Prelude

BY sunny market-place and street

Wherever I go my drum I beat,

And wherever I go in my coat of red

The ribbons flutter about my head.

I seek recruits for wars to come —

For slaughterless wars I beat the drum,

And the shilling I give to each new ally

Is hope to live and courage to die.

I know that new recruits shall come

Wherever I beat the sounding drum,

Till the roar of the march by country and town

Shall shake the tottering Dagons down.

For I was objectless as they

And loitering idly day by day;

But whenever I heard the recruiters come,

I left my all to follow the drum.