BALLADENo.2

Youdawns, whose loveliness I have not missed,Making so delicate background for the larchesMelting the hills to softest amethyst;O beauty never absent from our marches;Passion of heaven shot golden through the archesOf woods, or filtered softly from a star,Nature’s wild love that never cloys or parches;Because of you I love the name of War.I have seen dawn and sunset, night and morning,I have tramped tired and dusty to a tuneOf singing voices tired as I, but scorningTo yield up gaiety to sweltering June.O comrades marching under blazing noonWho told me tales in taverns near and far,And sang and slept with me beneath the moon;Because of you I love the name of War.But you most dear companions Life and Death,Whose friendship I had never valued wellUntil that Battle blew with fiery breathOver the earth his message terrible;Crying aloud the things Peace could not tell,Calling up ancient custom to the barOf God, to plead its cause with Heaven and Hell ...Because of you I love the name of War.L’ENVOIPrince Jesu, who did speak the amazing wordLoud, trumpet-clear, flame-flashing like a starWhich falls: “Not peace I bring you, but the sword!”Because of you I love the name of War.

Youdawns, whose loveliness I have not missed,

Making so delicate background for the larches

Melting the hills to softest amethyst;

O beauty never absent from our marches;

Passion of heaven shot golden through the arches

Of woods, or filtered softly from a star,

Nature’s wild love that never cloys or parches;

Because of you I love the name of War.

I have seen dawn and sunset, night and morning,I have tramped tired and dusty to a tuneOf singing voices tired as I, but scorningTo yield up gaiety to sweltering June.O comrades marching under blazing noonWho told me tales in taverns near and far,And sang and slept with me beneath the moon;Because of you I love the name of War.

I have seen dawn and sunset, night and morning,

I have tramped tired and dusty to a tune

Of singing voices tired as I, but scorning

To yield up gaiety to sweltering June.

O comrades marching under blazing noon

Who told me tales in taverns near and far,

And sang and slept with me beneath the moon;

Because of you I love the name of War.

But you most dear companions Life and Death,Whose friendship I had never valued wellUntil that Battle blew with fiery breathOver the earth his message terrible;Crying aloud the things Peace could not tell,Calling up ancient custom to the barOf God, to plead its cause with Heaven and Hell ...Because of you I love the name of War.

But you most dear companions Life and Death,

Whose friendship I had never valued well

Until that Battle blew with fiery breath

Over the earth his message terrible;

Crying aloud the things Peace could not tell,

Calling up ancient custom to the bar

Of God, to plead its cause with Heaven and Hell ...

Because of you I love the name of War.

L’ENVOI

Prince Jesu, who did speak the amazing wordLoud, trumpet-clear, flame-flashing like a starWhich falls: “Not peace I bring you, but the sword!”Because of you I love the name of War.

Prince Jesu, who did speak the amazing word

Loud, trumpet-clear, flame-flashing like a star

Which falls: “Not peace I bring you, but the sword!”

Because of you I love the name of War.

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