Ib. What Passing Bells for These who die as Cattle?

War Requiem, Op. 66 / Requiem aeternam - Requiem aeternam - Ib. What Passing Bells for These who die as Cattle? - Peter Pears/Melos Ensemble/The Bach Choir/London Symphony Chorus/London Symphony Orchestra/Benjamin Britten

Lyrics by：Wilfred Owen

Composed by：Benjamin Britten

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle

Only the monstrous anger of the guns

Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle

Can patter out their hasty orisons

No mockeries now for them no prayers nor bells

Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs

The shrill demented choirs of wailing shells

And bugles calling for them from sad shires

What candles may be held to speed them all

Not in the hands of boys but in their eyes

Shall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes

The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall

Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds

And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds