Gentlemen of the South!
Gird on your flashing swords!
Darkly along your borders fair
Gather the ruffian hordes!
Ruthless and fierce they come;
Even at the cannon's mouth
To blast the glory of your land,
Gentlemen of the South!
Ride forth in your stately pride,
Each bearing on his shield
Ensigns your fathers won of yore
On many a well-fought field.
Let this be your battle-cry,
Even to the cannon's mouth,
_Cor unum via una!_ Onward!
Gentlemen of the South!
Brave knights of a knightly race,
Gordon and Chambers and Gray,
Show to the minions of the North
How valor dares the fray!
Let them read on each spotless crest,
Even at the cannon's mouth,
_Decori decus addit avito_,
Gentlemen of the South!
Morrison, Douglas, Stuart,
Erskine and Bradford and West,
Your gauntlets on many a hill and plain
Have stood the battle's test.
_Animo non astutia!_
March to the cannon's mouth,
Heirs of the brave dead centuries,
Gentlemen of the South!
Call out your stalwart men,
Workers in brass and steel,
Bid the swart artisans come forth
At sound of the trumpet's peal;
Give them your war-cry, Erskine,
_Fight_ to the cannon's mouth--
Bid the men _forward_, Douglas, forward!
Yeomanry of the South!
Brave hunters, ye have met
The fierce black bear in the fray,
Ye have trailed the panther night by night,
Ye have chased the fox by day;
Your prancing chargers pant
To dash at the gray wolf's mouth,
Your arms are sure of their quarry--forward!
Gentlemen of the South!
Fight! that the lowly serf
And the high-born lady, still
May bide in their proud dependency,
Free subjects of your will;
Teach the base North how ill--
At the belching cannon's mouth--
He fares who touches your household gods,
Gentlemen of the South!
From mother, and wife, and child,
From faithful and happy slave,
Prayers for your sake ascend to Him
Whose arm is strong to save.
We check the gathering tears,
Though ye go to the cannon's mouth;
_Dominus providebit!_ Onward!
Gentlemen of the South!