<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">France</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Because</span> for once the sword broke in her hand,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The words she spoke seemed perished for a space;</p><p class="line">A11 wrong was brazen, and in every land</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The tyrants walked abroad with naked face.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The waters turned to blood, as rose the Star</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Of evil Fate denying all release.</p><p class="line">The rulers smote, the feeble crying "War!"</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The usurers robbed, the naked crying "Peace!"</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And her own feet were caught in nets of gold,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And her own soul profaned by sects that squirm,</p><p class="line">And little men climbed her high seats and sold</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Her honour to the vulture and the worm.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And she seemed broken and they thought her dead,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The Overmen, so brave against the weak.</p><p class="line">Has your last word of sophistry been said,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">O cult of slaves? Then it is hers to speak.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Clear the slow mists from her half-darkened eyes,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">As slow mists parted over Valmy fell,</p><p class="line">As once again her hands in high surprise</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Take hold upon the battlements of Hell.</p></div><p class="byline">Cecil Chesterton</p></body></html> · Great War