We  are  wisely  cast ;

And  from  these  hard  conditions  best  may  rise

To  dream-seen  heights  afar  :

Then  with  a  heart

Fearless  to  the  last,

Strong,  and  enduring  still,

Let's  bear  with  things  that  are  ;

And — as  ourselves — disdaining  weak  disguise,

Let's  enter  boldly  on  this  enterprise,

With  faith  in  our  good  star  !


ALARUMS    AND    EXCURSIONS  33


'*The  Call  to  Arms"

Hodge  Loquitur

'Taint  no  sort  o'  use  denyin'
There's  a  summat  about  dyin'
To  the  sound  o'  bugle  calls,
An'  the  thud  o'  cannon  balls,
An'  the  whiz  o'  bullets  flyin',
An'  the  rumble  o'  guns  firin'
Wot's  consid'rable  inspirin'
To  the  man  as  stays  behind.
Yus,  it's  fine  an'  fair  excitin',
An'  a  thing  I  takes  delight  in  :
Just  the  thought  o  beggars  fightin'
Makes  me  tingle  through  and  through
It's  the  martial  instinct  brewin',
An'  it  kinder  needs  subjuin',
So  my  wery  best  I'm  doin'
All  sich  feelin's  to  subjoo.
Pm  a  chap  o'  brawn  an'  muscle,
An'  it's  'ard  to  'ave  to  tussle
'Gin  these  bulldog  inclinations
When  sich  fever  fires  the  blood,
But  the  thought  o'  my  relations —

D


34  ALARUMS    AND    EXCURSIONS

(In  pertikler  dear  old  mother) —
Makes  me  wishful  fer  to  smother
All  sich  feelin's  in  the  bud.
Still,  there  ain*t  no  use  denyin'
There's  a  summat  about  dyin'
To  the  rumble  o*  guns  firin*
Wot's  pertikler  inspirin'.
