WithanintroductionbyWilliamArcherContentsIntroductionbyWilliamArcherJuveniliaAnOdetoNaturalBeautyTheDesertedGardenTheTortureofCuauhtemocTheNympholeptTheWandererTheNeedtoLoveElExtraviadoLaNueAllThat’sNotLove……

ParisTheSultan’sPalaceFragmentsThirtySonnets：

KyrenaikosAntinousVivienILoved……

VirginibusPuerisque……

WithaCopyofShakespeare’sSonnetsonLeavingCollegeWritteninaVolumeoftheComtessedeNoaillesCoucyTezcotzincoTheOldLoweHouse，StatenIslandOneataOntheCliffs，NewportToEnglandattheOutbreakoftheBalkanWarAttheTombofNapoleonBeforetheElectionsinAmerica——November，1912

TheRendezvousDoYouRememberOnce……

TheBayadereEudaemonBroceliandeLyonesseTithonusAnOdetoAntaresTranslationsDante。Inferno，CantoXXVI

Ariosto。OrlandoFurioso，CantoX，91-99

OnaThemeintheGreekAnthologyAfteranEpigramofClementMarotLastPoemsTheAisne（1914-15）

Champagne（1914-15）

TheHostsMaktoobIHaveaRendezvouswithDeath……

Sonnets：-

SonnetI——

SonnetII——

SonnetIII——

SonnetIV——

SonnetV——

SonnetVI——

SonnetVII——

SonnetVIII——

SonnetIX——

SonnetX——

SonnetXI——

SonnetXII-

BellingliseLiebestodResurgamAMessagetoAmericaIntroductionandConclusionofaLongPoemOdeinMemoryoftheAmericanVolunteersFallenforFranceIntroductionbyWilliamArcherThisbookcontainstheundesigned，butallthemorespontaneousandauthentic，biographyofaveryrarespirit。Itcontainstherecordofashortlife，intowhichwascrowdedfarmoreofkeenexperienceandhighaspiration——ofthethrillofsenseandtheraptureofsoul——thanitisgiventomostmen，evenofhighvitality，toextractfromalifeoftwicethelength。

AlanSeegerhadbarelypassedhistwenty-eighthbirthday，when，charginguptotheGermantrenchesonthefieldofBelloy-en-Santerre，his"escouade"oftheForeignLegionwascaughtinadeadlyflurryofmachine-gunfire，andhefell，withmostofhiscomrades，ontheblood-stainedbutreconqueredsoil。Tohisfriendsthelosswasgrievous，toliteratureitwas——weshallneverknowhowgreat，butassuredlynotsmall。Yetthiswasacase，ifevertherewasone，inwhichwemaynotonlysay"Nothingisherefortears，"

butmayaddtothewell-wornphraseitslessfamiliarsequel：

NothingtowailOrknockthebreast，noweakness，nocontempt，Dispraise，orblame，——nothingbutwellandfair，Andwhatmayquietusinadeathsonoble。

Ofallthepoetswhohavediedyoung，nonehasdiedsohappily。

Withoutsuggestinganyparityofstature，onecannotbutthinkofthegroupofEnglishpoetswho，aboutahundredyearsago，werecutoffinthefloweroftheirage。Keats，coughingouthissoulbytheSpanishSteps;Shelley’sspiritofflamesnuffedoutbyachancecapfulofwindfromthehillsofCarrara;

Byron，stungbyafever-gnatontheverythresholdofhisgreatadventure——

forallthesewecanfeelnothingbutpoignantunrelievedregret。

AlanSeeger，ontheotherhand，wecanverytrulyenvy。Youthhadgivenhimallthatithadtogive;andthoughhewouldfainhavelivedon——

thoughnoonewaseverlessworld-wearythanhe——yetintheplenitudeofhisexultantstrength，witheyeundimmedandpulseunslackening，hemetthedeathhehadvoluntarilychallenged，inthecauseofthelandheloved，andinthemomentofvictory。Againandagain，bothinproseandinverse，hehadsaidthatthisseemedtohimagooddeathtodie;andtwoyearsofunflinchingenduranceofself-imposedhardshipanddangerhadprovedthathemeantwhathesaid。

Idonot，Irepeat，pretendtomeasurehimwithShelley，ByronorKeats，thoughIthinknoneofthemwouldhavedisdainedhisgiftofsong。

Butassuredlyheisoftheirfellowshipinvirtue，notonlyofhisearlydeath，butofhiswhole-hearteddevotiontothespiritofRomance，astheyunderstoodit。Fromhisboyhoodupward，hisonepassionwasforbeauty;anditwasintheguiseofRomancethatbeautyrevealeditselftohim。HewasfromthefirstdeterminednotonlytowritebuttoliveRomance，andwhenfatethrewinhiswayaworld-historicopportunity，heseizeditwithdelight。

HeknewthathewasdicingwithDeath，butthatwastheveryessenceofhisideal;andheknewthatifDeathwonthethrow，hisidealwascrownedandconsummated，foreversafefromthewitheringtouchoftime，oraccidentalsoilure。

IfithadbeengiventoSwinburnetofall，rifleinhand，on，say，thefieldofMentana，weshouldhavebeenthepoorerbymanysplendidverses，butthericherbyaheroiclife-story。

Andwouldhislothavebeenthelessenviable？Nay，surely，muchthemore。

ThatisthethoughtwhichmaywellbringsolacetothosewholovedAlanSeeger，andwhomayatfirsthavefeltasanunmixedcrueltythecuttingshortofsoeager，sogenerous，sogallantalife。

Thedescription"Juvenilia"attachedtothefirstseriesofthesepoemsisofhisownchoosing。Itisforthereadertojudgewhatallowanceistobemadeforunripeness，whetherofsubstanceorofform。

Criticismisnoneofmypresentbusiness。ButIthinknodiscerningreadercanfailtobeimpressedbyonegreatvirtuepervadingallthepoet’swork——itsabsolutesincerity。Thereisnopose，noaffectationofanysort。

Therearemarksofthelovingstudyofotherpoets，andthesethebest。

Wearefrequentlyremindedofthissingerandofthat。TheyoungAmericanisinstinctivelyloyaltothelongtraditionofEnglishliterature。

Heiscontenttoundergotheinfluenceofthegreatmasters，anddoesnotseekforprematureoriginalityontheby-pathsofeccentricity。

Butwhileheisthediscipleofmany，heisthevassalofnone。

Hismatterisalwayshisown，thefruitofpersonalvision，experience，imagination，evenifhemaynowandthenunconsciouslypouritintoamouldprovidedbyanother。Heisnomereechooftherhythmsofthispoet，ormimicofthatother’sattitudeandoutlook。Thegreatzestoflivingwhichinspireshimisfartoorealandintensetoclotheitselfinthetrappingsofanyalienindividuality。Heistoostraightforwardtobeevendramatic。Itisnothisinstincttoputonamask，evenforpurposesofartisticpersonation，andmuchlessofaffectation。

Ifevertherewasabeingwhosaid"Yea"tolife，accepteditasagloriousgift，andwasdeterminedtoliveitwithallhismight，itwasAlanSeeger。Suchaframeofmindistooinstinctiveandtemperamentaltobecalledoptimism。Itisnottheresultofabalancingofgoodandill，andareasoneddecisionthatgoodpreponderates。Ratheritisadirectperception，anintuition，ofthebeautyandwonderoftheuniverse——anintuitiontoooverpoweringtobeseriouslydisturbedbytheexistenceofpainandevil，someofwhich，atanyrate，hasitsvalueasafoil，abackground，tojoy。Thiswasthemessage——notaphilosophybutanirresistibleemotion——whichhesoughttodeliverthroughthemediumofanartwhichheseriouslystudiedanddeeplyloved。

Itspokefromtheverydepthsofhisbeing，andthepoemsinwhichitfoundutterance，whatevertheirpurelyliteraryqualities，haveatleastthevalueofafirst-handhumandocument，thesincereself-portraitureofavividandvirilesoul。

Therearethreemoreorlessclearly-markedelementsinapoet’sequipment——

observation，passion，reflection，orinsimplerterms，seeing，feelingandthinking。Thefirsttwoarerichlyrepresentedinthefollowingpoems，thethird，aswasnatural，muchlessso。

Thepoetwastoofullyoccupiedingarneringimpressionsandexperiencestothinkofco-ordinatingandinterpretingthem。Thatwouldhavecomelater;

andlater，too，wouldhavecomeageneraldeepeningofthespiritualcontentofhiswork。Therehadbeennothingineitherhisoutwardorhisinwardlifethatcouldfairlybecalledsufferingorstruggle。Hehadnotsoundedthedepthsofhumanexperience，whichisasmuchastosaythatneitherhadherisentotheheights。Thishenodoubtrecognisedhimself，andwasnotthinkingmerelyofthedateofcompositionwhenhecalledhispre-warpoems"Juvenilia"。Greatemotions，andperhapsgreatsorrows，wouldhavecometohiminduetime，andwouldhavedeepenedandenrichedhisveinofsong。

Thefirstgreatemotionwhichfoundhim，whenheralliedtothetrumpet-callofFranceandfreedom，did，asamatteroffact，lendnewrealityandpoignancytohisverse;butthesoldier’slifelefthimsmallleisureforcomposition。Wemustregardhiswork，then，asafragment，amereforetasteofwhathemighthaveachievedhadhislifebeenprolonged。But，devotedthoughhewastohisart，hefeltthattolivegreatlyisbetterthantowritegreatly。

Theunfulfilmentofhispoetichopesanddreamsmeantthefulfilmentofahigherambition。

AlanSeegerwasborninNewYorkonJune22nd，1888。

HisfatherandhismotherbelongedtooldNewEnglandfamilies。

WhenhewasayearoldhisparentsremovedtoStatenIsland，whichforms，asitwere，thestoppertothebottleofNewYorkharbour。

Thereheremaineduntilhistenthyear，growingupalongwithabrotherandasister，theonealittleolder，theotheralittleyounger，thanhimself。FromtheirhomeontheheightsofStatenIsland，thechildrenlookedoutdaybydayupononeofthemostromanticscenesintheworld——thegatewaytotheWesternHemisphere。

TheycouldseethegreatsteamshipsofallthenationsthreadingtheirwaythroughtheNarrowsandpassinginprocessionupthegloriousexpanseofNewYorkBay，towhichtheincessantlocaltrafficoftug-boats，riversteamersandhugesteam-ferrieslentanever-shiftinganimation。IntheforegroundlayRobbinsReefLighthouse，inthemiddledistancetheStatueofLiberty，inthebackgroundthegiantcurvesofBrooklynBridge，and，rangeoverrange，themountainousbuildingsof"downtown"NewYork——notthenascolossalastheyareto-day，butalreadyunlikeanythingelseunderthesun。

Andtheincomingstreamoftrampsandlinersmettheoutgoingstreamwhichcarriedtheimaginationseaward，totheislandsofthebuccaneers，andthehauntsofalltheheroesandvillainsofhistory，intheOldWorld。

Thechildrendidnotlookwithincuriouseyesuponthisstirringscene。

TheyknewthenamesofallthegreatEuropeanlinersandofthewarshipspassingtoandfromtheNavyYard;andthewallsoftheirnurserywerecoveredwiththeirdrawingsoftheshipping，rudeenough，nodoubt，butshowingaccurateobservationofsuchdetailsasfunnels，mastsandrigging。Theywereofanage，beforetheyleftStatenIsland，torealizesomethingofthehistoricimplicationsoftheirenvironment。

In1898thefamilyreturnedtoNewYork，andthereAlancontinuedattheHoraceMannSchooltheeducationbegunattheStatenIslandAcademy。

Thegreatdelightoftheten-year-oldschoolboywastofollowtherushingfire-engineswhichwereanalmostdailyfeatureinthelifeoftheNewYorkstreets。Eveninmanhoodhecouldneverresistthelureofthefire-alarm。

Twoyearslater（1900）cameanewmigration，whichnodoubtexercisedadetermininginfluenceontheboy’sdevelopment。ThefamilyremovedtoMexico，andthereAlanspentagreatpartofthemostimpressionableyearsofhisyouth。IfNewYorkembodiestheromanceofPower，MexicorepresentstoperfectiontheromanceofPicturesqueness。

TopassfromtheUnitedStatestoMexicoislikepassingatoneboundfromtheNewWorldtotheOld。WhereverithasnotbeenrecentlyAmericanized，itsbeautyisthatofsunbaked，somnolentdecay。Itisinmanywayscuriouslylikeitsmother——orratheritsstep-mother——country，Spain。

ButSpaincanshownothingtoequalthespaciousmagnificenceofitssceneryorthepicturesquenessofitsphysiognomiesanditscostumes。

Andthenitisthesceneofthemostfascinatingadventurerecordedinhistory——anexploitwhichputstoshametheimaginationofthegreatestmastersofromance。

ItistruethattheMexicoCityofto-dayshowsscantytraces（exceptinitsMuseum）oftheTenochtitlanofMontezuma;

butthevastamphitheatreonwhichitstandsisstillwonderfullyimpressive，andstillthegreatsilverconesofPopocatepetlandIxtaccihuatllookdownuponitfromtheirimmaculatealtitudes。

Thoughwellwithinthetropics，thegreatelevationofthecity（7400feet）

rendersitsclimateveryattractivetothoseforwhomheighthasnoterrors;

andtheSeegerssoonbecamegreatlyattachedtoit。

Fortwoveryhappyyears，itwasthehomeofthewholefamily。

Thechildrenhadatutorwhomtheyrespectedandloved，andwhohelpedtodeveloptheirtasteforpoetryandgoodliterature。

"Oneofourkeenestpleasures，"writesoneofthefamily，"wastogoinabodytotheoldbook-shops，andonSundaymorningtothe`ThievesMarket’，torummagefortreasures;andmanyweretheElzevirsandworm-eaten，vellum-boundvolumesfromtheoldconventlibrariesthatfellintoourhands。

Atthattimeweissuedahomemagazinecalled`TheProphet’，inhonourofalargepaintingthatwehadacquiredandchosetoconsiderasthepatronofourhousehold。Themagazinewassupposedtoappearmonthly，butwasalwaysmonthsbehinditstime。Alanwasthesportingeditor，buthisliteraryabilityhadeventhenbeguntoappear，andheoversteppedhisdepartmentwithcontributionsofpoetryandlengthyessays。Nocopiesofthisfamousperiodicalareextant：

theyallwentdowninthewreckofthe`Merida’。"

Inthechillydaysofwinter，frequentvisitswerepaidtothelowerlevelsofthe`tierratemplada’，especiallytoCuernavaca，oneofthe"show"placesofthecountry。Thechildrenlearnedtorideandtocycle，andwerethusabletoextendtheirexcursionsonallsides。

When，aftertwoyears，theywentbacktotheUnitedStatestoschool，theywerealreadyfamiliarwithMexicannatureandlife;

andtheykepttheirimpressionsfreshbyfrequentvacationvisits。

Itmusthavebeenadelightfulexperiencetoslipdowneverynowandthentothetropics：firsttopassunderthepinkwallsofMorroCastleintothewidelagoonofHavana;thentocrosstheSpanishMaintoVeraCruz;

then，afterskirtingthegiantescarpmentofOrizaba，tocrawlzigzaggingupthealmostprecipitousascentthatdividesthe`tierratemplada’fromthe`tierrafria’;

andfinallytospeedthroughtheendlessagave-fieldsoftheuplandhaciendas，toMexicoCityandhome。

Mexico，andtheexperiencesassociatedwithit，haveleftdeepmarksonAlanSeeger’spoetry。Thevacationvoyagesthitherspeakinthisapostrophefromthe"OdetoAntares"：

StaroftheSouththatnowthroughorientmistAtnightfalloffTampicoorBelizeGreetestthesailor，risingfromthoseseasWherefirstinme，afondromanticist，Thetropicsunset’sbloomoncloudypilesCastoutindustriouscareswithdreamsoffabulousisles……

Thelongestofhispoems，"TheDesertedGarden"——averitablegalleryofimaginativelandscape——isentirelyMexicanincolouring。

Indeedwemayconjecturewithouttoomuchrashnessthatitisamereexpansionofthesonnetentitled"Tezcotzinco"，thefruitofasolitaryexcursiontotheruinsofNezahualcoyotl’sbaths，inthehillsbeyondTezcoco。

ButevenwherethereisnopaintingofdefiniteMexicanscenes，motivesfromthevastuplandswiththeircloudpageantry，andfromthepalm-fringed，incandescentcoasts，frequentlyrecurinhisverse。

Forinstance，hehadnotforgottenMexicowhenhewroteinavolumeoftheComtessedeNoailles：

BemycompanionundercoolarcadesThatframesomedrowsystreetanddazzlingsquare，Beyondwhoseflowersandpalm-treepromenadesWhitebelfriesburninthebluetropicair。

Andevenwhenthetropicswerefinallyleftbehind，hecarriedwithhiminhismemorytheirprofusionofcolour，anever-readypaletteonwhichtodraw。Assuredlyitwasafortunatechancethattookthisloverofsunlightandspaceandsplendor，inhismostreceptiveyears，toregionswheretheysuperabound。

Perhaps，hadhebeenconfinedtogloomierclimates，hecouldnothavewritten：

FromaboyIgloatedonexistence。EarthtomeSeemedall-sufficient，andmysojournthereOnetremblingopportunityforjoy。

Butthesamegoodfortunepursuedhimthroughout。Heseemedpredestinedtoenvironmentsofbeauty。When，atfourteen，helefthisMexicanhome，itwastogototheHackleySchoolatTarrytown，N。Y。，aninstitutionplacedonahighhilloverlookingthatnoblestofrivers，theHudson，andsurroundedbyadomainofitsown，extendingtomanyacresofmeadowandwoodland。Anattackofscarletfeverinhischildhoodhadlefthishealthfarfromrobust，anditwasthoughtthatthealtitudeofMexicoCitywastoogreatforhim。

HethereforespentoneofhisvacationsamongthehillsofNewHampshire，andwasafterwardsgivenayearoutofschool，withthefamilyofhisformertutor，inSouthernCalifornia——againaregionfamedforitsbeauty。Hereturnedmuchimprovedinhealth，andafteraconcludingyearatHackley，heenteredHarvardCollegein1906。

Henowplungedintowideandmiscellaneousreading，bothatHarvard，andatthemagnificentBostonLibrary。Duringhisfirsttwoyearsatcollege，hisbentseemedtolierathertowardsthestudiousandcontemplativethantowardstheactivelife。Hisbrother，atthistime，appearedtohimtobeofamorepleasure-lovingandadventurousdisposition;

andthereexistsalettertohismotherinwhich，aftercontrasting，withobviousallusiontoChaucer’s"Prologue"，themediaevalidealsoftheKnightandtheClerk，headds："C。istheKnightandItheClerk，derivingmorekeenpleasurefromtheperusalofamustyoldvolumethaninpursuingadventureoutintheworld。"ButaboutthemiddleofhisHarvardcareer，amarkedchangecameoverhishabitsofthoughtandofaction。Heemergedfromhisshell，mademanyfriends，andthrewhimselfwithgreatzestintothesociallifeofhiscomrades。

Itisevident，however，thatthisdidnotmeananyslackeninginhisliteraryinterests。Hisworkgivesampleproofofreal，ifnotofsystematic，culture。Hegenuinelylovesandhasmadehisownmanyofthegreatthingsofthepast。HistranslationsfromDanteandAriosto，forexample，shownolesssympathythanaccomplishment。

VerycharacteristicishisselectionoftheTwenty-sixthCantoofthe`Inferno’，inwhichthenarrativeofUlyssesbringswithitabreathfromthegreatromanceoftheantiqueworld。ItisnoteworthythatbeforehegraduatedhetookupwithzealandwithdistinctionthestudyofCelticliterature——acorrective，perhaps，initscoolertones，tothetropicalmotiveswithwhichhismindwasstored。

Hewasoneoftheeditorsofthe`HarvardMonthly’，towhichhemadefrequentcontributionsofverse。

Therefollowedtwoyears（1910-12）inNewYork——probablytheleastsatisfactoryyearsofhislife。Thequestofbeautyisscarcelyaprofession，anditcausedhisparentssomeconcerntofindhimpausingirresoluteonthethresholdofmanhood，insteadofsettinghimselfagoalandbracinghisenergiesforitsachievement。In1911hismotherandsisterleftMexico，aweekortwobeforePorfirioDiazmadehisexit，andtheMaderistsenteredthecapital。TheyreturnedtoNewYork，tofindAlanstillunsettled，andpossessedwiththethought，orperhapsrathertheinstinct，thatthelifehecravedforwasnottobefoundinAmerica，butawaitedhiminEurope。Inthefollowingyearhecarriedhispoint，andsetoffforParis——adeparturewhichmayfairlybecalledhisHegira，theturning-pointofhishistory。Thatitshortenedhisspantherecanbelittledoubt。Hadhesettleddowntoliterarywork，inhisnativecity，hemighthavelivedtooldage。Butitsecuredhimfouryearsofthetenseandpoignantjoyoflivingonwhichhisheartwasset;

andduringtwooftheseyearsthejoywasofakindwhichabsolvedhimforeverfromthereproachofmerehedonismandself-indulgence。

Hewouldcertainlyhavesaid——orratherhewascontinuallysaying，inwordsfullofpassionateconviction——

OnecrowdedhourofgloriouslifeIsworthanagewithoutaname。

Itwasinthespiritofaromanticistoftheeighteen-fortiesthatheplungedintothelifeofParis。HehadaroomneartheMuseedeCluny，andhefoundhimselfthoroughlyathomeamongtheartistsandstudentsoftheLatinQuarter，thoughheoccasionallyvariedthe`ViedeBoheme’

byexcursionsinto"society"ofamoreorthodoxtype。

Parishashadmanylovers，butfewmoredevotedthanAlanSeeger。

Heacceptedthelifeof"diesingende，springende，schoeneParis"

withacuriouswhole-heartedness。Hereandtherewefindevidence——forinstance，inthefirsttwosonnets——thathewasnotblindtoitsseamyside。Butonthewholeheappearstohaveseenbeautyeveninaspectsofitforwhichitisalmostasdifficulttofindaestheticasmoraljustification。Thetruthis，nodoubt，thatthewholespectaclewasplungedforhimintheglamourofromance。

Parisdidnotbelongtotheworking-dayworld，butwaslikeBaghdadorSamarcand，acityoftheArabianNights。

Howhisimaginationtransfigureditwemayseeinsuchapassageasthis：

BysilverywatersintheplainsafarGlimmerstheinlandcitylikeastar，Withgildedgatesandsunnyspiresablaze，Andburnisheddomeshalfseenthroughluminoushaze。

Lo，withwhatopportunityearthteems！

Howlikeafairitsamplebeautyseems！

Flutteringwithflagsitsproudpavilionsrise：

Whatbrightbazaars，whatmarvellousmerchandise，Downseethingalleyswhatmelodiousdin，Whatclamor，importuningfromeverybooth：

AtEarth’sgreatmartwhereJoyistraffickedinBuywhilethypurseyetswellswithgoldenYouth！

Intothisfairhesalliedforth，notasonetothemannerborn，butwiththeeagernessofatravellerfromafarcountry，whofeelsasthoughhewerelivinginadream。Hisattitudetothewholeexperienceiscuriouslyingenuous，butperfectlysaneandstraightforward。

ItistheParisofMurgerinwhichhelives，nottheParisofBaudelaireandtheSecondEmpire。Hetakeshisexperienceslightly。

Thereisnosigneitherofanystruggleofthesoulorofanyveryrendingtempestoftheheart。Thereisnoposing，self-consciousByronism，noranyofthatmorbiddallyingwiththeideaof"sin"

whichgivessuchanunpleasantflavortoagooddealofromanticpoetry，bothFrenchandEnglish。Therearetracesofdisappointmentanddisillusion，buttheyareacceptedwithoutamurmurasinevitableincidentsofagreat，absorbingexperience。Allthismeans，ofcourse，thatthereisnotragicdepth，andlittleanalyticsubtlety，inthesepoems。

Theyaretheworkofayoungmanenamouredofhisyouth，enthusiasticallygratefulforthegiftoflife，andentirelyathiseasewithinhisownmoralcode。Hehadknownnoneofwhathehimselfcalls"thatkindofafflictionwhichalonecanunfoldtheprofunditiesofthehumanspirit。"

ItwasinParisthatheproducedmostofthe"Juvenilia"。HeincludedonlyafewofthepieceswhichhehadwrittenatHarvardandinNewYork。

Thusall，ornearlyall，thepoemsrangedunderthattitle，are，ashesaid——

RelicsofthetimewhenItoofaredAcrossthesweetfifthlustrumofmydays。

Paris，however，didnotabsorbhimentirelyduringtheseyears。

HewouldoccasionallysetforthonlongtrampsthroughtheFrenchprovinces;

forhelovedeveryaspectofthatgraciouscountry。HeoncespentsomeweekswithafriendinSwitzerland;butthisexperienceseemstohaveleftnotraceinhiswork。

Thencamethefatefulyear1914。His"Juvenilia"havinggrowntoapassablebulk，hebroughtthemintheearlysummertoLondon，withaviewtofindingapublisherforthem;butitdoesnotappearthathetookanyveryactivestepstothateffect。HisdaysweremainlyspentintheBritishMuseum，andhiseveningswithacoterieoffriendsattheCafeRoyal。InthemiddleofJuly，hisfathercametoEnglandandspentaweekwithhim。OfthismeetingMr。Seegerwrites：

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WepassedthreedaysatCanterbury——threedaysofsuchintimacyaswehadhardlyhadsincehewasaboyinMexico。ForfourorfiveyearsIhadonlyseenhimafewdaysatatime，duringmyhurriedvisitstotheUnitedStates。Weexploredtheoldtowntogether，heardservicesintheCathedral，andhadlongtalksintheclose。

AfterserviceintheCathedralonaMondaymorning，thelastofourstayatCanterbury，AlanwasparticularlyenthusiasticoverthereadingofthePsalms，andsaid"WasthereeversuchEnglishwrittenasthatoftheBible？"Isaidgood-byetoAlanonJuly25th。

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Twodaysearlier，theAustrianUltimatumhadbeenpresentedtoSerbia;

onthatverydaythetimelimitexpired，theSerbianreplywasrejected，andtheAustrianMinisterleftBelgrade。Thewheelsoffatewerealreadywhirling。

AssoonasitbecameevidentthataEuropeanwarwasinevitableAlanreturnedtoParis。HetookBrugesonhisway，andthereleftthemanuscriptofhispoemsinthekeepingofaprinter，notforeseeingtheriskstowhichhewasthusexposingthem。

Thewarwasnotthreeweeksoldwhen，alongwithfortyorfiftyofhisfellow-countrymen，heenlistedintheForeignLegionofFrance。

Whydidhetakethisstep？Fundamentally，nodoubt，becausehefeltwartobeoneofthesupremeexperiencesoflife，fromwhich，whenitoffereditself，hecouldnotshrinkwithoutdisloyaltytohisideal。

Longbeforethewarwasanythingmorethanavaguepossibility，hehadimaginedthetime……whencourtedDeathshallclaimmylimbsandfindthemLaidinsomedesertplacealone，orwherethetidesOfwar’stumultuouswavesonthewetsandsbehindthemLeaveriftsofgaspinglifewhentheirredfloodsubsides。

SofarbackindeedasMay，1912，hehadwrittentohismotherfromParis：

"IsitnotfinethewaytheBalkanStatesaretriumphing？

Ihavebeensoexcitedoverthewar，itwouldhaveneededaverysmallopportunitytohavetakenmeoverthere。"Itisevident，then，thatthesoldier’slifehadlongbeenincludedamongthepossibilitieswhichfascinatedhim。Butapartfromthisgeneralproclivitytoadventure，thisdesireto"livedangerously"，hewasimpelledbyasimplesentimentofloyaltytothecountryandcityofhisheart，whichhehimselfexplainedinaletterwrittenfromtheAisnetrenchesto`TheNewRepublic’

（NewYork，May22，1915）：

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Ihavetalkedwithsomanyoftheyoungvolunteershere。Theircaseislittleknown，evenbytheFrench，yetaltogetherinterestingandappealing。

Theyareforeignersonwhomtheoutbreakofwarlaidnoformalcompulsion。

Buttheyhadstoodonthebutteinspringtimeperhaps，asJulianandLouisestood，andlookedoutoverthemyriadtwinklinglightsofthebeautifulcity。Paris——mystic，maternal，personified，towhomtheyowedthehappiestmomentsoftheirlives——Pariswasinperil。

Weretheynotunderamoralobligation，nolessbindingthan[thatbywhich]

theircomradeswereboundlegally，toputtheirbreastsbetweenheranddestruction？Withoutrenouncingtheirnationality，theyhadyetchosentomaketheirhomesherebeyondanyothercityintheworld。

Didnotthebenefitsandblessingstheyhadreceivedpointthemadutythatheartandconsciencecouldnotdeny？

"Whydidyouenlist？"Ineverycasetheanswerwasthesame。

ThatmemorabledayinAugustcame。Suddenlytheoldhauntsweredesolate，thebooncompanionshadgone。Itwasunthinkabletoleavethedangertothemandacceptonlythepleasuresoneself，togoonenjoyingthesweetthingsoflifeindefenceofwhichtheywereperhapseventhensheddingtheirbloodinthenorth。Somedaytheywouldreturn，andwithhonor——notall，butsome。Theoldorderofthingswouldhaveirrevocablyvanished。Therewouldbeanewcompanionshipwhosebondwouldbethecommondangerrun，thecommonsufferingsborne，thecommongloryshared。"Andwherehaveyoubeenallthetime，andwhathaveyoubeendoing？"Theveryquestionwouldbeareproach，thoughnonewereintended。Howcouldtheyendureit？

Facetofacewithasituationlikethat，amanbecomesreconciled，justifieseasilythepartheisplaying，andcomestounderstand，inauniversewherelogiccountsforsolittleandsentimentandtheimpulseoftheheartforsomuch，theinevitablenessandnaturalnessofwar。

Suddenlytheworldisupinarms。Allmankindtakessides。Thesamefaiththatmadehimsurrenderhimselftotheimpulsesofnormallivingandoflove，forceshimnowtomakehimselftheinstrumentthroughwhichagreaterforceworksoutitsinscrutableendsthroughtheimpulsesofterrorandrepulsion。

Andwithnolessasenseofmovinginharmonywithauniversewheremassesareincontinualconflictandnewcombinationsareengenderedoutofeternalcollisions，heshouldersarmsandmarchesforthwithhaste。

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Alreadyinthispassagewecandiscernthefatalisticacceptanceofwarwhichrunsthroughmanyofhisutterancesonthesubject，andmaybereadespeciallyinthenobleconclusionofhispoem，"TheHosts"：

TherewasastatelydramawritBythehandthatpeopledtheearth&airAndsetthestarsintheinfiniteAndmadenightgorgeous&morningfair;

AndallthathadsensetoreasonknewThatbloodydramamustbegonethrough。

Somesat&watchedhowtheactionveered——

Waited，profited，trembled，cheered——

Wesawnotclearlynorunderstood，But，yieldingourselvestothemasterhand，Eachinhispart，asbesthecould，Weplayeditthroughastheauthorplanned。

Itwasnot，inhisownconception，a"waragainstwar"thathewaswaging;

itwassimplyafightforfreedomandforFrance。Someofusmayhopeandbelievethat，inafteryears，whenhewasatleisuretoviewhistoryinperspectiveandcarryhispsychologyalittledeeper，hewouldhaveallowed，ifnotmorepotency，atanyratemoreadaptability，tothehumanwill。Inordertodoso，itwouldnothavebeennecessarytoabandonhisfatalisticcreed。Hewouldhaveseen，perhaps，thatevenifweonlywillwhatwehavetowill，thefactorswhichshapethewill——oftheindividual，thenation，ortherace——arealwayschanging，andthatitisnotonlypossiblebutprobablethatthefactorswhichmakeforpeacemayonedaygaintheupperhandofthosewhich（forperfectlydefiniteandtangiblereasons）havehithertomadeforwar。

Thefactremains，however，thatheshoulderedhisknapsackwithoutanytheoreticdistasteforthesoldier’scalling。

Insofarhewasmorehappilysituatedthanthousandswhohavemadeallthebettersoldiersfortheirintensedetestationofthestupidityofwar。

Butthisinnowaydetractsfromhisloyaltytohispersonalideal，orfromthehighchivalryofhisdevotiontoFrance。

Thestoryofhislifeasasoldiershallbetold，sofaraspossible，inhisownwords。

AftersomebriefpreliminarytrainingatRouenhewassenttoToulouse。

Thence，onSeptember28，1914，hewroteasfollows：

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2meRegimentEtranger，BataillonC。，1re。Cie，3meSection。

Toulouse，Sept。28，1914。

DearMother，……Wehavebeenputtinginourtimehereatveryharddrilling，andaresupposedtohavelearnedinsixweekswhattheordinaryrecruit，intimesofpeace，takesallhistwoyearsat。Weriseat5，andworkstopsintheafternoonat5。Atwelvehoursdayatonesouaday。

Ihopetoearnhigherwagesthanthisintimetocome，butIneverexpecttoworkharder。TheearlyrisinghourissplendidforitgivesonethechancetoseethemostbeautifulpartofthesebeautifulautumndaysintheSouth。

Wemarchuptoalovelyopenfieldontheendoftheridgebehindthebarracks，walkingrightintotherisingsun。

Fromthispanorama，spreadaboutonthreesidesisincomparablyfine——yellowcornfields，vineyards，harvest-fieldswheretheworkersandtheirteamscanbeseenmovingaboutintinyfigures——

poplars，littlehamletsandchurch-towers，andfarawaytothesouththebluelineofthePyrenees，thehighpeakscappedwithsnow。

Itmakesoneinlovewithlife，itisallsopeacefulandbeautiful。

ButNaturetomeisnotonlyhillsandblueskiesandflowers，buttheUniverse，thetotalityofthings，realityasitmostobviouslypresentsitselftous;andinthisuniversestrifeandsternnessplayasbigapartasloveandtenderness，andcannotbeshirkedbyonewhosewillitistorulehislifeinaccordancewiththecosmicforcesheseesinplayabouthim。IhopeyouseethethingasIdo，andthinkthatIhavedonewell，beingwithoutresponsibilitiesandwithnoonetosuffermateriallybymydecision，intakinguponmyshoulders，too，theburdenthatsomuchofhumanityissufferingunder，and，ratherthanstandingloriouslyasidewhentheopportunitywasgivenme，doingmyshareforthesidethatIthinkright……

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ThebattalionmusthaveleftToulousealmostimmediatelyafterthiswaswritten，forinapost-cardofOctober10，fromtheCampdeMailly，Aube，hesaysthattheyhavebeentheretendays。

Aweeklaterhewrote：

==……Aftertwoweekshereandlessthantwomonthsfromenlistment，weareactuallygoingatlasttothefiringline。Bythetimeyoureceivethisweshallalreadyperhapshavehadour`baptemedefeu’。

Wehavebeenengagedinthehardestkindofhardwork——twoweeksofbeautifulautumnweatheronthewhole，frostynightsandsunnydaysandbeautifulcoloringonthesparsefoliagethatbreakshereandtherethewiderollingexpansesofopencountry。

Everyday，fromthedistancetothenorth，hascometheboomingofthecannonaroundReimsandthelinesalongtheMeuse……Butimaginehowthrillingitwillbetomorrowandthefollowingdays，marchingtowardthefrontwiththenoiseofbattlegrowingcontinuallylouderbeforeus。

Icouldtellyouwherewearegoing，butIdonotwanttorunanyriskofhavingthisletterstoppedbythecensor。Thewholeregimentisgoing，fourbattalions，about4000men。Youhavenoideahowbeautifulitistoseethetroopsundulatingalongtheroadinfrontofone，in`colonnesparquatre’

asfarastheeyecansee，withthecaptainsandlieutenantsonhorsebackattheheadoftheircompanies……Tomorrowtherealhardshipandprivationsbegin。ButIgointoactionwiththelightestoflighthearts。

Thehardworkandmomentsoffrightfulfatiguehavenotbrokenbuthardenedme，andIaminexcellenthealthandspirits……

Iamhappyandfullofexcitementoverthewonderfuldaysthatareahead。

Itwassuchacomforttoreceiveyourletter，andknowthatyouapprovedofmyaction。

==

Inapost-cardofOctober20，postmarked"Vertus"，hesays：

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Thisisthesecondnight’shaltofourmarchtothefront。Allourwayhasbeenoneimmensebattlefield。ItwasamagnificentvictoryfortheFrenchthattheworlddoesnotfullyrealize。Ithinkwearemarchingtovictorytoo，butwhateverwearegoingtowearegoingtriumphantly。

==

OnOctober23，hewritesfrom"17kil。south-eastofReims"。

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DearMother……Iamsittingonthecurbstoneofastreetattheedgeofthetown。Thehousesendabruptlyandtheyellowvineyardsbeginhere。Theviewisbroadanduninterruptedtothecresttenkilometersorsoacrossthevalley。Betweenthisandourselvesarethelinesofthetwoarmies。Afiercecannonadingisgoingoncontinually，andIliftmyeyesfromthesheetateachreport，toseethepuffsofsmoketwoorthreemilesoff。TheGermanshavebeenfiringsalvoesoffourshotsoveralittlevillagewheretheFrenchbatteriesarestationed，shrapnelthatburstinlittlepuffsofwhitesmoke;theFrenchreplywithexplosiveshellsthatraisecolumnsofdustovertheGermanlines。

Halfofourregimenthaveleftalreadyforthetrenches。Wemaygotonight。

Wehavemadeamarchofabout75kilometersinfourdays，andarenowonthefront，readytobecalledonatanymoment。Iamfeelingfine，inmyelement，forIhavealwaysthirstedforthiskindofthing，tobepresentalwayswherethepulsationsareliveliest。Everyminutehereisworthweeksofordinaryexperience。Howbeautifultheviewishere，overthesunnyvineyards！Andwhatacuriousanomaly。

Onthisslopethegrapepickersaresingingmerrilyattheirwork，ontheotherthebatteriesareroaring。Boom！Boom！

Thiswillspoiloneforanyotherkindoflife。TheyellowafternoonsunlightisslopinggloriouslyacrossthisbeautifulvalleyofChampagne。

Aeroplanespasscontinuallyoverheadonreconnaissance。Imustmailthisnow。

Thereistoomuchtobesaidandtoolittletimetosayit。

Sogladtogetyourletter。Loveandlotsofittoall。

Alan。

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Alas！thehopesofswift，decisiveactionwithwhichtheLegionadvancedweredestinedtodisappointment。Theysoonsettleddownforthewinterintothemonotonoushardshipsoftrenchwarfare。AlandescribedthisexperienceinadmirablyvividletterspublishedintheNewYork`Sun’，fromwhichafewextractsmustsuffice。HewritesonDecember8，duringhisfourthperiodofserviceinthetrenches：

==

Weleftourcampinthewoodsbeforedaybreakthismorning，andmarchedupthehillinsinglefile，underthewinterstars……

Throughopeningsinthewoodswecouldseethatweweremarchingalongahighridge，andoneitherhandvaporousdepthsanddistancesexpanded，thedarknessbrokensometimesbyafarlightorthemomentaryglowofamagnesiumrocketsentupfromtheGermanlines。

Thereissomethingfascinatingifoneisstationedonsentry-dutyimmediatelyafterarrival，inwatchingthedawnslowlyillumineoneofthesenewlandscapes，fromapositiontakenupundercoverofdarkness。

Theothersectionhasbeenrelievedanddeparts。Wearegiventhe`consigne’，bytheprecedingsentinel，andareleftalonebehindamoundofdirt，facingthenorthandtheblank，perilousnight。Slowlythemysterythatitshroudsresolvesasthegreylightstealsovertheeasternhills。

Likeaphotographinthewashing，itshighlightsandshadowscomegraduallyforth。Thelightsplashintheforegroundbecomesaruinedchateau，thegreystreetademolishedvillage。

Thedetailscomeoutonthehillsideopposite，wherethesilenttrenchesoftheenemyarehiddenafewhundredmetresaway。Wefindourselvesinawoody，mountainouscountry，withbroadhorizonsandstreaksofmistinthevalleys。Ourpositionisexcellentthistime，ahighcrest，withopenlandslopingdownfromthetrenchesandplentyofbarbedwirestrungalongimmediatelyinfront。Itwouldbeahardtasktocarrysuchaline，andthereisnotmuchdangerthattheenemywilltry。

Withincreasingdaylightthesentineltakesashelteredposition，andsurveyshisnewenvironmentthroughlittlegapswherethemoundshavebeencrenellatedandcoveredwithbranches。Suddenlyhestartsasametallicbangringsoutfromthewoodsimmediatelybehindhim。

ItisoftheunmistakablevoiceofaFrench75startingtheday’sartilleryduel。Bythetimethesentinelisrelieved，inbroaddaylight，thecannonadeisgeneralallalongtheline。Hesurrendershisposttoacomrade，andcrawlsdownintohisbombproofdugoutalmostreluctantly，forthelongdayofinactivewaitinghascommenced。

==

Thoughheneverexpressesevenamomentaryregretforthechoicehehasmade，hefreelyadmitsthattrenchwarfareis"anythingbutromantic"。

Fortheartillerymanitis"doubtlessveryinteresting"

but"thepoorcommonsoldier"hasaprettymeantimeofit：

==

Hisruleissimplytodighimselfaholeinthegroundandtokeephiddeninitastightlyaspossible。Continuallyunderthefireoftheopposingbatteries，heisyetneverallowedtogetaglimpseoftheenemy。Exposedtoallthedangersofwar，butwithnoneofitsenthusiasmorsplendidelan，heiscondemnedtositlikeananimalinitsburrow，andheartheshellswhistleoverhishead，andtaketheirlittledailytollfromhiscomrades。

Thewintermorningdawnswithgreyskiesandthehoarfrostonthefields。

Hisfeetarenumb，hiscanteenfrozen，butheisnotallowedtomakeafire。

Thewinternightfalls，withitsprospectofsentry-duty，andthecontinualapprehensionofthehurriedcalltoarms;heisnotevenpermittedtolightacandle，butmustfoldhimselfinhisblanketandliedowncrampedinthedirtystrawtosleepasbesthemay。

Howdifferentfromthepopularnotionoftheeveningcampfire，thesongsandgoodcheer。

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Ofthecommissariatarrangementshegives，onthewhole，averygoodaccount;

butheadmitsthat"tosupplementtheregularrationswithluxuriessuchasbutter，cheese，preserves，&especiallychocolate，isamatterthatoccupiesmoreoftheyoungsoldier’sthoughtsthantheinvisibleenemy。Ourcorporaltoldustheotherdaythattherewasn’tamaninthesquadthatwouldn’texchangehisrifleforajarofjam。"But"thoughmodernwarfareallowsustothinkmoreabouteatingthanfighting，stillwedonotactuallyforgetthatweareinabattleline。"

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Everoverourheadsgoesonthepreciseandscientificstruggleoftheartillery。Packedelbowtoelbowintheseobscuregalleries，onemightbecontenttosquatalldaylong，auditorofthemagnificentorchestraofbattle，wereitnotthatonebecomessosoonhabituatedtoitthatitisnolongermagnificent。Wehearthevoicesofcannonofallcalibresandatalldistances。Welearntoreadthescore&distinguishtheinstruments。Nearusarefieldbatteries;

farawayaresiegeguns。Overallthereistheunmistakable，sharp，metallictwangoftheFrench75，thewhistleofitsshellandthelesserreportofitsexplosion。

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Andeverynowandthencomestheburstingofashellimmediatelyoverhead，andtherattleofitsfragmentsontheroofofthebomb-proofdug-out。

Thinkwhatitmusthavemeanttothiseager，ardent，pleasure-lovingspirittositout，dayafterday，inachill，sodden，verminoustrench，agrandorchestralconcertofthismusicofhumanmadness！

Thesolitudeofsentry-dutyevidentlycomestohimassomethingofarelief。

"Itmay，"hesays，"beallthatismelancholyifthenightisbadandthewinterwindmoansthroughthepines";butitalso"bringsmomentsofexaltation，ifthecloud-banksrollback，ifthemoonlightbreaksoverthewindlesshills，ortheheavensblazewiththebeautyofthenorthernstars。"

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Thesentinelhasampletimeforreflection。Aloneunderthestars，warinitscosmicratherthanitsmoralaspectrevealsitselftohim……

Hethrillswiththesenseoffillinganappointed，necessaryplaceintheconflictofhosts，and，facingtheenemy’screst，abovewhichtheGreatBearwheelsupwardtothezenith，hefeels，withasublimityofenthusiasmthathehasneverbeforeknown，akindofcompanionshipwiththestars。

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Sixdaysinthetrenchesalternatedwithathreedays’intervalofrest"eitherbilletedinthestablesandhayloftsofthevillageorencampedinthewoodsandaroundthechateau。"Thusthewinterof1914-15woreaway，withlittletobreakitsmonotony。Theheaviestfightingwasalltothenorthward。Onegathersfromhispoem"TheAisne"

thatatCraonnehetookpartintherepulseofaseriousenemyattack;

butthereisnomentionofthisinthelettersbeforeme。

OnMarch12，1915，hewritestohismotherinfierceindignationoversomethingthathasappearedinanAmericanpaperastolifeintheForeignLegion。Thewriterofthe"disgracefularticle"，hesays，"likemanyothersofhistype，waslongagoeliminatedfromourranks，forapersonbuoyedupbynonoblepurposeisthefirsttosuccumbtothehardshipsofthewinterthatwehavebeenthrough……

Ifhisliesdidnothingworsethanbelittlehiscomrades，whoarehereformotivesthatheisunabletoconceive，itwouldbeonlydishonourable。ButwhenitcomestothrowingdiscreditontheFrenchGovernment，thatinallitstreatmentofushasbeengenerousbeyondanythingthatonewouldthinkpossible，itistooshamefulforanywordstocharacterize。"

Withthecomingofspring，therewasofcoursesomemitigationofthetrialsofthewinter。Hereisanalmostidyllicpassagefromalettertohissister，writtenonthefly-leavesof`LesConfessionsdeJ。J。Rousseau’，Geneve，MDCCLXXXII：

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Weputinaverypleasantweekhere——ninehoursofguardatnightinouroutpostsuponthehillside;inthedaytimesleep，orforagingintheruinedvillages，loafingintheprettygardenofthechateau，orreadingupinthelibrary。Wehavecleanedthisupnow，anditisanaltogethercurioussensationtoreclinehereinaneasy-chair，readingsomefineoldbook，andjusttakingtheprecautionnottostayinfrontoftheglasslesswindowsthroughwhichthesharpshooterscansnipeatyoufromtheirpostsinthethicketsontheslopesoftheplateau，notsixhundredmetresaway。

Sometimesourartilleryopensupandthenyoulaydownyourbookforawhile，and，lookingthroughapeek-hole，watchthe75’sand120’sthrowupfountainsofdirtanddebrisallalongthelineoftheenemy’strenches。

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"Springhascomehereatlast，"sothelettercloses，"andwearehavingbeautifulweather。IamgoinginswimmingintheAisnethisafternoonforthefirsttime。Infinehealthandspirits。"

Duringthesummer，theLegionwasmovedaboutagooddealfromsectortosector，andAlanoftenfoundhimselfinpleasantplaces，andgotagooddealofpositiveenjoymentoutofhislife。

OnJune18，1915，hewrotetohismother：

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Youmustnotbeanxiousaboutmynotcomingback。ThechancesareabouttentoonethatIwill。ButifIshouldnot，youmustbeproud，likeaSpartanmother，andfeelthatitisyourcontributiontothetriumphofthecausewhoserighteousnessyoufeelsokeenly。

Everybodyshouldtakepartinthisstrugglewhichistohavesodecisiveaneffect，notonlyonthenationsengagedbutonallhumanity。

Thereshouldbenoneutrals，buteveryoneshouldbearsomepartoftheburden。

Ifsolargeapartshouldfalltoyourshare，youwouldbeinsofarsuperiortootherwomenandshouldbecorrespondinglyproud。

Therewouldbenothingtoregret，forIcouldnothavedoneotherwisethanIdid，andIthinkIcouldnothavedonebetter。

Deathisnothingterribleafterall。Itmaymeansomethingevenmorewonderfulthanlife。Itcannotpossiblymeananythingworsetothegoodsoldier。

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Thesamenoterecursinaletteroftwoweekslater（July3）：

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WhetherIamonthewinningorlosingsideisnotthepointwithme：

itisbeingonthesidewheremysympathiesliethatmatters，andIamreadytoseeitthroughtotheend。Successinlifemeansdoingthatthingthanwhichnothingelseconceivableseemsmorenobleorsatisfyingorremunerative，andthisenviablestateIcantrulysaythatIenjoy，forhadIthechoiceIwouldbenowhereelseintheworldthanwhereIam。

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InthisletterhesaysthatanarticleaboutRupertBrookeinwhichhisnamewasmentioned"gavehimrathermorepainthanpleasure，foritrubbedinthematterwhichmostrankledinhisheart，thathenevercouldgethisbookofpoemspublishedbeforethewar。"

HoweverheconsoleshimselfwiththereflectionthattheM。S。

isprobablyassafeatBrugesasanywhereelse。"Wehavefinishedoureighthmonthonthefiringline，"hesays，"andrumorsaregoingroundofanimminentreturntotherearforreorganization。"

Theserumorsprovedtobewellfounded，andonJuly17，hewroteonapicture-postcardrepresentingtheLionofBelfort：

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Wehavefinallycometotherearforalittlerestandreorganization，andarecantonedinavalleynotfarfromBelfort，intheextremeeastofFrance，veryneartheSwissfrontier。SinceIwroteyoulast，alltheAmericansintheregimentreceived48hourspermissioninParis，anditwasagreathappinesstogetbackevenforsoshortawhileandtoseeagainoldscenesandfacesafteralmostayear’sabsence。

Weshallbehereseveralweeksperhaps。

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Threeweekslater（August8）hewrotetohismother：

==……Ihavealwayshadthepassiontoplaythebiggestpartwithinmyreach，anditisreallyinasenseasupremesuccesstobeallowedtoplaythis。

IfIdonotcomeout，Iwillsharethegoodfortuneofthosewhodisappearatthepinnacleoftheircareers。CometoloveFranceandunderstandthealmostunexamplednobilityoftheeffortthisadmirablepeopleismaking，forthatwillbethesurestwayofyourfindingcomfortforanythingthatIamreadytosufferintheircause。

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Thespellofrestlastedsometwomonths，andthentheLegionreturnedtothefrontintimeforthebattleinChampagne"inwhich"hewrites"wetookpartfromthebeginning，themorningofthememorable25th。September。"Icannotresistquotingatsomelengthfromtheadmirablyvividletterinwhichhegaveanaccountofthisexperience：

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Thepartweplayedinthebattleisbrieflyasfollows。

Webrokecampabout11o’clockthenightofthe24th，andmarchedupthroughruinedSouaintoourplaceinoneofthenumerous`boyaux’

wherethe`troupesd’attaque’weremassed。Thecannonadewasprettyviolentallthatnight，asithadbeenforseveraldaysprevious，buttowarddawnitreachedanintensityunimaginabletoanyonewhohasnotseenamodernbattle。Alittlebefore9。15thefirelessenedsuddenly，andthecrackleofthefusilladebetweenthereportsofthecannontoldusthatthefirstwaveofassaulthadleftandtheattackbegun。

Atthesametimewereceivedtheordertoadvance。TheGermanartilleryhadnowbeguntoopenuponusinearnest。Amidthemostinfernalroarofeverykindoffire-arms，andthroughanatmosphereheavywithdustandsmoke，wemarchedupthroughthe`boyaux’tothe`trancheesdedepart’。

Atshallowplacesandoverbreachesthatshellshadmadeinthebank，wecaughtmomentaryglimpsesofthebluelinessweepingupthehillsideorsilhouettedonthecrestwheretheypouredintotheGermantrenches。

WhenthelastwaveoftheColonialbrigadehadleft，wefollowed。

`Bayonetteaucanon’，inlinesof`tirailleurs’，wecrossedtheopenspacebetweenthelines，overthebarbedwire，wherenotsomanyofourmenwerelyingasIhadfeared，（thankstotheefficacyofthebombardment）andovertheGermantrench，knockedtopiecesandfilledwiththeirdead。Insomeplacestheystillresistedinisolatedgroups。Oppositeus，allwasover，andtheherdsofprisonerswerebeingalreadyleddownaswewentup。

Wecheered，moreintriumphthaninhate;butthepoordevils，terror-stricken，helduptheirhands，beggedfortheirlives，cried"Kamerad"，"BonFrancais"，even"VivelaFrance"。

Weadvancedandlaydownincolumnsbytwosbehindthesecondcrest。

Meanwhile，bridgeshadbeenthrownacrosstrenchesand`boyaux’，andtheartillery，leavingtheemplacementswheretheyhadbeenanchoredawholeyear，cameacrossandtookpositionintheopen，amagnificentspectacle。Squadronsofcavalrycameup。

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