And the smile flickering on his cheek for aught his Chief may say.
* * * * *
“Now, by your children’s cradles, now, by your father’s graves,
Be men to-day, ye Liberals, or be for ever slaves!
For this did Cromwell give us laws? For this did Hampden bleed?
For this was the great vengeance wrought, upon the Stuart’s seed?
Shall a cat’s snarl alarm the race who braved the lion’s roar?
Shall we, who beat great Beaconsfield, crouch to the bland Balfour?
Oh, for that ancient spirit that curbed the nobles’ will!
Oh, for the men of Thirty-two, who passed the famous Bill!