From Prussian beer-halls, Rhiiiisli hills, from Auricli
east to Gumbinnen, From Rostock down to stolen Silz, sounded the tramp
of Krupp-made men.
This was }our guardian brother's gift, the choice
he gave his little ward : Betrayal of France (the course of thrift) or (Honor's
course) the crimsoned sword. And you, the Nations' David, chose, while all the
world stood trembling by ; You called your sons, and they arose : " Come forth
to die ! Come forth to die !"
Your weaver stopped his whirring loom ; as Ceesar
met him, even so now Your farmer hurried to his doom, and in its furrow
left the plough ; And Flanders, Hainault, Brabant came, Antwerp
and Limburg — all the land : The nameless and the proud of name, shoulder to
shoulder, hand in hand.
Not for adventure, nor in pride : with naught to
gain and all to lose — Their homes, their wives, their lives beside — true
sons of you, they, too, could choose.
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