Part 21 (1/2)
”Surrey Blackheath! old scene of beginnings Huh sos, Sprung of that sowing in Mees in honour and pleasure;-- Thousands of riflemen arm'd to the teeth-- Crowds by ten thousands, in holiday leisure, Throng the wild beauties of Surrey Blackheath!
”We were the first our rifles to shoulder, First to wake England (though voted a bore); First in this nation who roused her, and told her She o arm'd to be safe, as of yore!
Those were the days before corps and their drilling, When the true patriot was check'd with a snub,-- So, on Blackheath, devotedly willing, Stood your first riflemen--Albury Club!
”Yes, we stood _here_, in spite of their coldness, Duty's firstSuccess--the sure fruit of boldness-- World-witnessed now by this field-day of pride!
And though they laugh'd at Tom Wydeawake's fancies, Olives and laurels coland's and France's-- Sprung of that sowing on Surrey Blackheath!”
_March 5, 1864_
Lord Lovelace will remember how al, and so the Lord-Lieutenant of Surreyvolunteer Besides the three ballads above, I wrote seven others which rang round the land, and soo when old England was young,” have been sung at Wis
Itthe ballads are hopelessly out of print, if I here transcribe a few stanzas from divers other staves I penned in the early days of Rifledom First, from ”Rise, Britannia,” before mentioned, which ritten and printed in 1846, and then headed, by a strange anticipation, a stirring song for patriots in the year 1860:”
reproduced into the tune of ”Wha wouldna fecht for Charlie:” even as afterwards I adapted ” to ”The roast-beef of old England,” published with allant youth of Britain, Gather to your country's call, On your hearts her name is written, Rise to help her, one and all!
Cast away each feud and faction, Brood not over wrong nor ill, Rouse your virtues into action, For we love our country still, Hail, Britannia! hail, Britannia!
Raise that thrilling shout once more, Rise, Britannia! rule, Britannia!
Conqueror over sea and shore!”
After three stanzas which I will o,-- Flock frolad fields of Erin, Froland calls you, Rise! our co enthrals you Thrilling every vein and nerve,-- Hail, Britannia! hail, Britannia!
Conquer, as thou didst of yore; Rise, Britannia! rule, Britannia!
Over every sea and shore!”
Another noted alarulishmen, up! make ready your rifles!
Who can tell nohat a dayforth?
Patch up all quarrels, and stick at no trifles,-- Let the world see what your loyalty's worth!
Loyalty?--selfishness, cowardice, terror Stoutly will multiply loyalty's sum, When to astonish presuands are conostication, the last is--
”Up then and ar a prize to be weak: Lo, what a pillage of riches and beauty, Glories to gain and revenges to wreak!
Run for your rifles, and stand to your drilling; Let not the wolf have his will, as he lishht!”
One only stanza more, the last of another also in 1852