"MEN, NOT WALLS, MAKE A CITY"
(On the home-coming of the London Regiments after the Boer War)
| London Town, hear
a ditty, While we crown our comrades true: "Men, not walls, make a City;" Ill befalls when men are few,— Ill indeed when from his duty Into greed the burgess falls, Every hand on bribe and booty— How shall stand that City's walls? Never yet upon thine annals Hath been writ such a shame; Never down such crooked channels, London Town, thy commerce came. On the poor no tyrant burden, Debt secure and sacred trust, Honest gain and generous guerdon, These remain thy record just. Therefore still through all thy story Loyal will thy train-bands led Forth to feats of patriot glory, Back through streets with bays o'erspread. Therefore when the trumpet's warning Out again for battle rang, As of old all peril scorning, Forth thy bold young burghers sprang; Faced the fight, endured the prison, Through the night of doubt and gloom, Till the Empire's star new risen Chased afar the clouds of doom. [147] Therefore, when their ranks came marching, Home again with flashing feet, Under bays of triumph arching City ways and City Street; London, lift to God thanksgiving For His Gift that passes all— For thy heroes, dead and living, Who have made thy City Wall. |