MAIDENS.
Then fell our tears so quickly,
We breath’d, we breath’d so thickly,
While scarce our lips could stammer forth
Prayers for you, and for the North.
MATRONS.
And we, and we, with breasts that smarted,
Knelt, lowly knelt, whilst firm ye stood,
From us and from affection parted,
In reek and smoke, in brothers’ blood!
CHORUS OF MEN.
Tenderness comes from God;
Woman and man in its praise should sing;
But tenderness flies at honour’s nod;
We offer all up to our land and King.
ONE VOICE.
What sang ye, warlike throngs?
Repeat, repeat this day,
One of the simple, nervous, songs
Ye murmur’d out, when, hot with wrongs,
Ye waited the coming fray.
UNIVERSAL CHORUS.
We love, we all love thee, beneficent Peace, &c.