WILLIAM BT, A KR'S WAR SONG.
[To THE EDITOR OT TIES "SrscrATox."]
wonder whether William Blake's " War Song : To Englishmen" has been remembered among all the new and moving verses that have been written during the last months. The spirituality of the poem must surely appeal to the present- day English.—I am, Sir, &c.,
AN ITALIAN ADMIRER OP THE " SPECTATOR." Turin, December 2nd.
"A Wee SONG: To ENGLISEMBN.
Prepare, prepare the iron helm of war, Bring forth the lots, cast in the spacious orb ; The angel of fate turns them with mighty hands, And casts them out upon the darkened earth !
Prepare, prepare.
Prepare your hearts for Death's cold hand ! Prepare Your souls for flight, your bodies for the earth ! Prepare your arms for glorious victory ! Prepare your eyes to meet a holy God ! Prepare, prepare.
Whose fatal scroll is this ? Methinks 'tis mine! Why sinks my heart, why faltereth my tongue? Had I three lives, I'd die in such a cause, And rise with ghosts, over the well fought field. Prepare, prepare.
The arrows of Almighty God are drawn ! Angels of death stand in the low'ring heavens ! Thousands of souls must seek the realms of light, And walk together on the clouds of heaven ! Prepare, prepare.
Soldiers, prepare! Our cause is Heaven's cause. Soldiers, prepare! Be worthy of our cause : Prepare to meet our fathers in the sky : Prepare, 0 troops that are to fall to-day! Prepare, prepare.
Alfred shall smile, and make his heart rejoice; The Norman William and the learned clerk, And Lion-Heart, and black-browed Edward with His loyal Queen, shall rise, and welcome us . Prepare, prepare."
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