Who are these children?

Lyrics

With easy hands upon the rein And hounds at their horses' feet The ladies and the gentlemen Ride through the village street Brightness of blood upon the coats And on the women's lips: Brightness of silver at the throats And on the hunting whips Is there a dale more calm, more green Under this morning hour; A scene more alien than this scene Within a world at war? Who are these children gathered here Out of the fire and smoke That with remembering faces stare Upon the foxing folk?