Often when Warring by Thomas Hardy — Read

OFTEN when warring for he wist not what, / An enemy-soldier, passing by one weak, / Has tendered water, wiped the burning cheek, / And cooled the lips so black and clammed and hot;

Then gone his way, and maybe quite forgot / The deed of grace amid the roar and reek; / Yet larger vision than loud arms bespeak / He there has reached, although he has known it not.

For natural mindsight, triumphing in the act / Over the throes of artificial rage, / Has thuswise muffled victory's peal of pride, / Rended to ribands policy's specious page / That deals but with evasion, code, and pact, / And war's apology wholly stultified.