter are the wings,
The pride, the pain, each moment new,
That speed our spirits south to you.
With you we cross the stream of death,
And mount the crimsoned hill,
Nurse with our prayers your failing breath,
And steel your dauntless will.
All the calm fury of your fight
Is fed from Britain's distant might.
And mount the crimsoned hill,
Nurse with our prayers your failing breath,
And steel your dauntless will.
All the calm fury of your fight
Is fed from Britain's distant might.
And when around the hasty grave
You bend beside the bier,
That holds the young, the gay, the brave,
And shed a comrade's tear;
O'er twice ten hundred leagues of foam
You hear the answering sob at home.
You bend beside the bier,
That holds the young, the gay, the brave,
And shed a comrade's tear;
O'er twice ten hundred leagues of foam
You hear the answering sob at home.
80
The dying century wanes apace:
Through all the tale of time
Look backward, and behold our Race
The path of glory climb.
Still onwards lies the goal. Afar
We follow Freedom's guiding star.
Through all the tale of time
Look backward, and behold our Race
The path of glory climb.
Still onwards lies the goal. Afar
We follow Freedom's guiding star.
Now while the Nations' joyous howl
Proclaim our land's decay,
Like wolves around a watch-fire prowl,
And wait, but dread their prey—
Fight on; nor fear their banded powers:
The hearts of Agincourt are ours.
Proclaim our land's decay,
Like wolves around a watch-fire prowl,
And wait, but dread their prey—
Fight on; nor fear their banded powers:
The hearts of Agincourt are ours.
Though yet in streams, o'er fell and flood,
Your blood be called to run;
Not vain the sacrifice:—your blood
Shall make the Empire one.
Bow down to Heaven; then, with good cheer,
Arise, and hail the dawning year.
Your blood be called to run;
Not vain the sacrifice:—your blood
Shall make the Empire one.
Bow down to Heaven; then, with good cheer,
Arise, and hail the dawning year.
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