Still the sea that salutes us free proclaims them stricken, acclaims thee crowned.

Times may change, and the skies grow strange with signs of treason and fraud and fear:

Foes in union of strange communion may rise against thee from far and near:

Sloth and greed on thy strength may feed as cankers waxing from year to year.

[Pg 209]

Yet, though treason and fierce unreason should league and lie and defame and smite,

We that know thee, how far below thee the hatred burns of the sons of night,

We that love thee, behold above thee the witness written of life in light.

Life that shines from thee shows forth signs that none may read not but eyeless foes:

Hate, born blind, in his abject mind grows hopeful now but as madness grows:

Love, born wise, with exultant eyes adores thy glory, beholds and glows.

Truth is in thee, and none may win thee to lie, forsaking the face of truth:

Freedom lives by the grace she gives thee, born again from thy deathless youth:

Faith should fail, and the world turn pale, wert thou the prey of the serpent's tooth.

Greed and fraud, unabashed, unawed, may strive to sting thee at heel in vain:

Craft and fear and mistrust may leer and mourn and murmur and plead and plain:

Thou art thou: and thy sunbright brow is hers that blasted the strength of Spain.

Mother, mother beloved, none other could claim in place of thee England's place:

Earth bears none that beholds the sun so pure of record, so clothed with grace:

Dear our mother, nor son nor brother is thine, as strong or as fair of face.

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