<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Vindication</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">The</span> Summer wanes: and, 'Erbert, in the haunts</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">That have been hallowed by your yearly favour</p><p class="line">The "fag" that you affect no longer flaunts</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:14%">Its unattractive savour.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Your bare but lustrous poll, your lurid ties,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">The wond'rous garb you choose for your adorning</p><p class="line">At Margate gladden no expectant eyes;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:14%">And Southend is in mourning.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The rail you used, in your adjacent park,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Whereon to perch, that girls might glance in gladness,</p><p class="line">Stands tenantless (and they, I may remark,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:14%">Show little trace of sadness).</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Your expert views of 'Ayward, 'Obbs, and 'Itch</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Disturb no more the matutinal travel</p><p class="line">And "form" -- You scarcely know which horse is which --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:14%">No longer you unravel.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">You have been, more or less, an ornament,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Too precious for the strenuous endeavour</p><p class="line">Of those on getting goals, or wickets, bent;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:14%">And not unduly clever.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">We held you as a nuisance at your worst,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">And at your best a useless sort of blighter,</p><p class="line">Never imagining that you might burst,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:14%">Some day, into a fighter.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">We've heard you call on God to save the King,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">And shout the "Marseillaise" -- somewhat shyly --</p><p class="line">But, still, your martial ardour was a thing</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:14%">We did not value highly.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Yet, in the altered circumstances, 'Erb,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">We feel that in our world there's something lacking --</p><p class="line">The place has grown more sombre, less superb,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:14%">Since you have started packing!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">We held your thews and sinews rather cheap,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Knowing you'd never been inclined to use them;</p><p class="line">And might, had not emotion run so deep,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:14%">Have ventured to refuse them:</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But -- here's where our apology comes in --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">The hour of need was all we lacked to try you!</p><p class="line">So, 'Erb, my hero, march along and win:</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:14%">The God of Wars stand by you!</p></div><p class="byline">PHILIP BUSSY</p><em>Westminster Gazette, August</em> 14, 1914</body></html> · Great War