第3章

Andhethatwillthishealthdeny,Downamongthedeadmen,downamongthedeadmen,Down,down,down,down,Downamongthedeadmenlethimlie!

There\'sliquorleft;come,let\'sbekind,Anddrinktherichabettermind,Thatwhenweknockuponthedoor,Theymaybeoffandsaynomore.

Andhethatwillthishealthdeny,Downamongthedeadmen,downamongthedeadmen,Down,down,down,down,Downamongthedeadmenlethimlie!

Now,comrades,lettheglassblushred,DrinkwetheunforgottendeadThatdidtheirdeedsandwentaway,Beforethebrightsunbroughttheday.

Andhethatwillthishealthdeny,Downamongthedeadmen,downamongthedeadmen,Down,down,down,down,Downamongthedeadmenlethimlie!

TheDay?Ah,friends,lategrowsthenight;

Drinktotheglimmeringsparkoflight,Theheraldofthejoytobe,Thebattle—torchoftheeandme!

Andhethatwillthishealthdeny,Downamongthedeadmen,downamongthedeadmen,Down,down,down,down,Downamongthedeadmenlethimlie!

TakeyetanothercupinhandAnddrinkinhopeourlittleband;

Drinkstrifeinhopewhilelastethbreath,Andbrotherhoodinlifeanddeath;

Andhethatwillthishealthdeny,Downamongthedeadmen,downamongthedeadmen,Down,down,down,down,Downamongthedeadmenlethimlie!

ADEATHSONG

Whatcomethherefromwesttoeastawending?

Andwhoarethese,themarcherssternandslow?

WebearthemessagethatthericharesendingAbacktothosewhobadethemwakeandknow.

Notone,notone,northousandsmusttheyslay,Butoneandalliftheywoulddusktheday.

Weaskedthemforalifeoftoilsomeearning,Theybadeusbidetheirleisureforourbread;

Wecravedtospeaktotellourwoefullearning:

Wecomebackspeechless,bearingbackourdead.

Notone,notone,northousandsmusttheyslay,Butoneandalliftheywoulddusktheday.

Theywillnotlearn;theyhavenoearstohearken.

Theyturntheirfacesfromtheeyesoffate;

Theirgay—lithallsshutouttheskiesthatdarken.

But,lo!thisdeadmanknockingatthegate.

Notone,notone,northousandsmusttheyslay,Butoneandalliftheywoulddusktheday.

Hereliesthesignthatweshallbreakourprison;

Amidstthestormhewonaprisoner\'srest;

ButinthecloudydawnthesunarisenBringsusourdayofworktowinthebest.

Notone,notone,northousandsmusttheyslay,Butoneandalliftheywoulddusktheday.

MAYDAY[1892]

THEWORKERS.

OEarth,onceagaincomethSpringtodeliverThywinter—wornheart,OthoufriendoftheSun;

FairblossomthemeadowsfromrivertoriverAndthebirdssingtheirtriumpho\'erwinterundone.

OEarth,howa—toilingthousingestthylabourAndupholdesttheflower—crownedcupofthybliss,Aswheninthefeast—tidedrinksneighbourtoneighbourAndallwordsaregleeful,andnoughtisamiss.

Butwe,we,OMother,throughlonggenerations,Wehavetoiledandbeenfruitful,butneverwiththeeMightweraiseupourbowedheadsandcrytothenationsTolookonourbeauty,andhearkenourglee.

Unlovelyofaspect,heart—sickanda—wearyOntheseason\'sfairpageantalldim—eyedwegaze;

Ofthyfairnesswefashionaprison—housedrearyAndinsorrowwearovereachdayofourdays.

THEEARTH.

Ochildren!Otoilers,whatfoemenbeleaguerTheHouseIhavebuiltyou,theHomeIhavewon?

Fullgreataremygifts,andmyhandsarealleagerTofilleveryheartwiththedeedsIhavedone.

THEWORKERS.

Thefoemenarebornofthybody,OMother,Inourshapearetheyshapen,theirvoiceisthesame;

Andthethoughtoftheirheartsisasoursandnoother;

Itistheyofourownhousethatbringustoshame.

THEEARTH.

Areyefew?Aretheymany?WhatwordshaveyespokenTobidyourownbrethrenremembertheEarth?

Whatdeedshaveyedonethatthebondsshouldbebroken,Andmendwelltogetheringood—willandmirth?

THEWORKERS.

Theyarefew,wearemany:andyet,OourMother,Manyyearswerewewordlessandnoughtwasourdeed,Butnowthewordflittethfrombrothertobrother:

Wehavefurrowedtheacresandscatteredtheseed.

THEEARTH.

Winonthenunyielding,throughfairandfoulweather,Andpassnotadaythatyourdeedshallavail.

Andinhopeeveryspring—tidecomegathertogetherThatuntotheEarthyemaytellallyourtale.

ThenthisshallIpromise,thatIamabidingThedayofyourtriumph,theendingofgloom,AndnowealththatyewillthenmyhandshallbehidingAndthetearsofthespringintorosesshallbloom.

MAYDAY,1894

Cladistheyearinallherbest,Thelandissweetandsheen;

NowSpringwithSummeratherbreast,Goesdownthemeadowsgreen.

HerearewemettowelcomeinTheyoungaboundingyear,TopraisewhatshewouldhaveuswinErewinterdrawethnear.