I.—1863
“well, this is bad!” we sighing said,
  While musing round the bivouac fire,
  And dwelling with a fond desire,
On home and comforts long since fled.

“How gayly came we forth at first!
  Our spirits high, with new emprise,
  ...

Come, my way, my truth, my life—
  Such a way as gives us breath;
Such a truth as ends all strife;
  Such a life as killeth death.

Come my light, my feast, my strength—
  Such a light as shows a feast;
Such a feast as mends in length;
  ...

Bugles!
and the Great Nation thrills and leaps to arms!
Prompt, unconstrained, immediate,
Without misgiving and without debate,
Too calm, too strong for fury or alarms,
The people blossoms armies and puts forth
The splendid summer of its noiseless...

In tattered old slippers that toast at the bars,
And a ragged old jacket perfumed with cigars,
Away from the world and its toils and its cares,
I ’ve a snug little kingdom up four pair of stairs.

To mount to this realm is a toil, to be sure,
But the fire...

From “The Canterbury Tales: Prologue”
WHAN that Aprille with hise shourès soote 1
The droghte of March hath percèd to the roote,
And bathèd every veyne in swich 2 licour,
Of which vertue engendred is the flour;
Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth...