“Had he and I but met
By some old ancient inn,
We should have sat us down to wet
Right many a nipperkin!
“But ranged as infantry,
And staring face to face,
I shot at him as he at me,
And killed him in his place.
“I shot him dead because
Because he was my foe,
Just so: my foe of course he was
That is clean enough: although
“He thought he’d list, perhaps
Off-hand like—just as I—
Was out of work- had sold his traps—
No other reason why.
“Yes: quaint and curious war is!
You shoot a fellow down
You’d treat if met where any bar is,
Or help to half-a-crown.”
THOMAS HARDY
Infantry : foot—soldiers
Quaint : attractive in an unusual way
Curious : inquisitive