One saw the coming doom and was afraid, <br />And said, 'My friends, the cause for which you dare <br />Is just and worthy, and it has my prayer— <br />My time and money are engaged elsewhere.' <br /> <br />Another said, ' 'Twas a good cause and true, <br />Not until men condemned it did I doubt, ' <br />Vox populi, vox Dei' and all that— <br />I think 'twere wise and prudent to step out!' <br /> <br />And still another mused, 'All hope is lost, <br />It was a righteous cause, but then, you see <br />I'm older than I was, in fact I feel <br />Too much excitement is not good for me.' <br /> <br />Another saw the cloud against the sky, <br />Gave health and wealth and all his manhood's might <br />To fight for the lost cause and prove it true, <br />His battle-cry ' Let God defend the right!' <br /> <br />Alone, against a serried world he stood, <br />His few companions melted from his side, <br />Yet all his life he ceased not in the strife— <br />Nor had he won the battle when he died. <br /> <br />When he was dead some said, 'Was not this man <br />A little higher than the common run ? <br />This cause he fought for, surely it was good!' <br />And so, above his grave, the fight was won.<br /><br />Isabel Ecclestone Mackay<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-forlorn-hope-2/
