<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Song of the Soldiers</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:4%">Men who march away</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Ere the barn-cocks say</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">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:4%">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:4%">Friend with the musing eye</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Who watch us stepping by,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">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:4%">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:4%">Though some may not see --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Dalliers as they be! --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">England's need are we;</p><p class="line">Her distress would leave us rueing:</p><p class="line">Nay. We see well what we are doing,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">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:4%">Victory crowns the just,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">And that braggarts must</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">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:4%">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:4%">Men who march away</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Ere the barn-cocks say</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">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:4%">Men who march away.</p></div><p class="byline">THOMAS HARDY</p><em>Times, September</em> 9, 1914</body></html> · Great War