A batch of war ballads By Martin F. Tupper |
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| IX. | IX.
NEUTRALITY: |
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 | A batch of war ballads |  |
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IX. NEUTRALITY:
And Postscript, overleaf.
As well as one can, and as long as one can,
Keep out of a quarrel, no doubt,—
This must be the plan for a sensible man
Whose wisdom it is to keep out!
But—let him be sure it is wise from the first,
And see whether fast-fighting friends
Wouldn't make for his quarrel, wherever it burst,
Some solid sufficient amends.
Keep out of a quarrel, no doubt,—
This must be the plan for a sensible man
Whose wisdom it is to keep out!
But—let him be sure it is wise from the first,
And see whether fast-fighting friends
Wouldn't make for his quarrel, wherever it burst,
Some solid sufficient amends.
Yes, Austria! Prussia! and Sweden, and all!
Look sharp if your trimming be wise;
You'll feel pretty small, if Russia should fall,
And smaller, if Russia should rise;
If Europe's police have the Czar on the hip,
And you haven't helped,—it is ill,—
But if he should happen to give them the slip,
Your state is more desperate still!
Look sharp if your trimming be wise;
You'll feel pretty small, if Russia should fall,
And smaller, if Russia should rise;
If Europe's police have the Czar on the hip,
And you haven't helped,—it is ill,—
But if he should happen to give them the slip,
Your state is more desperate still!
There's Lombardy watching, and Poland awake,
And Hungary, gnawing her heart,
Like a leash of good greyhounds, right eager to take
The chance of the day for a start;
And Russia herself, if she once have the power
Will render you bitterest thanks
For succour withheld in necessity's hour
When all her dear neighbours were—blanks!
And Hungary, gnawing her heart,
Like a leash of good greyhounds, right eager to take
The chance of the day for a start;
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Will render you bitterest thanks
For succour withheld in necessity's hour
When all her dear neighbours were—blanks!
O had you been wiser, and join'd with the good
In aiding the Right as you ought,
In the stern coming struggle you all should have stood,
But—trimmers must ever be nought;
Had you fought as you ought in defence of the Right,
It surely had sped, and been strong,
But just as your cowardice fails in the fight
You add a new strength to the Wrong!
In aiding the Right as you ought,
In the stern coming struggle you all should have stood,
But—trimmers must ever be nought;
Had you fought as you ought in defence of the Right,
It surely had sped, and been strong,
But just as your cowardice fails in the fight
You add a new strength to the Wrong!
Be sure the best policy is (as we know)
To be honest, and fearless, and true;
To deal the wrongdoer one vigorous blow,
And give the rightdealer his due;
We grant, it is awkward to quarrel with friends,
But if they grow wicked, we must;
We grant it, that Mahomet's name recommends
No further the claim that is Just!
To be honest, and fearless, and true;
To deal the wrongdoer one vigorous blow,
And give the rightdealer his due;
We grant, it is awkward to quarrel with friends,
But if they grow wicked, we must;
We grant it, that Mahomet's name recommends
No further the claim that is Just!
But, since this red Russia is given to steal,
All honest men now must unite
And turn special constables for the world's weal
To guard and deliver the Right!
If shame has withheld you from helping the Russ,
Shame ought not your help to withhold
From us who are honestly hindering thus
A wolf from attacking the fold.
All honest men now must unite
And turn special constables for the world's weal
To guard and deliver the Right!
If shame has withheld you from helping the Russ,
Shame ought not your help to withhold
From us who are honestly hindering thus
A wolf from attacking the fold.
| A batch of war ballads | |