Today is


   "A word to the wise ain't necessary --  
          it's the stupid ones that need the advice."
					-Bill Cosby

Thursday, July 07, 2005




Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility;
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage;
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
Let it pry through the portage of the head
Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it
As fearfully as does a galled rock
O'erhang and jutty his confounded base,
Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean.
Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath, and bend up every spirit
To his full height. On, on, you noblest English,
Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof!
Fathers that, like so many Alexanders,
Have in these parts from morn till even fought,
And sheath'd their swords for lack of argument.
Dishonour not your mothers; now attest
That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you.
Be copy now to men of grosser blood,
And teach them how to war. And you, good yeomen,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your pasture; let us swear
That you are worth your breeding, which I doubt not;
For there is none of you so mean and base,
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot!
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry, "God for Harry! England and Saint George!"

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

The eyes that follow thee, old flag, are fond,
A Western heart leaps up thy folds to greet,
A Saxon's eyes confess the sacred bond
As England's standard flutters down the street,
With its red for love, its white for law,
And its blue for the hope that our fathers saw
Of a larger liberty.

Thou art the mother flag of destiny,
Our banner of the spangled stars is trine;
Cromwell was sire of Washington and we
Claim the same cross that blazons thy ensign,
With its red for love, its white for law,
And its blue for the hope that our fathers saw
Of a larger liberty.

The long march of the nations shall be led
By these two flags - till war and tumult cease
Along the happy highway where shall tread
The brotherhood of labor and of peace,
With their red for love, their white for law,
And their blue for the hope that our fathers saw,
Of a larger liberty.

- Miss Frances E. Willard

- borrowed from the 1904 edition of the Manual of Patriotism -

- Dirtbiker for W

July 07, 2005 5:36 PM  
Blogger Kate Marie said...

That was great, Dirtbiker. Thanks for the contribution.

July 08, 2005 6:32 PM  

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