RECRUITS ON THE ROAD TO OXFORD

THEY passed in dusty black defile Along the burning champaign's edge Where English oaks for many a mile Dripped acorns o'er the berried hedge, With valorous smiles on faces soiled Out of the autumn's heat and light These who on English earth had toiled Came forth for English earth to fight, Round their descending flank outspread The country like a painted page— God's truth, a man were lightly dead For such a golden heritage! But these, the surging centuries' wrack Beyond all tides auspicious thrown, Doomed with bowed head and threadbare back To till the land they might not own, Reft of the swallow's tranquil lease, Reft of the scrap-fed robin's dole— How have these reared in starving peace This flaming valiancy of soul?... O England, when with fluttered breath You greet the victory they earn And when with eyes that looked on death The remnant of your sons return, On your inviolate soil repent And give the guerdon unbesought— To these whose lives were freely lent Some share of that for which they fought!