Battle Cry

To horse! To arms! To the death-choked field
To gamble it all, and never to yield.
Honor! Glory! Or, at least, there to die
Strong and courageous, your blood running high.

Stay here, and never be more than you are;
Or, run off, and be so much less, by far.
Who obeys fear, or the temptings of sloth,
Subsists evermore on regret's bitter broth.

The choice is yours; choose to dare and defy.
Choose the attempt. Choose to struggle, to try.
There's nothing precious enough here to justify
Refusing to ride out, fight, scream your battle cry.