War Lyrics dedicated to the friends of the dead. By A. and L. Shore. Second edition, with additions |
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WORDS TO THE CZAR. |
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WORDS TO THE CZAR.
Since first the Sultan's wrong and wrath
Called up the West against the North,
Since two majestic champions there
Rose, and to Russia said, “Forbear!”
Oh, Czar! each stately onward stride
In our stern path, had God for guide.
Called up the West against the North,
Since two majestic champions there
Rose, and to Russia said, “Forbear!”
Oh, Czar! each stately onward stride
In our stern path, had God for guide.
When Moslems thronged with wondering din
To see the two fair fleets sail in,
See in the Golden Waters ride
The beauteous rivals side by side,
With snow-white sister-wings unfurled,
To guard the quiet of the world;
To see the two fair fleets sail in,
See in the Golden Waters ride
The beauteous rivals side by side,
With snow-white sister-wings unfurled,
To guard the quiet of the world;
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When Varna's hot and hateful fen
Killed week by week our noblest men,
Where sickening night and glaring day
Turned youth and valour into clay;
In rest, in pest, by swamp, by sea,
We knew the triumphs yet to be.
Killed week by week our noblest men,
Where sickening night and glaring day
Turned youth and valour into clay;
In rest, in pest, by swamp, by sea,
We knew the triumphs yet to be.
When all our ships had overflowed
Those shores of thine with their brave load,
(Lo, all of them Hope's chosen knights,
The double-bannered host alights!)
Shot not a warning through the air,
That righteous vengeance landed there?
Those shores of thine with their brave load,
(Lo, all of them Hope's chosen knights,
The double-bannered host alights!)
Shot not a warning through the air,
That righteous vengeance landed there?
When the immortal march moved on,
When Alma's heights were braved and won,
When round the towers our vengeance claims,
Death cleared the lists for desperate games—
Deeds that took wonder's breath away!
Men who seized glory as a prey!
When Alma's heights were braved and won,
When round the towers our vengeance claims,
Death cleared the lists for desperate games—
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Men who seized glory as a prey!
When every step of that great race
Caught laurels from each dreary place,
Where panting flew the warrior swarms
Into each other's bloody arms,
And dropped pale corpses from that hold—
Was Hope, our prophet, then too bold?
Caught laurels from each dreary place,
Where panting flew the warrior swarms
Into each other's bloody arms,
And dropped pale corpses from that hold—
Was Hope, our prophet, then too bold?
Her flying chariot fate has sped
From field to field, from dead to dead;
And now her redhot wheels she stays
'Twixt past and future battle-days.
Oh, Czar! in this our breathing-space,
We look into thy guilty face.
From field to field, from dead to dead;
And now her redhot wheels she stays
'Twixt past and future battle-days.
Oh, Czar! in this our breathing-space,
We look into thy guilty face.
Though with a thousand graves Earth parts
Their darlings from a thousand hearts;
Though those with strength for suffering curst
In bitter patience bear the worst;
For all, the end is yet to be—
Ask, if thou darst, what end for thee?
Their darlings from a thousand hearts;
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In bitter patience bear the worst;
For all, the end is yet to be—
Ask, if thou darst, what end for thee?
A. January 8, 1855.
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