"It Is Dangerous To Wake The Dead"

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 71, 1 November 1940, Page 13

"It Is Dangerous To Wake The Dead"

LINES TO CELEBRATE TRAFALGAR DAY Written And Spoken By Clemence Dane For The BBC

(This is a transcription of notes taken from the original broadcast by the BBC. Because of difficult conditions of reception it may contain some slight deviations from the Original script.) HEY have dropped a bomb on St. Paul’s-they, for their name shall T not live, ' The roof was ripped up, masonry crashed on to the table, Laid before the Inviolate Fount. Between the enormous walls the judgment infernal Lashed racketing round the nave Till waves of thunder and dust broke against Nelson’s tomb. Even then they were not afraid. They were proud of all they. had done, Nobody warned them; they did not know, 4 None said, "It is dangerous to wake the dead." For the Nelson spirit slipped easily out of the shroud Into the morning down Ludgate Hill. Splendidly he moves in the crowd Hither and thither at will, Slipping between the people’ going to work Stiff from a shelter bed. Then somebody said: "What flashed like stars in a rose red sky?" A girl said: "A man passed by with a pinned-up sleeve." A boy said: "I didn’t see, I was watching the ’plane." "One of ours?" "One of theirs I believe." — Then I heard a voice cry: "We have characters to loseThose people have none." "I say, that was a voice-I could follow that voice." "So could I, and whatever order it chose to give I’d rejoice To obey-lI’d never once shirk," " You know what I thought it said? I’d not be satisfied with less than 20 down." * * * Yes, yes, yes, nobody warned them. They did not know. None said; "It is dangerous to wake the dead." 3A * * * A the wind drives along the Strand till the dust bins rattle, "A gay slow wind it is with a rumour in it. I haven't the slightest doubt that a very few days, Almost a very few hours will put us in battle. " What's that?" they shout from the taxi stand. The same voice answers: "Sooner the better I say. I don’t like to have these things on’ my mind." ; And the drivers stand and stare in amaze. On goes the Nelson spirit leaving rumours behind. Things are beginning to happen at last, says London bright-eyed. When we choose we move fast, says London pride. Tell us more. The spirit has passed muttering: "We must brace up. The boldest measures are safest. Let us attack. Who is not with our hearts? What, the people of action! I really don’t see the signal. | Lay your minds into the past. That’s how I answer such signals." ‘There goes the precious little fellow, there, Turning into Trafalgar Square just as the sirens blare. From the pavement the pigeons rose with a flitter and flutter of wings. " Kur-roo-oo" came their call, " Kur-roo-oo-we’ve heard it said often enough When we lodged with Paul that it’s dangerous to wake the dead." Here, here, screamed the gulls who played betweeen channel and river. All the air is a-quiver with the indisputable news-

Nelson has stirred-Nelson has left his bed, Now let them shake in their shoes. Then we see with laughter all that they say. * Yes, indeed, we have heard how dangerous it is to wake the dead. * * * HEN the waves tear after each other, pass and repass, Each agog to be first, breaking in spray, Welling and cresting that they may find easy to say, " Nelson-Nelson, awake. Tell the Victory." They toss it aside in the lull, they whisper " Nelson!" and flee Racing after the ships of the open sea, Overtaking the fleet, tapping the ‘news in code, Nelson-in London-awake. He is in the ruined streets, he is in the byway and slum. Nelson is everywhere. He stands in the wreck of the road. He sweeps up the broken glass, He fights with fire and despair, he feels with his fingers your heart, Till it beats in your breast like a drum. This is the Nelson touch. Pass on the news-he’s awake. Nelson expects so much. Nelson expects that this day each man for the Island’s sake Will do his duty. Do they know in the North, the South, the East, the West? Let it go forth, news of our little man with the smile and the four-fold star. Carry to Copenhagen the news of our Isle and our war. Carry the news to the Nile, to St. Vincent and Trafalgar. They have waked the Nelson-the spirit. He slept sound in his bed. And no one had warned them-they did not know-none said How dangerous it is to wake our dead.