Tubal Cain<\/p>\n
OLD Tubal Cain was a man of might<\/p>\n
In the days when earth was young:<\/p>\n
By the fierce red light of his furnace bright<\/p>\n
The strokes of his hammer rung;<\/p>\n
And he lifted high his brawny hand<\/p>\n
On the iron glowing clear,<\/p>\n
Till the sparks rush’d out in scarlet showers,<\/p>\n
As he fashion’d the sword and spear.<\/p>\n
And he sang – “Hurrah for my handiwork!<\/p>\n
Hurrah for the spear and sword!<\/p>\n
Hurrah for the hand that shall wield them well,<\/p>\n
For he shall be king and lord!’<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
To Tubal Cain came many a one,<\/p>\n
As he wrought by his roaring fire,<\/p>\n
And each one pray’d for a strong steel blade<\/p>\n
As the crown of his desire;<\/p>\n
And he made them weapons sharp and strong,<\/p>\n
Till they shouted loud for glee,<\/p>\n
And gave him gifts of pearls and gold,<\/p>\n
And spoils of the forest free.<\/p>\n
And they sang – “Hurrah for Tubal Cain,<\/p>\n
Who hath given us strength anew!<\/p>\n
Hurrah for the smith, hurrah for the fire,<\/p>\n
And hurrah for the metal true!”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But a sudden change came o’er his heart<\/p>\n
Ere the setting of the sun,<\/p>\n
And Tubal Cain was fill’d with pain<\/p>\n
For the evil he had done;<\/p>\n
He saw that men, with rage and hate,<\/p>\n
Made war upon their kind,<\/p>\n
That the land was red with the blood they shed<\/p>\n
In their lust for carnage, blind.<\/p>\n
And he said – “Alas! that ever I made,<\/p>\n
Or that skill of mine should plan,<\/p>\n
The spear and the sword for men whose joy<\/p>\n
Is to slay their fellow-man!”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And for many a day old Tubal Cain<\/p>\n
Sat brooding o’er his woe;<\/p>\n
And his hand forebore to smite the ore,<\/p>\n
And his furnace smoulder’d low.<\/p>\n
But he rose at last with a cheerful face,<\/p>\n
And a bright courageous eye,<\/p>\n
And bared his strong right arm for work,<\/p>\n
While the quick flames mounted high.<\/p>\n
And he sang – “Hurrah for my handiwork!”<\/p>\n
And the red sparks lit the air;<\/p>\n
“Not alone for the blade was the bright steel made;”<\/p>\n
And he fashion’d the first ploughshare!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And men, taught wisdom from the past,<\/p>\n
In friendship join’d their hands,<\/p>\n
Hung the sword in the hall, the spear on the wall,<\/p>\n
And plough’d the willing lands;<\/p>\n
And sang – “Hurrah for Tubal Cain!<\/p>\n
Our stanch good friend is he;<\/p>\n
And for the ploughshare and the plough<\/p>\n
To him our praise shall be.<\/p>\n
But while Oppression lifts its head,<\/p>\n
Or a tyrant would be lord,<\/p>\n
Though we may thank him for the plough,<\/p>\n
We’ll never forget the sword!”<\/p>\n
Charles Mackay<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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