RECESSIONAL.
A Victorian Ode.
God of our fathers, known of old—
Lord of our far-flung battle line—
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
The tumult and the shouting dies—
The Captains and the Kings depart—
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
Far-called, our navies melt away—
On dune and headland sinks the fire—
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe—
Such boasting as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard—
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding calls not Thee to guard—
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord! Amen.
Rudyard Kipling.
[Recommended Poems.]
As it has been impossible to include in this collection as many poems by American authors as we desired, we recommend the following, all of which are published by Houghton, Mifflin & Co., with the exception of Bryant's poems, which are published by D. Appleton & Co:—
Aldrich, Thomas Bailey.
An Arab Welcome.
A Turkish Legend.
Baby Bell.
Friar Jerome's Beautiful Book.
In the Old Church Tower.
On Lynn Terrace.
Bryant, William Cullen.
A Forest Hymn.
Thanatopsis.
The Conqueror's Grave.
Emerson, Ralph Waldo.
Boston.
Days.
Good-bye.
Sea-shore.
The Apology.
The Titmouse.
Holmes, Oliver Wendell.
Bill and Joe.
Boston Common.
Contentment.
Dorothy Q.
Latter-Day Warnings.
Sun and Shadow.
The Boston Tea Party.
The Boys.
The Last Survivor.
The Living Temple.
The Old Cruiser.
To a Caged Lion.
Whittier's Seventieth Birthday.
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth.
Killed at the Ford.
King Robert of Sicily.
Ser Federigo's Falcon.
The Arsenal at Springfield.
The Birds of Killingworth.
The Leap of Roushan Beg.
The North Cape.
The Skeleton in Armor.
The Three Kings.
To the River Charles.
To the River Rhone.
Warden of the Cinque Ports.
Lowell, James Russell.
Ambrose.
Commemoration Ode (Selections from).
Irene.
Mahmood, the Image-breaker.
The Beggar.
The Birch Tree.
The Courtin'.
The Dandelion.
The Singing Leaves.
The Vision of Sir Launfal.
Under the Old Elm.
Under the Willows.
Yussouf.
Sill, Edward Rowland.
A Morning Thought.
Opportunity.
Whittier, John Greenleaf.
Among the Hills.
Amy Wentworth.
Barclay of Ury.
Benedicite.
King Volmer and Elsie.
Mary Garvin.
Maud Muller.
Skipper Ireson's Ride.
Snow-Bound.
The Eternal Goodness.
The Gift of Tritemius.
The Two Rabbis.