Poems and Ballads (Third Series)Taken from The Collected Poetical Works of Algernon CharlesSwinburne—Vol. III
No state so proud, no pride so just,

The sun, through clouds at sunrise curled

Or clouds across the sunset whirled,

Hath sight of, nor has man such trust

As thine in all the world.

XLV

Each hour that sees the sunset's crest

Make bright thy shores ere day decline

Sees dawn the sun on shores of thine,

Sees west as east and east as west

On thee their sovereign shine.

XLVI

The sea's own heart must needs wax proud

To have borne the world a child like thee.

What birth of earth might ever be

Thy sister? Time, a wandering cloud,

Is sunshine on thy sea.

XLVII

Change mars not her; and thee, our mother,

What change that irks or moves thee mars?


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