第1章

ChantsforSocialistsTheDayisComingTheVoiceofToilNoMasterAllfortheCauseTheMarchoftheWorkersDownAmongtheDeadMenADeathSongMayDay[1892]

MayDay,1894

TheMessageoftheMarchWindTHEDAYISCOMING

Comehither,lads,andhearken,foratalethereistotell,Ofthewonderfuldaysa—coming,whenallshallbebetterthanwell.

Andthetaleshallbetoldofacountry,alandinthemidstofthesea,AndfolkshallcallitEnglandinthedaysthataregoingtobe.

TheremorethanoneinathousandinthedaysthatareyettocomeShallhavesomehopeofthemorrow,somejoyoftheancienthome.

Forthen——laughnot,butlistentothisstrangetaleofmine—

AllfolkthatareinEnglandshallbebetterlodgedthanswine.

Thenamanshallworkandbethinkhim,andrejoiceinthedeedsofhishand,Noryetcomehomeintheeventoofaintandwearytostand.

Meninthattimea—comingshallworkandhavenofearForto—morrow\'slackofearningandthehunger—wolfanear.

Itellyouthisforawonder,thatnomanthenshallbegladOfhisfellow\'sfallandmishaptosnatchattheworkhehad.

Forthatwhichtheworkerwinnethshallthenbehisindeed,Norshallhalfbereapedfornothingbyhimthatsowednoseed.

Ostrangenewwonderfuljustice!Butforwhomshallwegatherthegain?

Forourselvesandforeachofourfellows,andnohandshalllabourinvain.

ThenallMineandallThineshallbeOurs,andnomoreshallanymancraveForrichesthatservefornothingbuttofetterafriendforaslave.

AndwhatwealththenshallbeleftuswhennoneshallgathergoldTobuyhisfriendinthemarket,andpinchandpinethesold?

Nay,whatsavethelovelycity,andthelittlehouseonthehill,Andthewastesandthewoodlandbeauty,andthehappyfieldswetill;

Andthehomesofancientstories,thetombsofthemightydead;

Andthewisemenseekingoutmarvels,andthepoet\'steeminghead;

Andthepainter\'shandofwonder;andthemarvellousfiddle—bow,Andthebandedchoirsofmusic:allthosethatdoandknow.

Foralltheseshallbeoursandallmen\'s,norshallanylackashareOfthetoilandthegainoflivinginthedayswhentheworldgrowsfair.

Ah!sucharethedaysthatshallbe!Butwhatarethedeedsofto—day,Inthedaysoftheyearswedwellin,thatwearourlivesaway?

Why,then,andforwhatarewewaiting?Therearethreewordstospeak:

WEWILLIT,andwhatisthefoemanbutthedream—strongwakenedandweak?

Owhyandforwhatarewewaiting?Whileourbrothersdroopanddie,Andoneverywindoftheheavensawastedlifegoesby.

Howlongshalltheyreproachuswherecrowdoncrowdtheydwell,Poorghostsofthewickedcity,thegold—crushedhungryhell?

Throughsqualidlifetheylaboured,insordidgrieftheydied,Thosesonsofamightymother,thosepropsofEngland\'spride.

Theyaregone;thereisnonecanundoit,norsaveoursoulsfromthecurse;

Butmanyamillioncometh,andshalltheybebetterorworse?

Itiswemustanswerandhasten,andopenwidethedoorFortherichman\'shurryingterror,andtheslow—foothopeofthepoor.

Yea,thevoicelesswrathofthewretched,andtheirunlearneddiscontent,Wemustgiveitvoiceandwisdomtillthewaiting—tidebespent.

Come,then,sinceallthingscallus,thelivingandthedead,Ando\'erthewelteringtangleaglimmeringlightisshed.

Come,then,letuscastofffooling,andputbyeaseandrest,FortheCAUSEaloneisworthytillthegooddaysbringthebest.

Come,joinintheonlybattlewhereinnomancanfail,Wherewhosofadethanddieth,yethisdeedshallstillprevail.

Ah!come,castoffallfooling,forthis,atleast,weknow:

ThattheDawnandtheDayiscoming,andforththeBannersgo.

THEVOICEOFTOIL

Iheardmensaying,Leavehopeandpraying,Alldaysshallbeasallhavebeen;

To—dayandto—morrowbringfearandsorrow,Thenever—endingtoilbetween.

WhenEarthwasyoungermidtoilandhunger,Inhopewestrove,andourhandswerestrong;

Thengreatmenledus,withwordstheyfedus,Andbadeusrighttheearthlywrong.

Goreadinstorytheirdeedsandglory,Theirnamesamidstthenamelessdead;

Turnthenfromlyingtousslow—dyingInthatgoodworldtowhichtheyled;

Wherefastandfasterourironmaster,Thethingwemade,foreverdrives,BidsusgrindtreasureandfashionpleasureForotherhopesandotherlives.

Wherehomeisahovelanddullwegrovel,Forgettingthattheworldisfair;

Wherenobabewecherish,lestitsverysoulperish;

Whereourmirthiscrime,ourloveasnare.

Whonowshallleadus,whatgodshallheedusAswelieinthehellourhandshavewon?

Forusarenorulersbutfoolsandbefoolers,Thegreatarefallen,thewisemengone.

Iheardmensaying,Leavetearsandpraying,Thesharpknifeheedethnotthesheep;

Arewenotstrongerthantherichandthewronger,Whendaybreaksoverdreamsandsleep?

Come,shouldertoshouldereretheworldgrowsolder!

Helpliesinnoughtbuttheeandme;

Hopeisbeforeus,thelongyearsthatboreusBoreleadersmorethanmenmaybe.

Letdeadheartstarryandtradeandmarry,Andtremblingnursetheirdreamsofmirth,WhilewethelivingourlivesaregivingTobringthebrightnewworldtobirth.

Come,shouldertoshoulderereearthgrowsolderTheCausespreadsoverlandandsea;

Nowtheworldshaketh,andfearawakethAndjoyatlastfortheeandme.

NOMASTER

Saithmantoman,We\'veheardandknownThatwenomasterneedToliveuponthisearth,ourown,Infairandmanlydeed.

ThegriefofslaveslongpassedawayForushathforgedthechain,Tillnoweachworker\'spatientdayBuildsuptheHouseofPain.

Andwe,shallwetoo,crouchandquail,Ashamed,afraidofstrife,AndlestourlivesuntimelyfailEmbracetheDeathinLife?

Nay,cryaloud,andhavenofear,Wefewagainsttheworld;

Awake,arise!thehopewebearAgainstthecurseishurled.

Itgrowsandgrows——arewethesame,Thefeebleband,thefew?

Orwhatarethesewitheyesaflame,Andhandstodealanddo?

Thisisthehostthatbearstheword,NoMASTERHIGHORLOW

Alightningflame,ashearingsword,Astormtooverthrow.