<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Answer</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">When</span> Honour on her silver bugle blows a point of war</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">Then Englishmen arise</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">With battle in their eyes,</p><p class="line">They can only give one answer, as their fathers answered, for</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">The choice that they are making</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">Is fighting or forsaking,</p><p class="line">And a false, fair-weather friendship is a lie that they abhor.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">O'er the narrow seas the Gallic cock was crowing shrill alarms,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">He saw them coming forth,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">The War Lords of the North,</p><p class="line">He said -- "My little soldiers, it is time to fall to arms;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">But our coasts are lying bare,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">Will England do her share?</p><p class="line">A friendship that is fickle is the worst of Fortune's harms.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"Through Luxemburg and Belgium they are marching in their might,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">They trample on the weak,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">Our overthrow to seek;</p><p class="line">They tear up every treaty, and they laugh at every right;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">Will England see her name</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">Put thus to open shame?</p><p class="line">Will she see her Royal pledges torn in pieces in her sight?"</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But the Germans in their arrogance our Minister addressed,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">Half-wheedling, half-commanding --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">"Let us make an understanding,</p><p class="line">Her coasts we will not batter nor her ports will we invest;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">If you will stand apart</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">While we pierce her to the heart,</p><p class="line">We will let you show your friendship by a bargain for the rest."</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Then Sir Edward Grey replied, to the honour of his race --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">To what England puts her hand,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">Upon that she takes her stand,</p><p class="line">She will not barter treaties in your German market-place,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">Nor will she condescend</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">To pledge away a friend,</p><p class="line">Such contracting out of danger were for ever her disgrace."</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">So o'er the perilous seas to Death or Victory we go,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">Our sailors rushing forth,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">To give battle in the North;</p><p class="line">There as it was aforetime our ships will meet the foe;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">And our brave soldiers too --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">The Baltic, Waterloo</p><p class="line">As then so now, twice armed are we since Honour backs the blow!</p></div><p class="byline">IAN COLVIN</p><em>Morning Post, August</em> 8, 1914</body></html> · Great War