Poem by Charles Harpur

The Battle of Life

       Never give up, though life be a battle
Wherein true men may fail, and true causes be sold;
       Yet, on the whole, however may rattle
       The thunders of chance, scaring cowards like cattle—
Clear victory’s always the bride of the bold.

       Armed in your right-though friendship deny you,
And love fall away when the storm’s at the worst,
       Count not your loss, Was destined to try you—
       Bear the brunt like a man, and your deeds shall ally you
To natures more noble and true than the first.

       Rail not at Fate: if rightly you scan her,
There’s none loves more strongly the heart that endures:
       On, in the hero’s calm resolute manner,
       Still bear aloft your hope’s long-trusted banner,
And the day, if you do but live through it, is yours.

       Be this your faith; and if killing strokes clatter
On your harness where true men before you have died,
       Fight on, let your life-blood be poured out like water—
       Fight on, make at least a brave end of the matter,
Brave end of the struggle if nothing beside.

1. Downward, through the Blooming Roofage
2. Collins
3. Wellington
4. A Similitude
5. Greatness

Anne Lynch Botta The Battle of Life ("THERE are countless fields the green earth o'er")

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