The sweet soft merciless waters, await and are fain of these.

[Pg 197]

As the hiss of a Python heaving in menace of doom to be

They hear through the clear night round them, whose hours are as clouds that flee,

The whisper of tempest sleeping, the heave and the hiss of the sea.

But faith is theirs, and with faith are they girded and helmed and shod:

Invincible are they, almighty, elect for a sword and a rod;

Invincible even as their God is omnipotent, infinite, God.

In him is their strength, who have sworn that his glory shall wax not dim:

In his name are their war-ships hallowed as mightiest of all that swim:

The men that shall cope with these, and conquer, shall cast out him.

In him is the trust of their hearts; the desire of their eyes is he;

The light of their ways, made lightning for men that would fain be free:

Earth's hosts are with them, and with them is heaven: but with us is the sea.

[Pg 198]

V

I

And a day and a night pass over;

And the heart of their chief swells high;

For England, the warrior, the rover,

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