We made all possible preparations, <br />Drew up a list of firms, <br />Constantly revised our calculations <br />And allotted the farms, <br /> <br />Issued all the orders expedient <br />In this kind of case: <br />Most, as was expectd, were obedient, <br />Though there were murmurs, of course; <br /> <br />Chiefly against our exercising <br />Our old right to abuse: <br />Even some sort of attempt at rising, <br />But these were mere boys. <br /> <br />For never serious misgiving <br />Occurred to anyone, <br />Since there could be no question of living <br />If we did not win. <br /> <br />The generally accepted view teaches <br />That there was no excuse, <br />Though in the light of recent researches <br />Many would find the cause <br /> <br />In a not uncommon form of terror; <br />Others, still more astute, <br />Point to possibilities of error <br />At the very start. <br /> <br />As for ourselves there is left remaining <br />Our honour at least, <br />And a reasonable chance of retaining <br />Our faculties to the last.<br /><br />W.H. Auden<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/let-history-be-my-judge/
