ARM! From hedgerow and coppice and cottage and farm 249 ARM! THE FIRST RIFLE BALLAD, JANUARY, 1852. ENGLISHMEN up! make ready your rifles! Who can tell now what a day may bring forth? Patch up all quarrels, and stick at no trifles,— Let the world see what your loyalty's worth! Loyalty-selfishness, cowardice, terror Stoutly will multiply loyalty's sum, When to astonish presumption and error, Soon the shout rises, the brigands are come! Cannot we see them?-impatiently waiting, Clamour like hounds to be loosed on the prey, Eager to devastate Protestant regions, If the Kite wants to be counted an Eagle, Suddenly, secretly, boldly he'll do it! And the sharp sword, that will ravage the coasts, Marksmen ashore! make ready, make ready! That you may fight for the right like a man! Think of the rapine, the flames, and the slaughter, If the fierce Algerine-Frenchman here stood! Think, if you dare, of your wife and your daughter, Think of your little ones choked in their blood! What!-is the wolf so squeamish and tender As to be stopp'd by a peacemonger's tear? No!-if it finds not a stalwart defender Every man's home is a Golgotha here! Up, then, and ARM! it is wisdom and duty; Glories to gain, and revenges to wreak! REPLY. REPLY, TO SUNDRY WHO OBJECT TO "ARM." WHAT! Will they tell us that timely precaution Or that true safety is found in proportion Further, they hint, because England is waking, Ha! they would rather still see us all sleeping, Secretly creeping, and suddenly leaping, 251 No! let us all, -as erst we were bowmen When a First Richard or Edward was king, Now be found ready to scare away foemen, True with the trigger, as once with the string! Not like your fuglemen dressers and drillers Tailor'd and truss'd, and made useless the while, But as stern resolute rifle-Guerillas Able to pick off a man at a mile! Think you those African-razzia heroes Would be as tame as they look at reviews? Anything rather than-Guises and Neroes, Playing at soldiering just to amuse? No,-in bad earnest for vengeance and plunder Ruthlessly would they be sacking each farm, If we give way to the traitorous blunder That it is foolish and timid to ARM! Truly, we long to live kindly with neighbours! Isn't it wise to be ready for worse? Change is the nature of things as of seasons; Change may be nearer than any one knows; And for the best, as the strongest of reasons, Let us stand ready for friends or for foes! ARM, then, at once! if no one attack us, Better than well, for the rifle may rust: But, if the pirates be coming to sack us, Level it calmly,-and GOD be your trust! Only, while yet there's a moment, be steady; Skilfully, duteously, quickly prepare,— Then with a nation of Riflemen ready, Nobody'll come,-because no one will dare. THOUGHT-CRYSTALS. 253 SOMEBODY. (FOR MUSIC.) O THE day when Somebody, Never asking reasons why, Long ago, long ago! Why should that dear day be still There's a way where there's a will, That, in spite of time's cold lapse, Now may whisper, "I am here THOUGHT-CRYSTALS. PLUNGED in my brain, fermenting thick and warm, Simmer deep thoughts; and shape themselves apace, So soon as Quiet for a little space Gives Life a rest, and lulls its petty storm: |