The Name of France

Item

The Name of France

Give us a name to fill the mind

With the shining thoughts that lead mankind,

The glory of learning, the joy of art, --

A name that tells of a splendid part

In the long, long toil and the strenuous fight

Of the human race to win its way

From the feudal darkness into the day

Of Freedom, Brotherhood, Equal Right, --

A name like a star, a name of light.

I give you France!

Give us a name to stir the blood

With a warmer glow and a swifter flood, --

A name like the sound of a trumpet, clear,

And silver-sweet, and iron-strong,

That calls three million men to their feet,

Ready to march, and steady to meet

The foes who threaten that name with wrong, --

A name that rings like a battle-song.

I give you France!

Give us a name to move the heart

With the strength that noble griefs impart,

A name that speaks of the blood outpoured

To save mankind from the sway of the sword, --

A name that calls on the world to share

In the burden of sacrificial strife

Where the cause at stake is the world's free lire

And the rule of the people everywhere, --

A name like a vow, a name like a prayer.

I give you France!

Title
The Name of France
Identifier
greatwar_clarke026
Media
<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Name of France</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Give</span> us a name to fill the mind</p><p class="line">With the shining thoughts that lead mankind,</p><p class="line">The glory of learning, the joy of art, --</p><p class="line">A name that tells of a splendid part</p><p class="line">In the long, long toil and the strenuous fight</p><p class="line">Of the human race to win its way</p><p class="line">From the feudal darkness into the day</p><p class="line">Of Freedom, Brotherhood, Equal Right, --</p><p class="line">A name like a star, a name of light.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">I give you <em>France!</em></p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Give us a name to stir the blood</p><p class="line">With a warmer glow and a swifter flood, --</p><p class="line">A name like the sound of a trumpet, clear,</p><p class="line">And silver-sweet, and iron-strong,</p><p class="line">That calls three million men to their feet,</p><p class="line">Ready to march, and steady to meet</p><p class="line">The foes who threaten that name with wrong, --</p><p class="line">A name that rings like a battle-song.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">I give you <em>France!</em></p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Give us a name to move the heart</p><p class="line">With the strength that noble griefs impart,</p><p class="line">A name that speaks of the blood outpoured</p><p class="line">To save mankind from the sway of the sword, --</p><p class="line">A name that calls on the world to share</p><p class="line">In the burden of sacrificial strife</p><p class="line">Where the cause at stake is the world's free lire</p><p class="line">And the rule of the people everywhere, --</p><p class="line">A name like a vow, a name like a prayer.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">I give you <em>France!</em></p></div><p class="byline">Henry van Dyke</p></body></html>