Reply, To Sundry Who Object To Poem by Martin Farquhar Tupper

What! will they tell us that timely precaution
Causes the peril it strives to avoid?
Or that true safety is found in proportion
With the true danger of being destroy'd?
What! with the wolf looking over the hurdles
Mustn't the shepherd be loading his gun?
Or, while his liver with cowardice curdles,
Should he cry Welcome,- and prudently run?

Further,- they hint, because England is waking,
This is a challenge, an insult, a threat,-
That we affront them and taunt them, by taking
Rational means for security yet:
Ha! they would rather still see us all sleeping,
Then, as on Corinth and Carthage of old,
Secretly creeping, and suddenly leaping,
Teach us - how king is the wolf to the fold!

No! let us all,- as erst we were bowmen
When a First Richard or Edward was king,
Now be found ready to scare away foemen,
True with the trigger, as once with the string!
Not like your fuglemen dressers and drillers
Tailor'd and truss'd, and made useless the while,
But as stern resolute rifle-Guerillas
Able to pick off a man at a mile!

Think you those African-razzia heroes
Would be as tame as they look at reviews?
Anything rather than - Guises and Neroes,
Playing at soldiering just to amuse?
No,- in bad earnest for vengeance and plunder
Ruthlessly would they be sacking each farm,
If we give way to the traitorous blunder
That it is foolish and timid to ARM!

Truly, we long to live kindly with neighbours!
Nobody dreams but of war as a curse;
But in the middle of peaceable labours,
Isn't it wise to be ready for worse?
Change is the nature of things as of seasons;
Change may be nearer than any one knows;
And for the best, as the strongest of reasons,
Let us stand ready for friends or - for foes!

ARM, then, at once! if no one attack us,
Better than well, for the rifle may rust:
But, if the pirates be coming to sack us,
Level it calmly,- and God be your trust!
Only, while yet there's a moment, be steady;
Skilfully, duteously, quickly prepare,-
Then with a nation of Riflemen ready,
Nobody'll come,- because no one will dare.