Songs of the Army of the Night Part 16

"That our prost.i.tute girls Come from just the same Cause- Why, these idiots know nothing Of facts, social laws!

"Kill them, then! Hang them all!

We (like G.o.d) must be just.

It was all their own faults, Not ours. . . . Dust to dust!"

II.

(_The Time-Spirit speaks_.)

"Poor lads! And you for others' wrongs and sins Whose dead past greed and l.u.s.t did never wince To make your fathers, mothers, and now you Miserable fiends in h.e.l.l, must expiate, since

"We the more guilty, we the strong, the few, Whose triumph thrusts you down into the stew, Fear lest our victims rise and rend us, fear This problem mad we will not listen to!

"Victims, with her your fellow-victim here, Blind, deaf, dumb beasts, the hour shall yet appear When men, when justicers resolute-terrible, you Shall speak and all men tremble as they hear!"

"TYRANNY."

(_Melbourne_.)

[_The Delegates speak_.]

"'Tyranny'? Yes, that's it!

We are not afraid To face the word that's fit For what we've said!

"It's the tyranny of the Many, That will not allow There's the right to any To seek wealth and power now

"At the expense of the Many.

Say, that one or this Works 'over hours': then he Drives us all to the abyss,

"Where, struggling together One rises again While the rest all together Are stifled and slain.

"From this death-strife of brothers Comes the tyranny of One.

That's _your_ sort. But we others, _We prefer our own_!"

FROM A VERANDAH.

(_Sydney_.) "_Armageddon_."

O city lapped in sun and Sabbath rest, With happy face of plenteous ease possessed, Have you no doubts that whisper, dreams that moan Disquietude, to stir your slumbering breast?

Think you the sins of other climes are gone?

The harlot's curse rings in your streets-the groan Of out-worn men, the stabbed and plundered slaves Of ever-growing Greed, these are your own!

O'er you shall sweep the fiery h.e.l.l that craves For quenchment the bright blood of human waves: For you, if you repent not, shall atone For Greed's dark death-holes with War's swarming graves!

"ELSIE:"

A MEMORY.

Little elfin maid, Old, though scarce two years, With your big dark hazel eyes Tenderer than tears,

And your rosebud mouth Lisping jocund things, Breaking brooding silence with Wistful questionings!

Like a flower you grew While life's bright sun shone.

Does the greedy spendthrift earth Heed a flower is gone?

No; but Love's fond ken, That gropes through Death's strange ways, Almost seems to hear your Voice, Seems to see your Face!

"NATIONALISM AND M'ILWRAITH!"

THE QUEENSLAND ELECTIONS CRY, 1888.

Australia listened! Through the brawling game Of played-out rascals gambling for her gold, The rotten-hearted traitors who had sold For flimsy English gauds her righteous fame- Through the foul hubbub, it did seem, there came The still small voice of n.o.bler things untold.

But now, but now with wonder manifold She hears a voice that calls her by her name!

Australia listens, as the mother wilt To hear her first-born cry. "Say, is it death, Or life and all life's hope made audible That thrills my heart and gives my spirit faith?"

From out the gathering war-hosts leaps forth shrill The double cry, "_Australia_, _M'Ilwraith_!"

The dawn is breaking northward! Rise, O Sun, Australian Liberty, and give us light!

And thou who through the dark and doubtful night With great clear eyes of patience looking on Even to that splendid hour REPUBLICAN, O know what things are with thee in the fight- What hope and trust, what truth, what right, what might To never leave this work till it be done!

Not as these others were, the helpless slaves Of each diurnal need and cringing debt, Australia's statesman, have we known thee yet!- The world's great heroes call from a thousand graves: "_Thy land_, _a nation_, _cries to thee to be set_ _Free as the freedom of her ocean waves_!"

TO THE EMPEROR WILLIAM.

LONDON, May 15, 1889.-"The promised interview with the Emperor William was granted to-day to the delegates from the coal-miners now on strike in Westphalia; but the audience lasted for only ten minutes. The men asked that the Emperor would inquire into the merits of their case and the hards.h.i.+ps under which they suffered.

His Majesty replied that he was already inquiring into the matter.

He then warned the miners that he would employ all his great powers to repress socialistic agitation and intrigue. If the slightest resistance was shown he would shoot every man so offending. On the other hand, he promised to protect them if peaceable."-_Cablegram_.

Son of a Man and grandson of a Man, Mannikin most miserable in thy shrunken shape And peevish, shrivelled-soul, is't _thou_ wouldst ape The thunder-bearer of Fate's bl.u.s.tering clan?

Know, then, that never, since the years began, The terrible truth was surer of this word: "_Who takes the sword_, _shall perish by the sword_!"

For mankind's nod makes mannikin and man.

Surely it was not shed too long ago, That Emperor's blood that stained the Northern snow, O thou King Stork aspiring that art King Log, Wild-boar that wouldst be, reeking there all hog; To teach thy brutish brainlessness to know Those who pulled down a lion can shoot a dog.