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WALMER CASTLE
July 16-17, 1893
And was it here he died who shook the power
Of Europe's tyrant in his days of pride?
Who taught the peoples to await the hour
That did, through him, both stay and stem the tide
Of Europe's tyrant in his days of pride?
Who taught the peoples to await the hour
That did, through him, both stay and stem the tide
Till roused to hope, with burning sense of wrong,
The flocking nations to his standard came,
And one who seemed so ruthless and so strong
Broke to his onset, and fell down in flame?
The flocking nations to his standard came,
And one who seemed so ruthless and so strong
Broke to his onset, and fell down in flame?
And was it here he lived in peaceful days—
In this old Fort that held his native land,
And watched with cannon all the southern bays
That fronted France, and lay to foeman's hand?
In this old Fort that held his native land,
And watched with cannon all the southern bays
That fronted France, and lay to foeman's hand?
Upon these strong old bastioned walls he paced,
Beside the guns that woke no thunder then;
Where pilèd balls, by seedling flowrets graced,
Unhandled, showed the changeful ways of men.
Beside the guns that woke no thunder then;
Where pilèd balls, by seedling flowrets graced,
Unhandled, showed the changeful ways of men.
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Changeful, and yet unchanged, for well he knew
Those winding tendrils round the cannon balls
Still flowered and fruited in the Lines he drew
Round Torres Vedras, and fair Lisbon's walls.
Those winding tendrils round the cannon balls
Still flowered and fruited in the Lines he drew
Round Torres Vedras, and fair Lisbon's walls.
And so through years of his most honoured age
He knew that peace was conquered still by arms,
Wrote and re-wrote on many a warning page
How, only, England could be kept from harms.
He knew that peace was conquered still by arms,
Wrote and re-wrote on many a warning page
How, only, England could be kept from harms.
Nor feared he to retreat, as once before,
When civil strife had laid too hard a strain;
Peace above all within this Island shore
He strove to make, nor did he strive in vain.
When civil strife had laid too hard a strain;
Peace above all within this Island shore
He strove to make, nor did he strive in vain.
And therefore did he bear with calm reserve
The loud reproaches that on him were cast,
Knowing that those who really faithful serve
Will hold the love of nations at the last.
The loud reproaches that on him were cast,
Knowing that those who really faithful serve
Will hold the love of nations at the last.
Nor did he think or care for human thanks
Save as they came with sense of duty done;
In civil strife he fought as in the ranks,
Command obeyed,—the only spoils he won.
Save as they came with sense of duty done;
In civil strife he fought as in the ranks,
Command obeyed,—the only spoils he won.
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And here for years of tribute and of praise
He held the post of Warden, as was meet,
Beside the Roads where saw his younger days
The glorious flag of Nelson and his fleet.
He held the post of Warden, as was meet,
Beside the Roads where saw his younger days
The glorious flag of Nelson and his fleet.
For thanks had come at length in vast acclaim
From all his country's fields, and towers, and towns
Holding in love the letters of his name,
Till here he died—still looking on ‘The Downs.’
From all his country's fields, and towers, and towns
Holding in love the letters of his name,
Till here he died—still looking on ‘The Downs.’
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