Anti-war essays, poems, short stories and literary excerpts
Pierre-Jean de Béranger
From The Old Fiddler
Translated by William Toynbee
When from the miseries of war
We wake to joyousness one more,
And Peace resumes her sway,
Should those who for your sakes have bled
Seek shelter and a crust of bread,
Ah, turn them not away!
No! when the hurricane is past,
Succour the victims of the blast.
Eh, tral-lal-la! good village folk,
‘Tis time to dance beneath my oak!
Then to my homilies give heed,
And gather round me, as I plead
For Poverty and Woe;
Praying that Enmity may cease,
And with the light of Love and Peace
That every heart may glow!
Thus, for all time our green may be
An Eden of tranquillity!
Eh, tral-lal-la! good village folk,
‘Tis time to dance beneath my oak!
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