A Curse for a Nation: The Curse

Lyrics

I. Because ye have broken your own chain         With the strain Of brave men climbing a Nation's height, Yet thence bear down with brand and thong On souls of others,—for this wrong         This is the curse. Write. Because yourselves are standing straight         In the state Of Freedom's foremost acolyte, Yet keep calm footing all the time On writhing bond-slaves,—for this crime         This is the curse. Write. Because ye prosper in God's name,         With a claim To honour in the old world's sight, Yet do the fiend's work perfectly In strangling martyrs,—for this lie         This is the curse. Write. II. Ye shall watch while kings conspire Round the people's smouldering fire,         And, warm for your part, Shall never dare—O shame! To utter the thought into flame         Which burns at your heart.                 This is the curse. Write. Ye shall watch while nations strive With the bloodhounds, die or survive,         Drop faint from their jaws, Or throttle them backward to death; And only under your breath         Shall favour the cause.                 This is the curse. Write. Ye shall watch while strong men draw The nets of feudal law         To strangle the weak; And, counting the sin for a sin, Your soul shall be sadder within         Than the word ye shall speak.                 This is the curse. Write. When good men are praying erect That Christ may avenge his elect         And deliver the earth, The prayer in your ears, said low, Shall sound like the tramp of a foe         That's driving you forth.                 This is the curse. Write. When wise men give you their praise, They shall pause in the heat of the phrase,         As if carried too far. When ye boast your own charters kept true Ye shall blush; for the thing which ye do         Derides what ye are.                 This is the curse. Write. When fools cast taunts at your gate, Your scorn ye shall somewhat abate         As ye look o'er the wall; For your conscience, tradition, and name Explode with a deadlier blame         Than the worst of them all.                 This is the curse. Write. Go, wherever ill deeds shall be done, Go, plant your flag in the sun         Beside the ill-doers! And recoil from clenching the curse Of God's witnessing Universe         With a curse of yours.                 This is the curse. Write.