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Anti-war essays, poems, short stories and literary excerpts
British writers on peace and war
Women writers on peace and war
Mary Robinson: Selections on war
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Mary Robinson
From The Foster-Child
Then Fancy led him to the battle’s rage,
Where flush’d ambition rear’d its sanguine crest,
Where men with men, like tigers, fierce engage.
The brother’s sword against the brother’s breast…
And then he raised his eyes to Heaven, and bless’d;
For blood had never stain’d his trembling hand,
But holy Innocence, by Pity drest,
Spurning the pride of insolent command…
“The soldier sheds, for gold, a brother’s blood;
The sons of Rapine revel wild in joys;
For gold the sailor ploughs the billowy flood;
The statesman barters for Ambition’s toys…”
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