THE OUTLAWS

1914

HROUGH learned and laborious years
They set themselves to find us year

Fresh terrors and undreamed-of fears To heap upon mankind.

All that they drew from Heaven above
Or digged from earth beneath,
They laid into their treasure-trove
And arsenals of death:

While, for well-weighed advantage sake,

Ruler and ruled alike

Built up the faith they meant to break
When the fit hour should strike.

They traded with the careless earth,
And good return it gave;

They plotted by their neighbour's hearth
The means to make him slave.

THE OUTLAWS

When all was ready to their hand
They loosed their hidden sword,
And utterly laid waste a land
Their oath was pledged to guard.

Coldly they went about to raise
To life and make more dread
Abominations of old days,

That men believed were dead.

They paid the price to reach their goal Across a world in flame;

But their own hate slew their own soul Before that victory came.

T

ZION

HE Doorkeepers of Zion, They do not always stand In helmet and whole armour,

With halberds in their hand; But, being sure of Zion,

And all her mysteries, They rest awhile in Zion, Sit down and smile in Zion; Ay, even jest in Zion;

In Zion, at their ease.

The Gatekeepers of Baal,
They dare not sit or lean,
But fume and fret and posture
And foam and curse between;
For being bound to Baal,

Whose sacrifice is vain,

Their rest is scant with Baal,
They glare and pant for Baal,
They mouth and rant for Baal,
For Baal in their pain!

ZION

But we will go to Zion,

By choice and not through dread,
With these our present comrades
And those our present dead;
And, being free of Zion

In both her fellowships,
Sit down and sup in Zion-
Stand up and drink in Zion
Whatever cup in Zion
Is offered to our lips!

H

LORD ROBERTS

1914

E passed in the very battle-smoke
Of the war that he had descried.

Three hundred mile of cannon spoke,
When the Master-Gunner died.

He passed to the very sound of the guns;
But, before his eye grew dim,

He had seen the faces of the sons
Whose sires had served with him.

He had touched their sword-hilts and greeted each
With the old sure word of praise;

And there was virtue in touch and speech
As it had been in old days.

So he dismissed them and took his rest,
And the steadfast spirit went forth
Between the adoring East and West
And the tireless guns of the North.