<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Tribute</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Not</span> by the valour of Belgium, nor the lightning sabre of France,</p><p class="line">Not by the thunder of Britain's Fleet, and the Bear's unchecked advance,</p><p class="line">Not by these fears, Lord Kaiser, tho' they shatter a tyrant's lust,</p><p class="line">Is your heart most darkly troubled, and your soul brought down to the dust,</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But by the great affirming of the lands we have knit as one;</p><p class="line">By the love, by the passionate loyal love, of each separate free-born son,</p><p class="line">Canada cries "We are coming!" and Australasia "We come!"</p><p class="line">And you scowl that no Boer is rising at the beat of your German drum.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And the Men of Ind bear witness -- We have grumbled, but now no more;</p><p class="line">We have shared your plentiful righteous Peace, we will share your righteous War,</p><p class="line">Trust us to guard your Honour, one with yours is our breath;</p><p class="line">You have dealt us an even justice, we are yours to the gates of Death.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Here in these storm-swept islands where we fought for the things of peace,</p><p class="line">Where we quarrelled and strove in factions, at a stroke all factions cease,</p><p class="line">And there in the vast dominions, more free than your Prussian lords,</p><p class="line">The women are shouting for England and the men are drawing their swords.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Never was flag so world-loved as the flag we lift on high,</p><p class="line">While your Prussian legions muster, while your Eagle screams in the sky;</p><p class="line">And the God of Right give answer to your blood-and-iron brag,</p><p class="line">Whether your hand is worthy to wrest from our hand that flag.</p></div><p class="byline">HAROLD BEGBIE</p><em>Daily Chronicle, August</em> 11, 1914</body></html> · Great War