Classic Poem

So speaks the man of God, and so replies
The man of war.—How strange a thing is here!
The man of God o'er blood-red lists can peer:
The soldier longs for peace, and sunnier skies.
Confused by folly, and misled by lies.
The Churchman lends the mob too ready an ear;
The warrior-soul, whose record knows no fear,
Knows War's nude horror, sees with prescient eyes.

Remember, all, that when the Bishop pleaded
And found our war on women Christianlike,
“Righteous,” expedient, godly, and the rest,
The Soldier rose when one stern word was needed,
Alert in honour's name and truth's to strike
Aside the swords the hasty Bishop blest.