<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">"Men Who March Away"</h1><h1 align="center" class="head">(<span class="smallcaps">Song of the Soldiers</span>)</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">What</span> of the faith and fire within us</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Men who march away</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Ere the barn-cocks say</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Night is growing gray,</p><p class="line">To hazards whence no tears can win us;</p><p class="line">What of the faith and fire within us</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Men who march away!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Is it a purblind prank, O think you,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Friend with the musing eye</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Who watch us stepping by,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With doubt and dolorous sigh?</p><p class="line">Can much pondering so hoodwink you?</p><p class="line">Is it a purblind prank, O think you,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Friend with the musing eye?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Nay. We see well what we are doing,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Though some may not see --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Dalliers as they be --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">England's need are we;</p><p class="line">Her distress would leave us rueing:</p><p class="line">Nay. We well see what we are doing,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Though some may not see!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">In our heart of hearts believing</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Victory crowns the just,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And that braggarts must</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Surely bite the dust,</p><p class="line">Press we to the field ungrieving,</p><p class="line">In our heart of hearts believing</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Victory crowns the just.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Hence the faith and fire within us</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Men who march away</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Ere the barn-cocks say</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Night is growing gray,</p><p class="line">To hazards whence no tears can win us;</p><p class="line">Hence the faith and fire within us</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Men who march away.</p></div><p class="byline">Thomas Hardy</p><p> September 5, 1914 </p></body></html> · Great War