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. The Dream by the Fountain
4. Mary Arden
5. This Southern Land of Ours

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

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