How England, how her crowning nation,

Acclaims this jubilee.

[Pg 187]

[Pg 187]

THE ARMADA

1588: 1888

I

I

England, mother born of seamen, daughter fostered of the sea,

Mother more beloved than all who bear not all their children free,

Reared and nursed and crowned and cherished by the sea-wind and the sun,

Sweetest land and strongest, face most fair and mightiest heart in one,

Stands not higher than when the centuries known of earth were less by three,

When the strength that struck the whole world pale fell back from hers undone.

II

At her feet were the heads of her foes bowed down, and the strengths of the storm of them stayed,

And the hearts that were touched not with mercy with terror were touched and amazed and affrayed:

[Pg 188]

Yea, hearts that had never been molten with pity were molten with fear as with flame,

And the priests of the Godhead whose temple is hell, and his heart is of iron and fire,

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