What the anvil? what dread grasp / Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

Without a successful defense of one's city, none of the other virtues would be possible; manly courage seems to be a precondition for anything else worth achieving in life.

Then somebody sings out, Take up a collection for him, take up a collection! Well, a half a dozen made a jump to do it, but somebody sings out, Let HIM pass the hat around!

I'm writing my book at will - there's no deadline or minimum word count.