<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Quaker Women</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">FRIENDS, whom from our defence a Voice divine defends,</p><p class="line">Let not the thought of us make your obeying hard:</p><p class="line">Of your obedience we are the faithful friends:</p><p class="line">Fear not for us: the God of love shall be our guard.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">He is among us here, though hid from our espial:</p><p class="line">It is of doubting Him our spirits are afraid.</p><p class="line">For you we have no fear, how stark soe'er your trial,</p><p class="line">Though more than flesh may carry be upon you laid.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">His call ye answer. His the inexplicable word</p><p class="line">Of your refusal to put forth your manly might</p><p class="line">Against His enemies. We also, friends, have heard</p><p class="line">The Voice, and share with you all the wise world's despite.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Blind as stampeded cattle that fear will not release,</p><p class="line">The peoples herd together, panic on everyone:—<</p><p class="line">O if amid the battle, we might ourselves be peace</p><p class="line">And fear might fail as trampling over us they run! . . .</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">If it be ours to endure Love's uttermost: to suffer</p><p class="line">The mocking might of Hatred when he breaks his chain,</p><p class="line">'Tis ye shall keep secure our vision of Man's Lover</p><p class="line">Redeeming mortals by the price of mortal pain.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Shall ye not, also, bearing the agony we bear,</p><p class="line">With us triumphing over fear's delirium,</p><p class="line">For us, even then, forswearing your strength to save us, dare</p><p class="line">Still with us to endure, with us to overcome?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Until our wedded faith marry with the creative</p><p class="line">Power that through all the ages yet remains unspent,</p><p class="line">And unconcerned with death, shall know itself a native</p><p class="line">Of the invisible country of Love's government.</p></div></body></html> · Great War