Robert Bridges was born in Kent in South East England in 1844. Educated at Eton Colledge and Corpus Christi College, Oxford, he went on to study medicine at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London
Lung disease forced him to retire from the medical profession in 1882, after which he concentrated on poetry and literacy research. He retired to Yattendon, Berkshire, and Boars Hill, Oxford, where he died in 1930
His following poem entitled Wake Up England, appeared in The Times shortly after the outbreak of the First World War.
Wake up England
THOU careless, awake!
Thou peacemaker, fight!
Stand, England, for honour,
And God guard the Right!
Thy mirth lay aside,
They cavil and play:
The foe is upon thee,
And grave is the day.
The monarch Ambition
Hath harnessed his slaves;
But the folk of the Ocean
Are free as the waves.
For Peace thou art armed
Thy Freedom to hold:
Thy Courage as iron,
The Good-faith as gold.
Through Fir, Air, and Water
Thy trial must be:
But they that love life best
Die gladly for thee.
The Love of their mothers
Is strong to command;
The fame of their fathers
Is might to their hand.
Much suffering shall cleanse thee;
But thou through the flood
Shalt win to Salvation,
To Beauty through blood.
Up, careless, awake!
Ye peacemakers, fight!
England stands for Honour:
God defend the Right!