<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Princeton, May, 1917</h1><p class="epigraph"></p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Here Freedom stood by slaughtered friend and foe,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%"><em>And, ere the wrath paled or that sunset died,</em></p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Looked through the ages; then, with eyes aglow,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%"><em>Laid them to wait that future, side by side.</em></p><p class="inline-note" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> (Lines for a monument to the American and British soldiers of the Revolutionary War who fell on the Princeton battlefield and were buried in one grave.) </p><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Now</span> lamp-lit gardens in the blue dusk shine</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Through dogwood, red and white;</p><p class="line">And round the gray quadrangles, line by line,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The windows fill with light,</p><p class="line">Where Princeton calls to Magdalen, tower to tower,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Twin lanthorns of the law;</p><p class="line">And those cream-white magnolia boughs embower</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The halls of "Old Nassau."</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The dark bronze tigers crouch on either side</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Where redcoats used to pass;</p><p class="line">And round the bird-loved house where Mercer died.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And violets dusk the grass,</p><p class="line">By Stony Brook that ran so red of old,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">But sings of friendship now,</p><p class="line">To feed the old enemy's harvest fifty-fold</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The green earth takes the plow.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Through this May night, if one great ghost should stray</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With deep remembering eyes.</p><p class="line">Where that old meadow of battle smiles away</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Its blood-stained memories.</p><p class="line">If Washington should walk, where friend and foe</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Sleep and forget the past,</p><p class="line">Be sure his unquenched heart would leap to know</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Their souls are linked at last.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Be sure he walks, in shadowy buff and blue,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Where those dim lilacs wave.</p><p class="line">He bends his head to bless, as dreams come true,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The promise of that grave;</p><p class="line">Then, with a vaster hope than thought can scan,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Touching his ancient sword,</p><p class="line">Prays for that mightier realm of God in man:</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">"Hasten thy kingdom, Lord.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"Land of our hope, land of the singing stars,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Type of the world to be,</p><p class="line">The vision of a world set free from wars</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Takes life, takes form from thee;</p><p class="line">Where all the jarring nations of this earth,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Beneath the all-blessing sun,</p><p class="line">Bring the new music of mankind to birth,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And make the whole world one."</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And those old comrades rise around him there,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Old foemen, side by side,</p><p class="line">With eyes like stars upon the brave night air,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And young as when they died,</p><p class="line">To hear your bells, O beautiful Princeton towers,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Ring for the world's release.</p><p class="line">They see you piercing like gray swords through flowers,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And smile, from souls at peace.</p></div><p class="byline">Alfred Noyes</p></body></html> · Great War