第2章
ALLFORTHECAUSE
Hearaword,awordinseason,forthedayisdrawingnigh,WhentheCauseshallcalluponus,sometolive,andsometodie!
Hethatdiesshallnotdielonely,manyanonehathgonebefore;
Hethatlivesshallbearnoburdenheavierthanthelifetheybore.
Nothingancientistheirstory,e"enbutyesterdaytheybled,Youngesttheyofearth"sbeloved,lastofallthevaliantdead.
E"enthetidingswearetellingwasthetaletheyhadtotell,E"enthehopethatourheartscherish,wasthehopeforwhichtheyfell.
Inthegravewheretyrantsthrustthem,liestheirlabourandtheirpain,Butundyingfromtheirsorrowspringethupthehopeagain.
Mournnottherefore,norlamentit,thattheworldoutlivestheirlife;
Voiceandvisionyettheygiveus,makingstrongourhandsforstrife.
Somehadname,andfame,andhonour,learn"dtheywere,andwiseandstrong;
Somewerenameless,poor,unlettered,weakinallbutgriefandwrong.
Namedandnamelessallliveinus;oneandalltheyleadusyetEverypaintocountfornothing,everysorrowtoforget.
Hearkenhowtheycry,"Ohappy,happyyethatyewerebornInthesadslownight"sdeparting,intherisingofthemorn.
"FairthecrowntheCausehathforyou,welltodieorwelltoliveThroughthebattle,throughthetangle,peacetogainorpeacetogive."
Ah,itmaybe!Oftmeseemeth,inthedaysthatyetshallbe,Whennoslaveofgoldabideth"twixtthebreadthofseatosea,Oft,whenmenandmaidsaremerry,erethesunlightleavestheearth,Andtheyblessthedaybeloved,alltooshortforalltheirmirth,Someshallpauseawhileandponderonthebitterdaysofold,Erethetoilofstrifeandbattleoverthrewthecurseofgold;
Then"twixtlipsoflovedandloversolemnthoughtsofusshallrise;
Wewhooncewerefoolsanddreamers,thenshallbethebraveandwise.
Thereamidsttheworldnew—buildedshallourearthlydeedsabide,Thoughournamesbeallforgotten,andthetaleofhowwedied.
Lifeordeaththen,whoshallheedit,whatwegainorwhatwelose?
Fairflieslifeamidthestruggle,andtheCauseforeachshallchoose.
Hearaword,awordinseason,forthedayisdrawingnigh,WhentheCauseshallcalluponus,sometolive,andsometodie!
THEMARCHOFTHEWORKERS
Whatisthis,thesoundandrumour?Whatisthisthatallmenhear,Likethewindinhollowvalleyswhenthestormisdrawingnear,Liketherollingonofoceanintheeventideoffear?
"Tisthepeoplemarchingon.
Whithergothey,andwhencecomethey?Whataretheseofwhomyetell?
Inwhatcountryaretheydwelling"twixtthegatesofheavenandhell?
Aretheymineorthineformoney?Willtheyserveamasterwell?
Stilltherumour"smarchingon.
Harktherollingofthethunder!
Lothesun!andlothereunderRisethwrath,andhope,andwonder,Andthehostcomesmarchingon.
Forththeycomefromgriefandtorment;ontheywendtowardhealthandmirth,Allthewideworldistheirdwelling,everycorneroftheearth.
Buythem,sellthemforthyservice!Trythebargainwhat"tisworth,Forthedaysaremarchingon.
Thesearetheywhobuildthyhouses,weavethyraiment,winthywheat,Smooththerugged,fillthebarren,turnthebitterintosweet,Allfortheethisday——andever.WhatrewardforthemismeetTillthehostcomesmarchingon?
Harktherollingofthethunder!
Lothesun!andlothereunderRisethwrath,andhope,andwonder,Andthehostcomesmarchingon.
Manyahundredyearspassedoverhavetheylaboureddeafandblind;
Nevertidingsreachedtheirsorrow,neverhopetheirtoilmightfind.
Nowatlastthey"veheardandhearit,andthecrycomesdownthewind,Andtheirfeetaremarchingon.
Oyerichmenhearandtremble!forwithwordsthesoundisrife:
"Onceforyouanddeathwelaboured;changedhenceforwardisthestrife.
Wearemen,andweshallbattlefortheworldofmenandlife;
Andourhostismarchingon."
Harktherollingofthethunder!
Lothesun!andlothereunderRisethwrath,andhope,andwonder,Andthehostcomesmarchingon.
"Isitwar,then?Willyeperishasthedrywoodinthefire?
Isitpeace?Thenbeyeofus,letyourhopebeourdesire.
Comeandlive!forlifeawaketh,andtheworldshallnevertire;
Andhopeismarchingon.
"Onwemarchthen,wetheworkers,andtherumourthatyehearIstheblendedsoundofbattleanddeliv"rancedrawingnear;
Forthehopeofeverycreatureisthebannerthatwebear,Andtheworldismarchingon."
Harktherollingofthethunder!
Lothesun!andlothereunderRisethwrath,andhope,andwonder,Andthehostcomesmarchingon.
DOWNAMONGTHEDEADMEN
Come,comrades,come,yourglassesclink;
Upwithyourhandsahealthtodrink,Thehealthofallthatworkersbe,Ineveryland,oneverysea.
Andhethatwillthishealthdeny,Downamongthedeadmen,downamongthedeadmen,Down,down,down,down,Downamongthedeadmenlethimlie!
Welldone!nowdrinkanothertoast,Andpledgethegath"ringofthehost,Thepeoplearmedinbrainandhand,Toclaimtheirrightsineveryland.