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Alphonse de Neuville - The defence of Rorke's Drift
Resolve In The Face Of Adversity
Unless you have been living the life of a spoilt little tyrant who's every wish is granted by his doting supporters, you have surely been faced with adversity from time to time. This might be from people who take a set against you, it might due to natural circumstances or it might be just bad luck. In any event such things are a normal part of life in this world.
Hopefully we can all cope smoothly with minor adversity and even moderate adversity, though it cause us pain and trouble, should not actually wreck our lives... but what of MAJOR adversity where every hand and chance seem turned against us, where we are surrounded with enemies who seek our destruction, where there is no one on our side, where we have tried everything and still we fail, where all hope seems lost... what of that?
Real hope springs from the sight of a chink in the armour, of light at the end of the tunnel, of the glimpse of a way out, a way to win! Sadly, a way out is not always apparent, there is not always a chink in the armour and one cannot always see a way to win. In such situations it should be remembered that just because you can't see the answer it doesn't necessarily mean that there isn't one. Sometimes the solution only appears when all seems lost, when you think that there is nothing you can do but await the final coup de grace. Remember, no matter how dark the situation there is always the hope of hope. The hope that, at the last, a solution may yet be found.
The tune is by John Bacchus Dykes, an English clergyman, organist and prolific hymn writer. Its solemn, reasoning tone speaks of quiet courage in the face of adversity. Its rhythmic meter is rather strange, being of 11-4, 11-5, 4-8, 4-4-4 which makes it difficult to write to. The original hymn "Lead Kindly Light", is written to 10, 4-10 4-10 10 which is far simpler but some syllables are spread over two notes, which is not, in my opinion, ideal, nor does the scheme take account of the clear accents in the final line which make the natural flow of language impossible. I did originally attempt to rhyme each metrical section but it was too constraining on what was already a tricky poem. I could have produced something but it would not have had the precise meaning I was looking for.
May this hymn be, for the truly desperate; "a light ... in dark places, when all other lights go out"1.
Music: John Bacchus Dykes "Lux Benigna" 1865
Words: Warren Mars, 2018
Though all around the shadows creep yet closer, my light still shines,
And though the weight of fear grows ever greater, I will not resign.
Staunch to the last, I will not change my truth for lies.
My self respect, worth more than pain, worth more than death.
The days go by and still their siege is constant; their pow'r is great.
I see no army coming to my aid here, no break in their might.
Wait for the blow; until it comes I will not die.
They forced me here, but can they take my last ember?
Yes, in the darkness hope is hard to come by, without a gleam.
When ev'ry hand and chance is turned against me, how can it exist?
Still dawn may come, and chase away these evil shades,
Bring light of day, and victory to me at last.
The vocal score with chords is provided here.
I have also provided an SATB arrangement for choirs here.
Finally, I have provided a recording of my computer synthesizer playing the SATB arrangement. There is no singing and the synthesizer is very ordinary. Nevertheless the parts are all there and one can sing along with it or use it get an idea of how it should sound with your choir.
- Galadriel's words to Frodo when she gives him the crystal vial. JRR Tolkien - LOTR, The Fellowship Of The Ring, Book 2, Farewell To Lorien.