50

50

But when I learned that our ignoble nation

Lay sleeping like a log, and lay alone,

Propping, according to your information,

Abdul the Damned on his infernal throne,

O then I scattered to the wind my fears,

And nearly went and joined the Volunteers.

But just in time the thought occurred to me

That England commonly commits her course

To men as good at heart as even we

And possibly much richer in resource;

That we had better mind our own affairs

And leave these gentlemen to manage theirs.

It further seemed a work uncommon light

For one like you, a casual civilian,

To order half a hemisphere to fight

And slaughter one another by the million,

While you yourself, a paper Galahad,

Spilt ink for blood upon a blotting-pad.

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