Grant you an indulgence, here lies fair country, direct then Your Sabbath excursion westward, and spend a summer-day Preaching among the lilies what you[v]have preached to the chimneys. 3 PEACE ODE ON CONCLUSION OF THE BOER WAR, JUNE 1902 Now joy in all hearts with happy auguries, And praise on all lips: for sunny June cometh Chasing the thick warcloud, that outspread Sulfurous and sullen over England. Full thirty moons since unwilling enmity, Since daily suspense for hideous peril Of brethren unrescued, beleaguer'd Plague-stricken in cities unprovided, Had quencht accustom'd gaiety, from the day When first the Dutchman's implacable folly, The country of Shakspeare def[=y]ing, Thought with a curse to appal the nation: Whose threat to quell their kinsmen in Africa Anger'd awhile our easy democracy; That, reckless and patient of insult, Will not abide arrogant defīance: They called to arms; and war began evilly. From slily forestor'd, well-hidden armouries, And early advantage, the despot Stood for a time prevalent against us: Till from the coil of slow-gathering battle He rancorous, with full moneybags hurried, Peddling to European envy His traffic of pennyworthy slander. For since the first keel launch'd upon Ocean Ne'er had before so mighty an armament O'errun the realm of dark Poseidon, So resolutely measur'd the waters, As soon from our ports in diligent passage O'er half the round world plow'd hither & thither The pathless Atlantic, revengeful Soldiery pouring on Esperanza: Nor shows the Argive story of Ilium, With tale of ancient auxiliar cities, So vast a roll of wide alliance As, rallying to the aid of England, Came from the swarming counties accoutering, And misty highlands of Caledonia, With Cambria's half-Celtic offspring, And the ever-merry fighting Irish: Came too the new world's hardy Canadians, And from remote Australia champions Like huntsmen, and from those twin islands Lying off antipodal beyond her, Under the old flag sailing across the sea: For mighty is blood's empery, where honour And freedom ancestral have upbuilt Inheritance to a lovely glory. Thee, France, love I, fair lawgiver and scholar: Thy lively grace, thy temper illustrious; And thee, in all wisdom Diviner, Germany, deep melodist immortal; Nor less have envied soft Italy's spirit, In marble unveil'd and eloquent colour: But best love I England, wer' I not Born to her aery should envy also.