 | Lyrics (1895) |  |
162
IN THE FIELD
The expected loiterer comes at last;
Beneath the mellow wall they strip,
Then through the parted crowd stream past
In shy and serious fellowship.
Beneath the mellow wall they strip,
Then through the parted crowd stream past
In shy and serious fellowship.
My captain, skilled, if any there,
To stem the rush or shoot the goal,
He bids the ardent heart beware,
And lightly cheers an anxious soul.
To stem the rush or shoot the goal,
He bids the ardent heart beware,
And lightly cheers an anxious soul.
To-day is big with mimic fate;
Grave nods reply to comrades' smiles;
Oppressed with little cares of state,
They gauge an adversary's wiles.
Grave nods reply to comrades' smiles;
Oppressed with little cares of state,
They gauge an adversary's wiles.
163
Then, as the shrill cheers echo higher,
They gather for the kindly fray,
And hearts that beat with kindred fire
Draw from young cheeks the blood away.
They gather for the kindly fray,
And hearts that beat with kindred fire
Draw from young cheeks the blood away.
I hear the old familiar names
In quavering shrillness seize the air,
I mark the unselfish deed that claims
No honour, but is doubly fair;
In quavering shrillness seize the air,
I mark the unselfish deed that claims
No honour, but is doubly fair;
Surprises infinitely great,
And little feats of high emprise,
Encouraged by a stormy cheer,
And envied by a thousand eyes.
And little feats of high emprise,
Encouraged by a stormy cheer,
And envied by a thousand eyes.
Then to and fro the struggle veers;
Be just, be generous if you can;
And hark how instantly he cheers—
The loud long-coated partisan.
Be just, be generous if you can;
And hark how instantly he cheers—
The loud long-coated partisan.
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Who wins the palm? who rules the race?
I care not, so the race be run;—
Defeat may wear a nobler grace
Than easy triumphs lightly won.
I care not, so the race be run;—
Defeat may wear a nobler grace
Than easy triumphs lightly won.
What though far hence uncertain fears
Shall dim the fire of childish eyes,
Here pile your store, for after years,
Of seemliest, purest memories.
Shall dim the fire of childish eyes,
Here pile your store, for after years,
Of seemliest, purest memories.
When ardent spring to autumn yields,
And these young heads are streaked with grey,
Oh, may you prove in other fields
The faithful zeal you show to-day!
And these young heads are streaked with grey,
Oh, may you prove in other fields
The faithful zeal you show to-day!
| Lyrics (1895) | |