When they talk with the stranger bands, Dazed and newly alone; When they walk in the stranger lands, By roaring streets unknown; Blessing her where she stands For strength above their own. (On high to hold her fame That stands all fame beyond, By oath to back the same, Most faithful-foolish-fond; Making her mere-breathed name So thank I God my birth But that she lent me worth Surely in toil or fray Under an alien sky, Comfort it is to say: "Of no mean city am I." (Neither by service nor fee Come I to mine estateMother of Cities to me, For I was born in her gate, Between the palms and the sea, Where the world-end steamers wait.) Now for this debt I owe, And for her far-borne cheer Must I make haste and go With tribute to her pier. And she shall touch and remit My deep-sea plunderings, Her power is over mine, And mine I hold at her hands. A SONG OF THE ENGLISH. Fair is our lot-O goodly is our heritage! (Humble ye, my people, and be fearful in your mirth!) For the Lord our God Most High He hath made the deep as dry, He hath smote for us a pathway to the ends of all the Earth! Yea, though we sinned—and our rulers went from righteousness— Deep in all dishonour though we stained our garments' hem. Oh be ye not dismayed, Though we stumbled and we strayed, We were led by evil counsellors-the Lord shall deal with them. Hold ye the Faith the Faith our Fathers sealed us; Whoring not with visions-overwise and overstale. Except ye pay the Lord Single heart and single sword, Of your children in their bondage shall He ask them treble-tale. Keep ye the Law-be swift in all obedience. the ford. Make ye sure to each his own That he reap what he hath sown; By the peace among Our peoples let men know we serve the Lord. Hear now a song—a song of broken interludes— A song of little cunning; of a singer nothing worth. Through the naked words and mean May ye see the truth between As the singer knew and touched it in the ends of all the Earth! |