<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">A Legend of Ypres</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Before the throne the spirits of the slain</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With a loud voice importunately cried,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">"O Lord of Hosts, whose name be glorified,</p><p class="line">Scarce may the line one onslaught more sustain</p><p class="line">Wanting our help. Let it not be in vain,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Not all in vain, O God, that we have died."</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And smiling on them our good Lord replied,</p><p class="line">"Begone then, foolish ones, and fight again."</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Our eyes were holden, that we saw them not;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Disheartened foes beheld -- our prisoners said --</p><p class="line">Behind us massed, a mighty host indeed,</p><p class="line">Where no host was. On comrades unforgot</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">We thought, and knew that all those valiant dead</p><p class="line">Forwent their rest to save us at our need.</p></div><p class="byline">-- Elinor Jenkins.<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/> (See note on "The First Battle of Ypres," by Mrs. Margaret L. Woods, p. 290 of this volume.)</p></body></html> · Great War