<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">Crossing the Rubicon</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">WHO draws to-day a traitor's sword ?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Behold him stand, the Man Forsworn,</p><p class="line">Him of the shameless, faithless word,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">The pledge disowned, the covenant torn,</p><p class="line">Who prates of honour, truth and trust,</p><p class="line">While he befouls them in the dust.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">When, to yon towers of hoary fame</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">That Windsor lifts against the sky,</p><p class="line">In martial cloak the Kaiser came,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">We did not dream it cloaked a spy ;</p><p class="line">Yet there he sat, as now we know,</p><p class="line">That basest thing, a guest and foe.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">France was a gallant foe and fair,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">That looked her enemies in the face,</p><p class="line">With her proud eyes and freeborn air,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">And valour half-concealed in grace.</p><p class="line">Noblest of all with whom we strove,</p><p class="line">At last she gives us noble love.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But he that took our proffered hand,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Plotting to take our birthright too,</p><p class="line">He, in this hospitable land,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Bore him as only dastards do.</p><p class="line">Here, where the Earth still nurtures men,</p><p class="line">His hand shall soil not ours again.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Let us a League of Man proclaim,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Against such knavery 'neath a crown</p><p class="line">As rightly would be held to shame</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">A swineherd and his fellow clown.</p><p class="line">Shall all the loathsome creeping things</p><p class="line">Find a last refuge among Kings ?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">O you that wed your sword with ours</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">To break his pride who mocks at laws,</p><p class="line">You wear, 'mid yonder perjured Powers,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">The armour of a spotless cause.</p><p class="line">Forward, in knightliest faith arrayed,</p><p class="line">And Truth herself shall whet your blade.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">From fields of peace, from citied shores,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Where Neva to the Baltic runs,</p><p class="line">Where Volga to the Caspian pours,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">You have not poured in vain your sons.</p><p class="line">From lands of Loire and Rhône and Seine</p><p class="line">You have not poured your sons in vain.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Nor idly here, in this rough North,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Hath she whose bosom is our home</p><p class="line">Sounded her mandate speeding forth</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Our steps of thunder on the foam.</p><p class="line">There, till the Thrones of Falsehood fall,</p><p class="line">She guards the deeps that guard our all.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">There sitting by her old sea gate,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Slow to be roused, slow to take fire,</p><p class="line">And slow, being kindled, to abate</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">The blast and volley of her ire,--</p><p class="line">With grey brows catching from afar</p><p class="line">The red flare of the torch of war,--</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Reluctant to the last, she throws</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Her doubts behind, bids dreams depart,</p><p class="line">Shakes off the rust that in repose</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Had gathered round her iron heart,</p><p class="line">In proud sad calm her anger clothes,</p><p class="line">And leaps to embrace the fate she loathes.</p></div></body></html> · Great War