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RADA




BY THE SAME AUTHOR


 TALES OF THE MERMAID TAVERN
 DRAKE
 THE FOREST OF WILD THYME
 FORTY SINGING SEAMEN
 THE ENCHANTED ISLAND
 THE WINE PRESS


[Illustration: THE BAYONETS]




                                 RADA

                        A BELGIAN CHRISTMAS EVE

                                  BY

                             ALFRED NOYES

                  WITH FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS AFTER GOYA

                          METHUEN & CO. LTD.
                         36 ESSEX STREET W.C.
                                LONDON


_First Published in 1915_




DEDICATION


    Thou whose deep ways are in the sea,
      Whose footsteps are not known,
    To-night a world that turned from Thee
      Is waiting--at Thy Throne.

    The towering Babels that we raised
      Where scoffing sophists brawl,
    The little Antichrists we praised--
      The night is on them all.

    The fool hath said... The fool hath said...
      And we, who deemed him wise,
    We, who believed that Thou wast dead,
      How should we seek Thine eyes?

    How should we seek to Thee for power,
      Who scorned Thee yesterday?
    How should we kneel in this dread hour?
      Lord, teach us how to pray.

    Grant us the single heart once more
      That mocks no sacred thing,
    The Sword of Truth our fathers wore
      When Thou wast Lord and King.

    Let