I rock, I reel, and I roll My four great hammers ply— Could I speak or be still at the Church's will? (Shoal! 'Ware shoal!) Not I! The landward marks have failed, I lift to the swell-I cry! Could I wait in sloth on the Church's oath? (Shoal! 'Ware shoal!) Not I! At the careless end of night And I call to the drowsy crew; As the blind bow backs away. Will they give me their thanks if they clear the banks? (Shoal! 'Ware shoal!) Not they! The beach-pools cake and skim, The bursting spray-heads freeze, I gather on crown and rim The grey, grained ice of the seas, The plunging colliers lie. Would I barter my place for the Church's grace? (Shoal! 'Ware shoal!) Not I! Through the blur of the whirling snow, Or the black of the inky sleet, The lanterns gather and grow, And I look for the homeward fleet. Rattle of block and sheet "Ready about-stand by!" Shall I ask them a fee ere they fetch the quay? (Shoal! 'Ware shoal!) Not I! I dip and I surge and I swing Between the course and the sand, Peril whereof I cry. Would I change with my brother a league inland? (Shoal! 'Ware shoal!) Not I! THE OLD ISSUE OCTOBER 9, 1899 (Outbreak of Boer War) HERE is nothing new nor aught unproven,” say the Trum pets, "Many feet have worn it and the road is old indeed. "It is the King-the King we schooled aforetime!" "Here is neither haste, nor hate, nor anger," peal the Trumpets, "Pardon for his penitence or pity for his fall. "It is the King!"-inexorable Trumpets (Trumpets round the scaffold at the dawning by Whitehall !) "He hath veiled the Crown and hid the Sceptre," war the Trumpets, "He hath changed the fashion of the lies that cloak his will. "Hard die the Kings-ah hard-dooms hard!" declare the Trumpets, Trumpets at the gang-plank where the brawling troop-decks fill! Ancient and Unteachable, abide-abide the Trumpets! Once again the Trumpets, for the shuddering ground-swell brings Clamour over ocean of the harsh, pursuing Trumpets— Trumpets of the Vanguard that have sworn no truce with Kings! All we have of freedom, all we use or know- Ancient Right unnoticed as the breath we draw- Lance and torch and tumult, steel and grey-goose wing Till our fathers 'stablished, after bloody years, So they bought us freedom-not at little costWherefore must we watch the King, lest our gain be lost. Over all things certain, this is sure indeed, Give no ear to bondsmen bidding us endure. Whining "He is weak and far"; crying "Time shall cure." (Time himself is witness, till the battle joins, Deeper strikes the rottenness in the people's loins.) Give no heed to bondsmen masking war with peace. They that beg us barter-wait his yielding moodPledge the years we hold in trust-pawn our brother's blood Howso' great their clamour, whatsoe'er their claim, Here is naught unproven-here is naught to learn. He shall mark our goings, question whence we came, He shall take a tribute, toll of all our ware; He shall change our gold for arms-arms we may not bear. He shall break his Judges if they cross his word; He shall peep and mutter; and the night shall bring Hate and all division; hosts of hurrying spies; Strangers of his counsel, hirelings of his pay, We shall drink dishonour, we shall eat abuse We shall take our station, dirt beneath his feet, Cruel in the shadow, crafty in the sun, Sloven, sullen, savage, secret, uncontrolled, Long-forgotten bondage, dwarfing heart and brain- Here is naught at venture, random nor untrue— Here is naught unproven, here is nothing hid: Step for step and word for word—so the old Kings did! Step by step, and word by word: who is ruled may read. All the right they promise-all the wrong they bring. THE LESSON 1899-190 2 (Boer War) ET us admit it fairly, as a business people should, LE We have had no end of a lesson: it will do us no end of good. Not on a single issue, or in one direction or twain, But conclusively, comprehensively, and several times and |