To arms for liberty: A pageant of the war for schools and societies — John Shaqi
To arms for liberty: A pageant of the war for schools and societiesBryce, Catherine T. (Catherine Turner)
History
To arms for liberty: A pageant of the war for schools and societies
Bryce, Catherine T. (Catherine Turner)
World War, 1914-1918 -- Drama
Wha for Scotland’s king and law
Freedom’s sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand, or freeman fa’,
Let him follow me!
By oppression’s woes and pains!
By your sons in servile chains,
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!
Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty at every blow!
Let us do or die!
_ALL_:
“Let us do or die!”
_BRITAIN_:
Wales, what is thy message?
_WALES_ (_stepping forward and saluting_):
Since Arthur formed his table round,
Within my favored land,
And taught each page, and squire, and knight,
For Freedom’s cause to stand,
And ’gainst oppression urge their might,
My sons have stood for God and right.
And so we join you in this fight!
NO. 7. _CHORUS_: “HARLECH”:
Men of Harlech! in the hollow,
Do you hear like rushing billow,
Wave on wave that surging follow,
Battle’s distant sound?
’Tis the tramp of Saxon foeman,
Saxon spearmen, Saxon bowmen,
Be they knights, or hinds, or yeomen,
They shall bite the ground!
Loose the folds asunder,
Flag we conquer under!
The placid sky now bright on high,
Shall launch its bolts in thunder,
Onward! ’tis our country needs us.
He is bravest, he who leads us!
Honor’s self now proudly heads us!
Freedom, God, and Right!
_BRITAIN_:
Canada, youngest of my daughters, ye send each gallant son forth, a
maiden-knight, to earn his spurs. What is thy message?
_CANADA_ (_advancing and saluting_):
“I give my soldier boy a blade,
In fair Damascus fashioned well;
Who first the glittering falchion swayed,
Who first beneath its fury fell,
I know not; but I hope to know,
That for no mean or hireling trade,
To guard no feeling base or low--
I give my soldier boy the blade!
“For country’s claim at honor’s call,
For outraged friend, insulted maid.
At mercy’s voice to bid it fall--
I give my soldier boy the blade!”
_FRANCE_:
The sword unsheathed in such a cause will ne’er be tarnished. It will
return to you, my Sister, laureled with the deeds of thy brave sons. I
know it! I know it!
NO. 8. _CHORUS_: “THE MAPLE LEAF FOREVER!”
On many a hard-fought battle field
Our brave fathers, side by side,
For loved ones, home and freedom dear,
Firmly stood and nobly died.
And those dear rights which they maintained
We swear to yield them never;
God save our land and Heaven bless
The Maple Leaf forever.
The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
May we forsake it never;
God save our land and Heaven bless
The Maple Leaf forever!
_BRITAIN_:
India, what message do you bear?
_INDIA_ (_advancing and making native salaam_):
I bring thee the loving homage,
Of a people thy justice has won,
I pledge ye our faith and our service.
Till the day of the despot is done.
_BRITAIN_:
Well spoken, my daughter. I knew I could rely on thy loyalty.
Australia, fair and independent, what word do you bring?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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