THE VETERANS AT THE DELHI DURBAR. (JANUARY 1ST, 1903.) BY
Delhi's wall rode forth to-day The Chiefs of England and of Ind, Proud homage to their Lord to pay Enthroned beyond the Western wind. Long time the wondering East shall tell How rich the stream of splendour rolled, The cannon's roar, the trumpet's swell, The giant beasts, the gems and gold; The warrior lines of sun-lit steel, The herald's pomp, the flag unfurled, The chanted hymn whose solemn peal Is rolled in glory round the world.
Yet over all that dazzling day, Through all the gorgeous glories there, One moment breaks with mightier ray O'er that fair pomp supremely fair.
Why leap they up, that lordly throng.
With reverent hail and eager cheer P No glittering squadrons young and strong, No gold, no jewelled robes are here.
Old men and worn, with many a scar From many a combat nobly won, Brave remnant of the fiercest war That ever flared to Indian sun.
Lo, by the veteran Briton's side They too, the loyal of the land, Through that stern struggle true and tried, They too are there, a brother band.
Hail to all hands that bore on high Our deathless flag through fields of flame !
The hands that strove, grow old and die; The soul of Britain lives the same.
ERNEST MYERS.
Previous page
