They unwound and flung from them with rage, as a rag that defiled them The imperial gains of the age which their forefathers piled them. They ran panting in haste to lay waste and embitter for ever The wellsprings of Wisdom and Strength which are Faith and Endeavour. They nosed out and digged up and dragged forth and exposed to derision All doctrine of purpose and worth and restraint and prevision: And it ceased, and God granted them all things for which they had striven, And the heart of a beast in the place of a man's heart was given.... * * * * * When they were fullest of wine and most flagrant in error, Out of the sea rose a sign--out of Heaven a terror. Then they saw, then they heard, then they knew--for none troubled to hide it, An host had prepared their destruction, but still they denied it. They denied what they dared not abide if it came to the trial, But the Sword that was forged while they lied did not heed their denial. It drove home, and no time was allowed to the crowd that was driven. The preposterous-minded were cowed--they thought time would be given. There was no need of a steed nor a lance to pursue them; It was decreed their own deed, and not chance, should undo them The tares they had laughingly sown were ripe to the reaping, The trust they had leagued to disown was removed from their keeping. The eaters of other men's bread, the exempted from hardship, The excusers of impotence fled, abdicating their wardship. For the hate they had taught through the State brought the State no defender, And it passed from the roll of the Nations in headlong surrender. JUSTICE OCTOBER 1918 _Across a world where all men grieve And grieving strive the more, The great days range like tides and leave Our dead on every shore. Heavy the load we undergo, And our own hands prepare, If we have parley with the foe, The load our sons must bear._ Before we loose the word That bids new worlds to birth, Needs must we loosen first the sword Of Justice upon earth; Or else all else is vain Since life on earth began, And the spent world sinks back again Hopeless of God and Man. A people and their King Through ancient sin grown strong, Because they feared no reckoning Would set no bound to wrong; But now their hour is past, And we who bore it find Evil Incarnate held at last To answer to mankind. For agony and spoil Of nations beat to dust, For poisoned air and tortured soil And cold, commanded lust, And every secret woe The shuddering waters saw-- Willed and fulfilled by high and low-- Let them relearn the Law.