ARM!

From hedgerow and coppice and cottage and farm
The foreigner's welcome, GOD wot! shall be warm,
And the crack of the rifle shall hint to the foe
How terrible once was the twang of the bow.

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,
Hundreds of thousands, all hungry for spoil,
Breathing out slaughter, and bitterly hating
Britain and all that is born of her soil!
Jesuit priests and prætorian legions

Clamour like hounds to be loosed on the prey,

Eager to devastate Protestant regions,
And to take vengeance for Waterloo day!

If the Kite wants to be counted an Eagle,
What can he better be scheming than this,-
While a false peace our minds may invèigle,
And we are sold to a Judas's kiss?

Suddenly, secretly, boldly he'll do it!

And the sharp sword, that will ravage the coasts,
Then shall run into the land, and go through it,
If Britain sleeps at her sentinel-posts!

Marksmen ashore! make ready, make ready!
Honest men slumber, but thieves are astir;
Steamers afloat,-be stirring and steady!
All will be lost, if your vigilance err:
Every one, sporting or spinning or farming,
Wisely defend what you have while you can,
Steadily drilling, and sturdily arming,

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;
We are too tempting a prize to be weak:
Lo, what a pillage of riches and beauty,

Glories to gain, and revenges to wreak!
Run for your rifles, and stand to your drilling ;
Let not the wolf have his will, as he might
If, in the midst of their trading and tilling,
Englishmen cannot-or care not to-fight!

REPLY.

REPLY,

TO SUNDRY WHO OBJECT TO "ARM."

WHAT! Will they tell us that timely precaution
Causes the peril it strives to avoid?

Or that true safety is found in proportion
With the true danger of being destroy'd?
What! with the wolf looking over the hurdles
Mustn't the shepherd be loading his gun?
Or, while his liver with cowardice curdles,
Should he cry Welcome,-and prudently run?

Further, they hint, because England is waking,
This is a challenge, an insult, a threat,---
That we affront them and taunt them, by taking
Rational means for security yet:

Ha! they would rather still see us all sleeping,
Then, as on Corinth and Carthage of old,

Secretly creeping, and suddenly leaping,
Teach us-how kind is the wolf to the fold!

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!
Nobody dreams but of war as a curse;
But in the middle of peaceable labours,

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,
Long ago, long ago,

Never asking reasons why,
Simply loved Another so
That the hours sunny bright
Tripp'd along in happy light,.
And no sorrow found its way
Into that Elysian day,-

Long ago, long ago!

Why should that dear day be still
Long ago, long ago ?

There's a way where there's a will,
If One loves Another so

That, in spite of time's cold lapse,
Somebody once more perhaps
In Another's willing ear

Now may whisper, "I am here
As I was, love, long ago!"

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: