TO CERTAIN OF "THE FOURTH ESTATE." 241 Till good purpose banish'd thence If truckle to the bad By the good man's slander'd name; And with rumours bubble-blown It is but yourselves you cheat, Cheat of honour, love, and trust,—— And you cut away your feet, Like a Dagon in the dust; Till the "public praise" of men Comes to be their common scorn! DEFENCE NOT DEFIANCE. (A RIFLE SONG.) NEARER the muttering thunders roll, Faces the storm with a steady eye; Hands are strong, where hearts are stout, No one wishes the storm to roll here, Only for peace an Englishman prays; Yet he may shout in the midst of the rout, Our rifles are ready-Look out! Keep to your own like an honest man, And here's our hand, and here's our heart; Let the world see how wisely you can Play to the end a right neighbourly part; But, if mischief is creeping about, Our rifles are ready-Look out! No defiance is on our lips, Nothing but kindliness greets you here; Still, in the storm our dolphin ships Round the Eddystone dart and steer; And on shore, no doubt, no doubt, Our rifles are ready-Look out! COUNTRY LIFE. Not defiance, but only defence Hold we forth for humanity's sake; And, with the help of Omnipotence, We shall stand when the mountains quake,Only in Him our hearts are stout, Our rifles are ready-Look out! EHEU! FUGACES. THE flying years! the flying years! Look on the Past,—a dream, a dream Of saddening thoughts and cloudy things; Look at the Future,-does it seem Less than a Fate with folded wings? Look to the Present,-this indeed Is worth our all of cost and care, And daily bread for daily need COUNTRY LIFE. I. AGAINST. THINK not thou that fields and flowers, Copses and Arcadian bowers, Grow the crop of Peace : : 243 |