C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

“Good Fighting!”

From ‘Poèmes Militaires’: Translation of Katharine Hillard

THE KROUMIRS leave their mountain den;

Sing, bullets, sing! and bugles, blow!

Good fighting to our gallant men,

And happy they who follow, when,

Brothers in arms so dear, these go.

Yea, happy they who serve our France,

And neither pain nor danger fly;

But in the front of war’s advance

Still deem it but a glorious chance,

To be among the brave who die!

No splendid war do we begin,

No glory waits us when ’tis past;

But marching through the fiery din,

We see our serried ranks grow thin,

And blood of Frenchmen welling fast.

French blood!—a treasure so august,

And hoarded with such jealous care,

To crush oppression’s strength unjust,

With all the force of right robust,

And buy us back our honor fair:—

We yield it now to duty’s claim,

And freely pour out all our store;

Who judges, frees us still from blame;

The Kroumirs’ muskets war proclaim:—

In answer let French cannon roar!

Good fighting! and God be your shield,

Our pride’s avengers, brave and true!

France watches you upon the field.

Who wear her colors never yield,

For ’tis her heart ye bear with you!