The Setting Sun; A Poem in Seven Books (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871 Excerpt: ...name of war, Which makes them widows and destroys their homes, And sacrifices England's finest sons--Women, by some perverse propensity, Delight in war, and run mad after soldiers When Christian nations settle their disputes They seem no wiser than the Greeks or Romans They set about it by the clumsy method Of killing one another out of hand: The merits of the quarrel go for nothing; Might, as in heathen countries, still makes right. Grave statesmen can discern no better way, And send forth hosts to kill, and to be killed; Bishops encourage it as--" the correct thing," And bless the banners of the slaughtering armies. Both sides appeal to God, their loving Father, Implore His blessing on their barbarous efforts, And thank Him for their victories o'er each other All war is waste, and yet grave men defend it, Because they foolishly believe it necessary; But why should neighbouring states keep standing armies, Threatening to injure and destroy each other, Whilst neighbouring towns do very well without them, And live in perfect harmony and thrive? Men who wear daggers are too apt to use them. A standing army is a standing menace Courting the danger it is paid to quell. Here are these rival towns, Ipswich and Colchester, In opposite counties, with the river Stour Forming a hostile boundary between them, What greater cause of quarrel could they wish for? Why should not Colchester, the smaller town, Maintain an army of five thousand men To guard it from invasion by its rival? And wherefore should not Ipswich, being the stronger, Maintain an army of seven thousand men, Commensurate with its wealth and its importance, To overawe the town of Colchester? Depend upon it if these towns had armies To gnash their spiteful teeth against each other, A single tw...