Page:A treasury of war poetry, British and American poems of the world war, 1914-1919.djvu/43

 ENGLAND

THE VIGIL

NGLAND! 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.