POETRY.
SI VIS PACEM BELLUM PARA.
I.
Go forth into the gay and careless street, The Exahange, the Mart, and, with a tongue of fire,.
Make proclamation, whomsoe'er ye meet, We are not ready with our war attire.
Then, should some moment flash upon us war Sudden as summer lightning, there would be, As when a flood of waters breaks its bar, Pale perturbation with perplexity.
Then would be aimless hurrying to and fro, Fear in high places, arming all too late, In half-dazed cities, credulous of woe, Wild tongues of rumour, serpent-stings of hate.. Where then the courage calm of ills foreseen, That goes to battle confident of mien With bread and honour tossing on the seas, We must make sure their highway, still our own Lest vshen we seek for bread we find a stone, Or stoop to beg it, suppliant, on our knees.
So thought I, and I hoped some voice would come To give us cheer : for on our Senate's floors Rung Chatham's thunder once, and at our doors Like storm-cloud gathers. But the voice was dumb,- It came not. Chatham were a discord now.
When peoples govern, and their chiefs obey, What room were there for his imperious brow, With outstretched finger, menacing Delay ? Great Mother England, dost thou truly sleep, Nor mark thy sceptre passing fromfthe deep ?
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