 | Vigil and vision |  |
95
CONSCRIPT AND VOLUNTEER.
BE mindful, England, of thy heroes dead,Who on the sun-dried deserts oversea
Lie, slain of cunning or of treachery.
In all thine isle of mists and manlihead
Scarce was a household but one darling head,
Heedless of aught but truth and loyalty,
Gave unrepining up for love of thee,
Thy wounds to med'cine with its best blood shed.
Be mindful, over all, that these were none
Who by the iron rod of ruthless law
Were driven as sheep into the red blind maw
Of ravening war; nay, each, clerk, peasant, peer,
Of his free will left all that makes life dear,
To die for thee beneath the Afric sun.
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