For Peace thou art armed Thy Freedom to hold: Thy Courage as iron, Thy Good-faith as gold.
Through Fire, Air, and Water Thy trial must be: But they that love life best Die gladly for thee.
The Love of their mothers Is strong to command; The fame of their fathers Is might to their hand.
Much suffering shall cleanse thee; But thou through the flood Shalt win to Salvation, To Beauty through blood.
Up, careless, awake! Ye peacemakers, fight! ENGLAND STANDS FOR HONOUR: GOD DEFEND THE RIGHT!
England! where the sacred flame Burns before the inmost shrine, Where the lips that love thy name Consecrate their hopes and thine, Where the banners of thy dead Weave their shadows overhead, Watch beside thine arms to-night, Pray that God defend the Right.
Think that when to-morrow comes War shall claim command of all, Thou must hear the roll of drums, Thou must hear the trumpet's call. Now before they silence ruth, Commune with the voice of truth; England! on thy knees to-night Pray that God defend the Right.
Single-hearted, unafraid, Hither all thy heroes came, On this altar's steps were laid Gordon's life and Outram's fame. England! if thy will be yet By their great example set, Here beside thine arms to-night Pray that God defend the Right.
So shalt thou when morning comes Rise to conquer or to fall, Joyful hear the rolling drums, Joyful hear the trumpet's call. Then let memory tell thy heart; "_England! what thou wert, thou art!_" Gird thee with thine ancient might, Forth! and God defend the Right!
At last we know you, War-lord. You, that flung The gauntlet down, fling down the mask you wore, Publish your heart, and let its pent hate pour, You that had God for ever on your tongue. We are old in war, and if in guile we are young, Young also is the spirit that evermore Burns in our bosom ev'n as heretofore, Nor are these thews unbraced, these nerves unstrung. We do not with God's name make wanton play; We are not on such easy terms with Heaven; But in Earth's hearing we can verily say, "Our hands are pure; for peace, for peace we have striven"; And not by Earth shall he be soon forgiven Who lit the fire accurst that flames to-day.
Fight, since thou must; strike quick and fierce, So when this tyrant for too long Hath shook the blood out of his ears He may have learned the price of wrong.