<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">To Britain</h1><h1 align="center" class="head">(Before Her Declaration of War)</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Art</span> thou awake at last, or wilt thou sleep</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Still on the downy cushions of thy sloth,</p><p class="line">Trusting the ambient armour of the deep</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To ward the foeman's darts? However loth,</p><p class="line">Thou must arise, draw thine own armour on,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Unsheathe thy sword, and, faithful, take thy stand,</p><p class="line">Foremost amid thy friends. Thy banners shone</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">On Belgian fields before; as now, thy land</p><p class="line">Was menaced then; as then, be strong, endure!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">But when the dark days pass, if pass they do,</p><p class="line">Slumber no more, in foolish dream secure;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With blood and sweat anneal thy sword anew.</p></div><p class="byline">FRANCIS COUTTS</p></body></html> · Great War