A batch of war ballads By Martin F. Tupper |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. | V.
OUR FALSE-AND-TRUE POSITION. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
 | A batch of war ballads |  |
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V. OUR FALSE-AND-TRUE POSITION.
Odd things happen nowadays;
Earth's kaleidoscope of change
Brings about in wondrous ways
Combinations passing strange:
Fixt by more than mortal power
Every pattern is perplext,
And we watch from hour to hour
What on earth's to happen next!
Earth's kaleidoscope of change
Brings about in wondrous ways
Combinations passing strange:
Fixt by more than mortal power
Every pattern is perplext,
And we watch from hour to hour
What on earth's to happen next!
Here we are, by no mischance,
(Duty's call we dare not shirk,)
Hand in hand with papal France
Fighting for the pagan Turk
All against a christian Czar
And his holy church of Greece
Forced unwillingly to war
Simply as the friends of peace!
(Duty's call we dare not shirk,)
Hand in hand with papal France
Fighting for the pagan Turk
All against a christian Czar
And his holy church of Greece
Forced unwillingly to war
Simply as the friends of peace!
Who could, but a year ago,
Such involvements have foreseen?
Who might guess that friend and foe
Could so queerly mixt have been?
Then, the Frenchman was our fear,
And our utter scorn the Pope,
While, against all perils near,
Russia stood for Europe's hope!
Such involvements have foreseen?
Who might guess that friend and foe
Could so queerly mixt have been?
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And our utter scorn the Pope,
While, against all perils near,
Russia stood for Europe's hope!
Russia, pah! the caitiff's name
(Though his people are more worth)
In our nostrils stinks for shame,
For his empire blights this earth:
By his lustful crafty crimes
Nicholas has grown outright,
In the judgment of the times,
Europe's hatred and despite.
(Though his people are more worth)
In our nostrils stinks for shame,
For his empire blights this earth:
By his lustful crafty crimes
Nicholas has grown outright,
In the judgment of the times,
Europe's hatred and despite.
Everywhere he steals and blasts,—
Poland, Finland, Georgia, Greece;
Wheresoe'er his net he casts
There he sets his curse on peace:
Hatred frowns where Russia rules,
For her evil lord commands
Peoples to be tyrant's tools
Briareus's hundred hands!
Poland, Finland, Georgia, Greece;
Wheresoe'er his net he casts
There he sets his curse on peace:
Hatred frowns where Russia rules,
For her evil lord commands
Peoples to be tyrant's tools
Briareus's hundred hands!
Therefore shall dear England's power
Stoutly such false rule deny,
And when despots would devour
Shall their tyranny defy:
Therefore will we, Queen and Realm,
With fraternal France stand strong,
Lest this madman overwhelm
Right unjustly suffering Wrong.
Stoutly such false rule deny,
And when despots would devour
Shall their tyranny defy:
Therefore will we, Queen and Realm,
With fraternal France stand strong,
Lest this madman overwhelm
Right unjustly suffering Wrong.
| A batch of war ballads | |