From where the steeds of earth’s twin oceans toss Their manes along Columbia’s chariot-way; From where Australia’s long blue billows play; From where the morn, quenching the Southern Cross, Startling the frigate-bird and albatross Asleep in air, breaks over Table Bay-- Come hither, pilgrims, where these rushes sway ‘Tween grassy banks of Avon soft as moss! For, if ye found the breath of ocean sweet, Sweeter is Avon’s earthy, flowery smell, Distill’d from roots that feel the coming spell Of May, who bids all flowers that lov’d him meet In meadows that, remembering Shakespeare’s feet, Hold still a dream of music where they fell. _Theodore Watts-Dunton._ XCIII ENGLAND STANDS ALONE (‘ENGLAND STANDS ALONE--WITHOUT AN ALLY.’ --_A Continental Newspaper_) ‘She stands alone: ally nor friend has she,’ Saith Europe of our England--her who bore Drake, Blake, and Nelson--Warrior-Queen who wore Light’s conquering glaive that strikes the conquered free. Alone!--From Canada comes o’er the sea, And from that English coast with coral shore, The old-world cry Europe hath heard of yore From Dover cliffs: ‘Ready, aye ready we!’ ‘Europe,’ saith England, ‘hath forgot my boys!-- Forgot how tall, in yonder golden zone ‘Neath Austral skies, my youngest born have grown (Bearers of bayonets now and swords for toys)-- Forgot ’mid boltless thunder--harmless noise-- The sons with whom old England ‘stands alone!’ _Theodore Watts-Dunton._ SWINBURNE XCIV ENGLAND England, queen of the waves, whose green inviolate girdle enrings thee round, Mother fair as the morning, where is now the place of thy foemen found? 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. 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.