| George Herbert Clarke, ed. (1873–1953). A Treasury of War Poetry. 1917. |
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| 51. “Men who March Away” |
| | | Song of the Soldiers |
| | | By Thomas Hardy |
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| WHAT of the faith and fire within us | |
| Men who march away | |
| Ere the barn-cocks say | |
| Night is growing gray, | |
| To hazards whence no tears can win us; | 5 |
| What of the faith and fire within us | |
| Men who march away! | |
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| Is it a purblind prank, O think you, | |
| Friend with the musing eye | |
| Who watch us stepping by, | 10 |
| With doubt and dolorous sigh? | |
| Can much pondering so hoodwink you? | |
| Is it a purblind prank, O think you, | |
| Friend with the musing eye? | |
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| Nay. We see well what we are doing, | 15 |
| Though some may not see— | |
| Dalliers as they be— | |
| England’s need are we; | |
| Her distress would leave us rueing: | |
| Nay. We well see what we are doing, | 20 |
| Though some may not see! | |
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| In our heart of hearts believing | |
| Victory crowns the just, | |
| And that braggarts must | |
| Surely bite the dust, | 25 |
| Press we to the field ungrieving, | |
| In our heart of hearts believing | |
| Victory crowns the just. | |
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| Hence the faith and fire within us | |
| Men who march away | 30 |
| Ere the barn-cocks say | |
| Night is growing gray, | |
| To hazards whence no tears can win us; | |
| Hence the faith and fire within us | |
Men who march away.
September 5, 1914 | 35 |
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