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1858–1935

THE ENGLISH DEAD

William Watson

Give honour to our heroes fall'n, how ill Soe'er the cause that bade them forth to die. Honour to him, the untimely struck, whom high In place, more high in hope,‘ twas fate's harsh will

With tedious pain unsplendidly to kill. Honour to him, doom'd splendidly to die, Child of the city whose foster-child am I, Who, hotly leading up the ensanguin'd hill

His charging thousand, fell without a word — Fell, but shall fall not from our memory. Also for them let honour's voice be heard Who nameless sleep, while dull time covereth

With no illustrious shade of laurel tree, But with the poppy alone, their deeds and death.

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THE ENGLISH DEAD · William Watson · Poetry Cove