Julian Grenfell

"God gave the horse for man to ride, And steel wherewith to fight, And wine to swell his soul with pride And women for delight: But a better gift than these all four Was when He made the fighting boar.The horse is filled with spirit rare, His heart is bold and free; The bright steel flashes in the air, And glitters hungrily. But these were little use before The Lord He made the fighting boar.The ruby wine doth banish care, But it confounds the head; The fickle fair is light as air, And makes the heart bleed red; But wine nor love can tempt us more When we may hunt the fighting boar."

"The thundering line of battle stands, And in the air Death moans and sings; But Day shall clasp him with strong hands, And Night shall fold him in soft wings."

"I adore war. ... It is like a big picnic but without the objectivelessness of a picnic. I have never been more well or more happy. ... It just suits my stolid health and stolid nerves and barbaric disposition. The fighting-excitement vitalizes everything, every sight and action. One loves one's fellow man so much more when one is bent on killing him."