Page:The Muse in Arms, Osborn (ed), 1917.djvu/302

260 It comforts not that cheerfully they gave

Their lives for England; nay, to us, outworn

With grief, it skills but that they could not save

Themselves in saving her from shame and scorn.

Cometh no answer from the pitiless skies

To us in darkness for our lost ones weeping;

Their place is empty, empty as our hearts,

Or as our prayers unheeded, nor departs

The instant anguish: we but hush our cries

Lest they should trouble our belovèd sleeping.

3. Peace

the bitterness of death is past,

Drained to the dregs the waters of despair,

Yea, pride on our belovèd shall outlast

All poor desiring for the things that were.

The men we wedded and the sons we bare

Died valiantly and for the right stood fast:

Yet 'twas our blood that made them strong to dare,

Our hearts that in the battle-scale were cast.

Light of our eyes for all the years to be,

Fruit of our dreams, our dearest selves fulfilled,

These have we laid as gifts on Freedom's altar

With blinding tears, yet all ungrudgingly;

Henceforth our high hearts shall not fail nor falter,

Though in them gladness be for ever stilled.

.