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
“Just as leaves by autumn sown
Red and fair to earth are blown,
Just as these never cease
Year by year to shed their peace,
Thus shall be Freedom’s reign to Eternity.”
(_As Chorus sings the last lines_ JAPAN _enters. She is clad
in Japanese costume and carries the Japanese flag. During
the singing of the last line, she makes the National salaam,
remaining with her forehead to the ground until the last note
has died away._)
_BRITAIN_:
We bid you welcome, my Sister. Great indeed is the cause that unites
East and West.
_FRANCE_:
Freedom’s cause alone can work so great a miracle.
_JAPAN_:
To Eastward ringing, to Eastward winging,
Came Freedom’s call to me.
“Send forth thy sons, thy gallant sons,
To guard fair Liberty!”
To Westward winging, to Westward bringing
My dauntless sons so true,
I’ve travelled half way round the earth
To take my stand with you.
(_Martial airs heard off stage._)
_MONTENEGRO_:
Hark! Others come to join us from the South.
(_Enter_ SAN MARINO, PORTUGAL, ROUMANIA, _and_ GREECE. _Each is
dressed in National costume and carries National flag._)
_SAN MARINO_:
As the oldest, though the smallest, Republic in the world I have come
to strike a blow for Freedom.
_PORTUGAL_:
And I will stand by you, my Sister, till
“Freedom’s perils be outbraved,
And Freedom’s flag, wherever waved,
Shall overshadow none enslaved.”
NO. 16. _CHORUS_: OH, COME, ALL YE VALIANT:
(_Tune--Portuguese Hymn_):
Oh, come all ye valiant,
Join our high endeavor,
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye, now in
Freedom’s name.
Oh, come, strike for Freedom
Our country now is calling,
Oh, come and strike for Freedom!
Oh, come and strike for Freedom!
Oh, come and strike for Freedom!
Our God, and Right!
_ROUMANIA_:
“We are they whose firm battalions
Trained to fight, not fly,
Know the cause of good will triumph,
It will triumph though we die!”
NO. 17. _CHORUS_: ROUMANIAN HYMN:
Long live fair Liberty,
Honor and Peace she brings--
Peace to our well-loved land,
Honor to mankind.
Freedom all glorious in God’s own gift to all,
We will fight; we may die,
But right shall ever stand.
O God Almighty, O God of Heaven,
Uphold with mighty hand,
Fair Freedom’s name and cause!
O may the day soon come
When peace on earth is won
All strife and hate be past.
Truth and right defended
Right shall reign glorious--all men shall hear its call.
Truth shall rise; Right prevail
And peace at last shall come.
O God Almighty, O heav’nly Father,
Uphold with mighty hand,
Fair Freedom’s name and cause!
_GREECE_:
Doubt not that my sons will acquit themselves as did their fathers “on
old Plataea’s day.” They are
“True as the steel of their tried blades,
Heroes in heart and hand,
The sons of sires who conquered there,
With arm to strike and soul to dare,
As quick, as far as they.”
_BRITAIN_:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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