<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Vigil</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Like some young squire who watched his armor bright,</p><p class="line">Kneeling upon the chapel floor all night --</p><p class="line">Where glimmering candles on the altar glowed,</p><p class="line">And moonlight through the Gothic windows flowed --</p><p class="line">And prayed, with folded hands, that God would bless</p><p class="line">His sword, and keep him pure, and give success --</p><p class="line">So, kneeling, Lord, beneath Thine altar light,</p><p class="line">The nation asks for help before the fight.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Grant us the prayer of that boy Knight of old --</p><p class="line">Faith to be steadfast, courage to be bold.</p><p class="line">Such passionate love toward the dear flag we fly</p><p class="line">That each who serves it holds its honor high --</p><p class="line">Simple, large gifts that soldiers need, O Lord,</p><p class="line">Grant the young nation for its unsheathed sword.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And for our captains in the perilous way,</p><p class="line">A vision widened to an unknown day.</p><p class="line">We keep our vigil; send tomorrow glorious;</p><p class="line">Let not God's will go down; bring right victorious.</p><p class="line">Kneeling in prayer before Thine altar light,</p><p class="line">The nation asks Thy help to fight Thy fight.</p></div><p class="byline">-- Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews.<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/> New York Times. </p></body></html> · Great War