<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Before Action</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">By</span> all the glories of the day,</p><p class="line">And the cool evening's benison:</p><p class="line">By the last sunset touch that lay</p><p class="line">Upon the hills when day was done:</p><p class="line">By beauty lavishly outpoured,</p><p class="line">And blessings carelessly received,</p><p class="line">By all the days that I have lived,</p><p class="line">Make me a soldier, Lord.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">By all of all men's hopes and fears,</p><p class="line">And all the wonders poets sing,</p><p class="line">The laughter of unclouded years,</p><p class="line">And every sad and lovely thing:</p><p class="line">By the romantic ages stored</p><p class="line">With high endeavour that was his,</p><p class="line">By all his mad catastrophes,</p><p class="line">Make me a man, O Lord.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I, that on my familiar hill</p><p class="line">Saw with uncomprehending eyes</p><p class="line">A hundred of Thy sunsets spill</p><p class="line">Their fresh and sanguine sacrifice,</p><p class="line">Ere the sun swings his noonday sword</p><p class="line">Must say good-bye to all of this: --</p><p class="line">By all delights that I shall miss,</p><p class="line">Help me to die, O Lord.</p></div><p class="byline">W. N. Hodgson ("Edward Melbourne")</p></body></html> · Great War