England, I stand on thy imperial ground, Not all a stranger; as thy bugles blow, I feel within my blood old battles flow-- The blood whose ancient founts in thee are found, Still surging dark against the Christian bound Wide Islam presses; well its people know Thy heights that watch them wandering below; I think how Lucknow heard their gathering sound.
I turn, and meet the cruel, turbaned face. England, 'tis sweet to be so much thy son! I feel the conqueror in my blood and race; Last night Trafalgar awed me, and to-day Gibraltar wakened; hark, thy evening gun Startles the desert over Africa!
[Footnote 23: _Taken from "North Shore Watch and Other Poems" (copyrighted 1890). By courtesy of The Macmillan Company._]
Thou art the rock of empire, set mid-seas Between the East and West, that God has built; Advance thy Roman borders where thou wilt, While run thy armies true with his decrees; Law, justice, liberty--great gifts are these; Watch that they spread where English blood is spilt, Lest, mixed and sullied with his country's guilt, The soldier's life-stream flow, and Heaven displease!
Two swords there are: one naked, apt to smite, Thy blade of war; and, battle-storied, one Rejoices in the sheath, and hides from light. American I am; would wars were done! Now westward, look, my country bids good-night-- Peace to the world from ports without a gun!
We must be free or die, who speak the tongue That Shakespeare spake; the faith and morals hold Which Milton held....
Beyond the vague Atlantic deep, Far as the farthest prairies sweep, Where forest-glooms the nerve appal, Where burns the radiant western fall, One duty lies on old and young,-- With filial piety to guard, As on its greenest native sward, The glory of the English tongue. That ample speech! That subtle speech! Apt for the need of all and each: Strong to endure, yet prompt to bend Wherever human feelings tend. Preserve its force--expand its powers; And through the maze of civic life, In Letters, Commerce, even in Strife, Forget not it is yours and ours.
Give me of every language, first my vigorous English Stored with imported wealth, rich in its natural mines-- Grand in its rhythmical cadence, simple for household employment-- Worthy the poet's song, fit for the speech of a man.