Loyalty
One virtue reigned supreme in days gone by,
Familiarly beloved, with awe obeyed:
The name survives amongst us—Loyalty:
By her all natural ties were virtues made:
All virtues (humble when their queen stood nigh)
Unsunned remained, and pure, beneath the shade.
Without her now, they strut in masquerade,
Vainglorious pageants for the public eye;
Sans-foy! Sans-loy! Sans-joy! the patron saints
Whom every modern warrior on his casque
Blazons, each scribe on his phylactery!
How will ye better help a land that faints
With hunger, long and vainly do I ask,
Than ancient Faith, or Hope, or Charity?
Familiarly beloved, with awe obeyed:
The name survives amongst us—Loyalty:
By her all natural ties were virtues made:
All virtues (humble when their queen stood nigh)
Unsunned remained, and pure, beneath the shade.
Without her now, they strut in masquerade,
Vainglorious pageants for the public eye;
Sans-foy! Sans-loy! Sans-joy! the patron saints
Whom every modern warrior on his casque
Blazons, each scribe on his phylactery!
How will ye better help a land that faints
With hunger, long and vainly do I ask,
Than ancient Faith, or Hope, or Charity?
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