The Song of the Exile-A Canadian Epic Part 2

x.x.xII.

Nor will the nation nurtured by the sword, If undisturbed by subjugated foes, Remain in peace and rest; one murmured word Of discontent will plunge it in the throes Of fratricidal warfare; and not long That word remains uncalled for by some wrong.

x.x.xIII.

The page of history is blotted o'er With tales of bloodshed. Not a single nation Exists, but spent its greater life in war.

And in each Power's restless fluctuation From might to weakness, and from servitude To might, is shown the sword's incert.i.tude.

x.x.xIV.

Until the time when every mighty Power Stands ready to confess the Christian creed That bloodshed is a sin--until that hour Has come, all Europe's treasuries must bleed, That naval armaments may grimly stand, And military menace every land.

x.x.xV.

Then, England, since an universal peace, A peace eternal, has not been proclaimed, Thy military might must still increase, Thy naval glory must not be defamed.

But only when thine honour shall demand, Or injured right, upraise thy martial hand.

x.x.xVI.

Be Christian first and last, and be not slow To propagate the cause of arbitration.

Let peaceful compacts, bloodless victories, grow Till hideous war, with ruthless devastation, Destroy no more the beauty of thy land, Nor raise against thy homes its bloodstained hand.

x.x.xVII.

Be Christian first and last, for thus alone Shalt thou attain to might unfaltering.

No nation in the past has ever known The lasting power which faith alone can bring.

Though each in turn has gained a glorious name, Not one has risen to eternal fame.

x.x.xVIII.

The Roman Caesars, with increasing pride, "Outstretched their hands and grasped a hemisphere."

Their glory swelled with ever-flowing tide, And nations bowed to them in trembling fear.

Their eagles flew, and lofty was their flight, Yet only Caesar's empire met their sight.

x.x.xIX.

But now the Roman Empire is no more; No longer Roman eagles sweep the sky.

The pampered luxury of Rome soon bore Its wonted fruit--gross immorality; And weakened thus, and by internal strife, Great Caesar's Empire yielded up its life.

XL.

And cla.s.sic Greece, which, in a former age, Bore mighty warriors without compeer, Knew not the land whose war-compelling gage Could not be taken up without a fear.

But now her power is so completely broke, She almost yields her to an Asian yoke.

XLI.

And France, in later days, has girded on A might magnificent; and none could stay The pow'r of her adored Napoleon, Before whose hosts, in ill-concealed dismay, The nations fled. Then France her flag unfurled, And waved it proudly over half a world.

XLII.

But not in England. And when Bonaparte Would lay the British nation at his feet, Her legions tore his mighty hosts apart, And s.n.a.t.c.hed the Conqueror from his lofty seat.

Then France's glory faded fast away, Till not a nation owned her sovereign sway.

XLIII.

And thus have mighty nations ever perished, Or lost the greater portion of their might, When, as their sole upholder, they have cherished The reeking sword, in disregard of right.

Then, England, take thou warning by their fate, And keep thy Christian faith inviolate.

XLIV.

America's Republic stands alone.

But once for b.l.o.o.d.y glory did she raise Her martial hand; and Canada was thrown Into a state of war.[A] But all essays To sever her allegiance from her King Proved vain--her faith remained unfaltering.

XLV.

But once America unrighteously Led forth her armies. Only to defend Her people's honour and integrity Has she, since then, allowed them to contend In bitter warfare. And the peaceful arts Engage more readily her people's hearts.

XLVI.

A n.o.ble nation striving peacefully To gain the highest pinnacle of honour, Without a peer in ingenuity; Well mayest thou, great England, look upon her As worthier far to be thy firm ally Than any European monarchy.

XLVII.

Send forth thy Prince's son, and let him find In broad America a worthy bride.

Thus let the ties of blood together bind The Anglo-Saxon race on either side The great Atlantic. Keep thy princes free From royal Europe's mad heredity.

XLVIII.

Far better were it they should choose their brides From some American pure family, Than wed their cousins, in whose blood, besides The fell disease which immorality Of ancestors has planted there, there run Weaknesses caused by kindred's union.

XLIX.