Part 1
# Patriotic Song: A book of English verse, being an anthology of the patriotic poetry of the British Empire, from the defeat of the Spanish Armada till the death of Queen Victoria ### By Unknown
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PATRIOTIC SONG
PATRIOTIC SONG
A Book of English Verse
BEING AN ANTHOLOGY OF THE PATRIOTIC POETRY OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, FROM THE DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH ARMADA TILL THE DEATH OF QUEEN VICTORIA
SELECTED AND ARRANGED BY ARTHUR STANLEY
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY THE RIGHT REVEREND J. E. C. WELLDON Lord Bishop of Calcutta; late Head-Master of Harrow School
TORONTO WILLIAM BRIGGS 1901
THIS BOOK IS Sacred to the Memory OF THAT GLORIOUS COMPANY OF MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR ENGLAND’S SAKE
EDITOR’S PREFACE
This book is intended to be a representative collection of the patriotic poetry of the British Empire. I have taken a wide view of the term “patriotic”--wide enough, indeed, to include the Jacobite Songs of Scotland and the National Songs of Ireland.
Many of my numbers breathe the spirit of war; for the national instinct is most deeply stirred in times of great national emotion. But I have aimed at making this volume something more than a book of war-songs, holding that a man may prove his patriotism as well at home in the pursuit of his daily business as on the battlefield in the presence of his country’s enemies. Love of country is the root of the matter; and, after all, it is harder to live for one’s country than to die for it.
I gratefully acknowledge the debt I owe to authors and owners of copyright poems. I am equally grateful to all who, whether at home or in the Colonies, have given me encouragement, assistance, or advice. My obligations to Professor Dowden, Mr. W. E. Henley, and Mr. A. T. Quiller-Couch are very great.
My scheme, as originally conceived, provided for the inclusion of a section representing the patriotism of America; but, on reconsideration, I have decided not to go beyond the limits of the British Empire.
A. S.
INTRODUCTION
The present collection of patriotic songs will, I think, accord with the imperial spirit of the day; for they are representative of the whole British Empire.
It is needless to dwell upon the inspiring energy of song. Since the age of Tyrtæus it has everywhere been recognised as a powerful incentive to valour. A nation can scarcely exist without a national anthem. How characteristic are the anthems of the nations! It may almost be said that the difference of the English and the French nations is expressed by the contrast between _God Save the King_ and the _Marseillaise_. What an influence songs have exercised upon the life of nations! The debt of Scotland to Burns, the debt of Ireland to Moore, is greater than words can tell. Fletcher of Saltoun was perhaps not wrong in his estimate of the songs, as compared with the laws, of a nation.
I am not responsible for the present collection; perhaps, if I had made it, I should have left out some few songs which find a place in it, and should have inserted some few others which do not, but the purpose of it I heartily approve. To consolidate the Empire, and to animate it as a whole with noble ideas, is one of the greatest needs and duties of the present day; and an empire, like an individual, lives not by bread alone, but by its sentiments, its ambitions, its ideals.
J. E. C. CALCUTTA.
_October 1901._
ERRATUM
Page xii, line 6, _for_ ‘an admiral’ _read_ ‘an individual.’
CONTENTS
I.--ENGLAND PAGE ANONYMOUS (_c._ 1580). I. SONG OF THE ENGLISH BOWMEN 3
GEORGE PEELE (1558?-1592?). II. FAREWELL TO DRAKE AND NORRIS 4
MICHAEL DRAYTON (1563-1631). III. BALLAD OF AGINCOURT 5 IV. THE VIRGINIAN VOYAGE 8
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564-1616). V. A PICTURE OF ENGLAND 11 VI. ENGLAND INVINCIBLE 11 VII. ENGLAND AT WAR 12 VIII. WOLSEY TO CROMWELL 17
BALLADS. IX. BRAVE LORD WILLOUGHBY (_c._ 1590) 18 X. THE HONOUR OF BRISTOL (_c._ 1626) 21
JOHN MILTON (1608-1674). XI. TO THE LORD GENERAL 24 XII. DELIVERANCE 24
ANDREW MARVELL (1620-1678). XIII. HORATIAN ODE UPON CROMWELL’S RETURN FROM IRELAND 25 XIV. SONG OF THE EMIGRANTS IN BERMUDA 28
MARTIN PARKER (_ob._ 1656?). XV. THE KING’S EXILE 30
ANONYMOUS (_c._ 1667). XVI. HERE’S A HEALTH UNTO HIS MAJESTY 31
JOHN DRYDEN (1631-1701). XVII. A SONG OF KING ARTHUR 31 XVIII. LONDON IN 1666 32
JAMES THOMSON (1700-1748). XIX. RULE BRITANNIA 33
JOHN DYER (_c._ 1708). XX. DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN 34
ANONYMOUS (_c._ 1740). XXI. GOD SAVE THE KING 34
DAVID GARRICK (1717-1779). XXII. HEARTS OF OAK 35
WILLIAM COLLINS (1721-1759). XXIII. THE SLEEP OF THE BRAVE 36
WILLIAM COWPER (1731-1800). XXIV. BOADICEA 36 XXV. THE _ROYAL GEORGE_ 38
CHARLES DIBDIN (1745-1814). XXVI. TOM BOWLING 39 XXVII. THE TRUE ENGLISH SAILOR 40 XXVIII. TOM TOUGH 41
ANONYMOUS (_c._ 1750). XXIX. THE BRITISH GRENADIERS 42
ANONYMOUS (_c._ 1758). XXX. THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME 43
PRINCE HOARE (1755-1834). XXXI. THE _ARETHUSA_ 44
WILLIAM BLAKE (1757-1827). XXXII. JERUSALEM IN ENGLAND 45
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH (1770-1850). XXXIII. ON LANDING IN ENGLAND 46 XXXIV. DESTINY 47 XXXV. THE MOTHERLAND 47 XXXVI. TO THE MEN OF KENT 48 XXXVII. THE HAPPY WARRIOR 48 XXXVIII. AFTER WATERLOO 50 XXXIX. MERRY ENGLAND 50 XL. HOPE 51
SIR WALTER SCOTT (1771-1832). XLI. IN MEMORIAM 51
THOMAS DIBDIN (1771-1841). XLII. THE SNUG LITTLE ISLAND 55 XLIII. THE MERRY SOLDIER 57
ROBERT SOUTHEY (1774-1843). XLIV. THE STANDARD-BEARER OF THE BUFFS 58
THOMAS CAMPBELL (1777-1844). XLV. YE MARINERS OF ENGLAND 59 XLVI. THE BATTLE OF THE BALTIC 60 XLVII. MEN OF ENGLAND 62
ALLAN CUNNINGHAM (1785-1842). XLVIII. THE BRITISH SAILOR’S SONG 63
GEORGE GORDON, LORD BYRON (1788-1824). XLIX. ON LEAVING ENGLAND 64 L. THE ISLES OF GREECE 65 LI. THE EVE OF WATERLOO 67
CHARLES WOLFE (1791-1823). LII. THE BURIAL OF SIR JOHN MOORE 69
FELICIA HEMANS (1793-1835). LIII. THE BENDED BOW 71 LIV. ENGLAND’S DEAD 72
THOMAS BABINGTON, LORD MACAULAY (1800-1859). LV. THE ARMADA 74 LVI. A JACOBITE’S EPITAPH 77
RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH (1807-1886). LVII. THE TASK 78 LVIII. THE UNFORGOTTEN 78
ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING (1809-1861). LIX. THE FORCED RECRUIT 80
ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON (1809-1892). LX. THE ANSWER 81 LXI. FREEDOM 82 LXII. BATTLE SONG 83 LXIII. VICTORIA’S REIGN 83 LXIV. HANDS ALL ROUND 84 LXV. BRITONS, HOLD YOUR OWN! 85 LXVI. WELLINGTON AT ST. PAUL’S 85 LXVII. THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE 87 LXVIII. THE USE OF WAR 89
SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE (1810-1888). LXIX. THE PRIVATE OF THE BUFFS 90
ROBERT BROWNING (1812-1889). LXX. HOME THOUGHTS, FROM ABROAD 91 LXXI. HOME THOUGHTS, FROM THE SEA 92
CHARLES MACKAY (1814-1889). LXXII. A SONG OF ENGLAND 92
ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH (1819-1861). LXXIII. GREEN FIELDS OF ENGLAND 93 LXXIV. THE RALLY 94
CHARLES KINGSLEY (1819-1875). LXXV. ODE TO THE NORTH-EAST WIND 94
SIR HENRY YULE (1820-1889). LXXVI. THE _BIRKENHEAD_ 96
WILLIAM CORY (1823-1892). LXXVII. SCHOOL FENCIBLES 97
WILLIAM WALSHAM HOW (1823-1897). LXXVIII. A NATIONAL HYMN 99
JOHN KELLS INGRAM (_b._ 1823). LXXIX. A NATION’S WEALTH 99
SIR FRANKLIN LUSHINGTON (_b._ 1823). LXXX. THE MUSTER OF THE GUARDS 100
FRANCIS TURNER PALGRAVE (1824-1897). LXXXI. ALFRED THE GREAT 103 LXXXII. TRAFALGAR 104
SYDNEY DOBELL (1824-1874). LXXXIII. A SEA ADVENTURE 108
WILLIAM ALEXANDER, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH (_b._ 1824). LXXXIV. WAR 109
ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER (1825-1864). LXXXV. THE LESSON OF THE WAR 112
GERALD MASSEY (_b._ 1828). LXXXVI. SIR RICHARD GRENVILLE’S LAST FIGHT 113
THOMAS EDWARD BROWN (1830-1897). LXXXVII. LAND, HO! 117
BENN WILKES JONES TREVALDWYN (_b._ 1830). LXXXVIII. THE _GEORGE_ OF LOOE 118
SIR EDWIN ARNOLD (_b._ 1832). LXXXIX. THE FIRST DISTRIBUTION OF THE VICTORIA CROSS 120
RICHARD GARNETT (_b._ 1835). XC. ABROAD 121
WILLIAM SCHWENK GILBERT (_b._ 1836). XCI. THE ENGLISH GIRL 122
THEODORE WATTS-DUNTON (_b._ 1836). XCII. THE BREATH OF AVON 123 XCIII. ENGLAND STANDS ALONE 124
ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE (_b._ 1837). XCIV. ENGLAND 125 XCV. A JACOBITE’S EXILE 126 XCVI. NEW YEAR’S DAY 129 XCVII. TO WILLIAM MORRIS 129
THOMAS HARDY (_b._ 1840). XCVIII. THE GOING OF THE BATTERY 131
AUSTIN DOBSON (_b._ 1840). XCIX. BALLAD OF THE ARMADA 132 C. RANK AND FILE 133
ROBERT BRIDGES (_b._ 1844). CI. THE FAIR BRASS 133
JOHN HUNTLEY SKRINE (_b._ 1848). CII. THE GENTLE 134 CIII. THE MOTHER AND THE SONS 136
WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY (_b._ 1849). CIV. ENGLAND, MY ENGLAND 137
ERIC MACKAY (1851-1898). CV. A SONG OF THE SEA 139
WILLIAM SHARP (_b._ 1856). CVI. THE BALLAD OF THE RAM 141
SIR RENNELL RODD (_b._ 1858). CVII. SPRING THOUGHTS 141
WILLIAM WATSON (_b._ 1858). CVIII. ENGLAND AND HER COLONIES 143
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE (_b._ 1859). CIX. THE SONG OF THE BOW 143 CX. A BALLAD OF THE RANKS 144
BARRY PAIN (_b._ 1860). CXI. OUR DEAD 147
HENRY NEWBOLT (_b._ 1862). CXII. ADMIRALS ALL 147 CXIII. DRAKE’S DRUM 149 CXIV. A TOAST 150
RUDYARD KIPLING (_b._ 1865). CXV. THE FLAG OF ENGLAND 150 CXVI. RECESSIONAL 154
LAUCHLAN MACLEAN WATT (_b._ 1867). CXVII. THE GREY MOTHER 155
GEORGE FREDERIC STEWART BOWLES (_b._ 1877). CXVIII. THE SONG OF THE SNOTTIES 157
II.--WALES
THOMAS GRAY (1716-1771). CXIX. THE BARD 161
JAMES HENRY LEIGH HUNT (1784-1859). CXX. BODRYDDAN 165
FELICIA HEMANS (1793-1835). CXXI. THE HARP OF WALES 166 CXXII. PRINCE MADOG’S FAREWELL 166
JOHN JONES (1810-1869). CXXIII. THE MARCH OF THE MEN OF HARLECH 167
SIR LEWIS MORRIS (_b._ 1833). CXXIV. LLEWELYN AP GRUFFYDD 168
RICHARD BELLIS JONES (1837-1900). CXXV. RHUDDLAN MARSH 171
EDMUND OSBORNE JONES (_b._ 1858). CXXVI. LIBERTY 172 CXXVII. THE POETS OF WALES 173
III.--SCOTLAND
ALLAN RAMSAY (1686-1758). CXXVIII. FAREWELL TO LOCHABER 177
JEAN ELLIOT (1727-1805). CXXIX. THE FLOWERS OF THE FOREST 177
ANNE MACIVAR GRANT (1755-1838). CXXX. THE HIGHLAND LADDIE 178
ROBERT BURNS (1759-1796). CXXXI. MY HEART’S IN THE HIGHLANDS 180 CXXXII. BRUCE TO HIS MEN AT BANNOCKBUR 180 CXXXIII. THE DUMFRIES VOLUNTEERS 181 CXXXIV. THEIR GROVES O’ SWEET MYRTLE 182
SIR WALTER SCOTT (1771-1832). CXXXV. THE OUTCAST 183 CXXXVI. FLODDEN FIELD 183 CXXXVII. GATHERING-SONG OF DONALD THE BLACK 185 CXXXVIII. OVER THE BORDER 186 CXXXIX. BONNIE DUNDEE 187 CXL. WAR-SONG 189
JOHN LEYDEN (1775-1811). CXLI. ODE ON VISITING FLODDEN 190
ALLAN CUNNINGHAM (1785-1842). CXLII. LOYALTY 193
ANONYMOUS (_c._ 1790). CXLIII. THE CAMPBELLS ARE COMIN’ 193
ROBERT GILFILLAN (1798-1850). CXLIV. MY AIN COUNTRIE 194
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON (1850-1894). CXLV. IN THE HIGHLANDS 195 CXLVI. EXILED 196
NEIL MUNRO (_b._ 1864). CXLVII. TO EXILES 196
JACOBITE SONGS
ANONYMOUS. CXLVIII. THE KING OVER THE WATER 198 CXLIX. WELCOME, ROYAL CHARLIE! 199 CL. CAM’ YE BY ATHOL? 199 CLI. LADY KEITH’S LAMENT 200
ROBERT BURNS (1759-1796). CLII. O’ER THE WATER TO CHARLIE 201 CLIII. A SONG OF EXILE 202 CLIV. KENMURE’S MARCH 202 CLV. A JACOBITE’S FAREWELL 203
CAROLINA, BARONESS NAIRN (1766-1845). CLVI. CHARLIE IS MY DARLING 204 CLVII. WHA’LL BE KING BUT CHARLIE? 205
WILLIAM GLEN (1789-1826). CLVIII. WAE’S ME FOR PRINCE CHARLIE 205
HAROLD BOULTON (_b._ 1859). CLIX. SKYE BOAT-SONG 207
SARAH ROBERTSON MATHESON. CLX. A KISS OF THE KING’S HAND 207
IV.--IRELAND
OLIVER GOLDSMITH (1725-1774). CLXI. HOME 211
ANONYMOUS (_c._ 1798). CLXII. THE WEARIN’ O’ THE GREEN 211
THOMAS MOORE (1779-1852). CLXIII. THE MINSTREL BOY 212 CLXIV. A SONG OF THE IRISH 213 CLXV. DEPARTED GLORY 213 CLXVI. THE CHOICE 214 CLXVII. A SONG OF TRUE LOVE 215 CLXVIII. TO ERIN 215 CLXIX. THE MINSTREL TO HIS HARP 216
CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH TONNA (1790-1846). CLXX. THE MAIDEN CITY 216
JAMES CLARENCE MANGAN (1803-1849). CLXXI. KINCORA 218 CLXXII. DARK ROSALEEN 219
HELEN, LADY DUFFERIN (1807-1867). CLXXIII. THE BAY OF DUBLIN 222 CLXXIV. LAMENT OF THE IRISH EMIGRANT 222
SIR SAMUEL FERGUSON (1810-1886). CLXXV. O’BYRNE’S BARD TO THE CLANS OF WICKLOW 224 CLXXVI. THE HILLS OF IRELAND 225
THOMAS DAVIS (1814-1845). CLXXVII. MY LAND 226 CLXXVIII. THE DEAD CHIEF 227
AUBREY DE VERE (_b._ 1814). CLXXIX. THE LITTLE BLACK ROSE 229
JOHN KELLS INGRAM (_b._ 1823). CLXXX. THE MEMORY OF THE DEAD 229 CLXXXI. NATIONAL PRESAGE 231
GEORGE SIGERSON (_b._ 1839). CLXXXII. THE FLIGHT OF THE EARLS 231 CLXXXIII. LAMENT FOR EOGHAN RUA O’NEILL 232
GEORGE FRANCIS SAVAGE-ARMSTRONG (_b._ 1845). CLXXXIV. THE OLD COUNTRY 233
ALFRED PERCEVAL GRAVES (_b._ 1846). CLXXXV. THE SONGS OF ERIN 234
JOHN KEEGAN CASEY (1846-1870). CLXXXVI. THE RISING OF THE MOON 235
THOMAS WILLIAM ROLLESTON (_b._ 1857). CLXXXVII. THE DEAD AT CLONMACNOIS 236
KATHARINE TYNAN HINKSON (_b._ 1861). CLXXXVIII. SHAMROCK SONG 237
LIONEL JOHNSON (_b._ 1867). CLXXXIX. WAYS OF WAR 239
V.--CANADA
WILLIAM WYE SMITH (_b._ 1827). CXC. THE CANADIANS ON THE NILE 243
DUNCAN ANDERSON (_b._ 1828). CXCI. THE DEATH OF WOLFE 244
SARAH ANNE CURZON (1833-1898). CXCII. THE LOYALISTS 246
THEODORE HARDING RAND (1835-1900). CXCIII. THE WHITETHROAT 247
ANNIE ROTHWELL CHRISTIE (_b._ 1837). CXCIV. WELCOME HOME 248
CLIVE PHILLIPPS-WOLLEY (_b._ 1855). CXCV. THEIR TESTAMENT 249
CHARLES GEORGE DOUGLAS ROBERTS (_b._ 1860). CXCVI. CANADA 250
WILLIAM WILFRED CAMPBELL (_b._ 1861). CXCVII. ENGLAND 252 CXCVIII. THE WORLD-MOTHER 254
FREDERICK GEORGE SCOTT (_b._ 1861). CXCIX. QUEBEC 258 CC. IN MEMORIAM 258
FRANCIS SHERMAN (_b._ 1871). CCI. A WORD FROM CANADA 260
ARTHUR STRINGER (_b._ 1874). CCII. CANADA TO ENGLAND 262
STUART LIVINGSTON (_b._ 1876). CCIII. THE CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS 262
VI.--INDIA
SHOSHEE CHUNDER DUTT (1824-1883). CCIV. THE HINDU’S ADDRESS TO THE GANGES 267
SIR ALFRED LYALL (_b._ 1835). CCV. THEOLOGY IN EXTREMIS 268
WILLIAM TREGO WEBB (_b._ 1847). CCVI. THE RESIDENCY CHURCHYARD 272 CCVII. THE MEMORIAL WELL 273 CCVIII. SPRING IN CALCUTTA 274
JOHN RENTON DENNING (_b._ 1858). CCIX. THE LUCKNOW GARRISON 275 CCX. SOLDIERS OF IND 276 CCXI. SARANSAR 278
RUDYARD KIPLING (_b._ 1865). CCXII. THE GALLEY-SLAVE 280
VII.--SOUTH AFRICA
THOMAS PRINGLE (1789-1834). CCXIII. THE DESOLATE VALLEY 285
WILLIAM JOHN COURTHOPE (_b._ 1842). CCXIV. ENGLAND IN SOUTH AFRICA 286
WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY (_b._ 1849). CCXV. FOR A GRAVE IN SOUTH AFRICA 286
ARTHUR VINE HALL (_b._ 1862). CCXVI. ON LEAVING TABLE BAY 286
HILDA MARY AGNES COOK (_b._ 1865). CCXVII. THE RELIEF OF MAFEKING 287
ROBERT RUSSELL (_b._ 1867). CCXVIII. THE VANGUARD 288
VIII.--AUSTRALIA
GERALD HENRY SUPPLE (1822-1898). CCXIX. DAMPIER’S DREAM 293
ADAM LINDSAY GORDON (1833-1870). CCXX. BY FLOOD AND FIELD 295
JAMES BRUNTON STEPHENS (_b._ 1835). CCXXI. FULFILMENT 297
PERCY RUSSELL (_b._ 1847). CCXXII. THE BIRTH OF AUSTRALIA 299
HENRY LAWSON (_b._ 1867). CCXXIII. THE WAR OF THE FUTURE 300
ARTHUR MAQUARIE (_b._ 1876). CCXXIV. A FAMILY MATTER 302
ARTHUR ADAMS. CCXXV. THE DWELLINGS OF OUR DEAD 303
WILLIAM OGILVIE. CCXXVI. THE BUSH, MY LOVER 305
GEORGE ESSEX EVANS. CCXXVII. A FEDERAL SONG 307
JOHN BERNARD O’HARA. CCXXVIII. FLINDERS 308 CCXXIX. THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH 309
IX.--NEW ZEALAND
THOMAS BRACKEN (_b._ 1843). CCXXX. NEW ZEALAND HYMN 315
ALEXANDER BATHGATE (_b._ 1845). CCXXXI. OUR HERITAGE 316
ELEANOR ELIZABETH MONTGOMERY. CCXXXII. TO ONE IN ENGLAND 317 CCXXXIII. A VOICE FROM NEW ZEALAND 318
NOTES 323
INDEX OF FIRST LINES 357
I
ENGLAND
ANONYMOUS
I
SONG OF THE ENGLISH BOWMEN
Agincourt, Agincourt! Know ye not Agincourt, Where English slew and hurt All their French foemen? With their pikes and bills brown, How the French were beat down, Shot by our Bowmen!
Agincourt, Agincourt! Know ye not Agincourt, Never to be forgot, Or known to no men? Where English cloth-yard arrows Killed the French like tame sparrows, Slain by our Bowmen!
Agincourt, Agincourt! Know ye not Agincourt? English of every sort, High men and low men, Fought that day wondrous well, All our old stories tell, Thanks to our Bowmen!
Agincourt, Agincourt! Know ye not Agincourt? Where our fifth Harry taught Frenchmen to know men: And, when the day was done, Thousands there fell to one Good English Bowman!
Agincourt, Agincourt! Know ye not Agincourt? Dear was the vict’ry bought By fifty yeomen. Ask any English wench, They were worth all the French: Rare English Bowmen!
_Anonymous._
PEELE
II
FAREWELL TO DRAKE AND NORRIS
Have done with care, my hearts! aboard amain, With stretching sails to plough the swelling waves: Now vail your bonnets to your friends at home: Bid all the lovely British dames adieu! To arms, my fellow-soldiers! Sea and land Lie open to the voyage you intend. To arms, to arms, to honourable arms! Hoist sails; weigh anchors up; plough up the seas With flying keels; plough up the land with swords! You follow them whose swords successful are: You follow Drake, by sea the scourge of Spain, The dreadful dragon, terror to your foes, Victorious in his return from Inde, In all his high attempts unvanquishèd; You follow noble Norris whose renown, Won in the fertile fields of Belgia, Spreads by the gates of Europe to the courts Of Christian kings and heathen potentates. You fight for Christ and England’s peerless Queen, Elizabeth, the wonder of the world, Over whose throne the enemies of God Have thunder’d erst their vain successless braves, O ten-times-treble happy men, that fight Under the cross of Christ and England’s Queen, And follow such as Drake and Norris are! All honours do this cause accompany; All glory on these endless honours waits; These honours and this glory shall He send, Whose honour and Whose glory you defend.
_George Peele._
DRAYTON
III
BALLAD OF AGINCOURT
Fair stood the wind for France, When we our sails advance, Nor now to prove our chance Longer will tarry; But putting to the main, At Caux, the mouth of Seine, With all his martial train, Landed King Harry.
And taking many a fort, Furnished in warlike sort, Marched towards Agincourt In happy hour, Skirmishing day by day With those that stopped his way Where the French gen’ral lay With all his power:
Which, in his height of pride, King Henry to deride, His ransom to provide To the king sending; Which he neglects the while As from a nation vile, Yet with an angry smile Their fall portending.
And turning to his men, Quoth our brave Henry then, ’Though they to one be ten, Be not amazèd. Yet have we well begun, Battles so bravely won Have ever to the sun By fame been raisèd.’
‘And for myself,’ quoth he, ‘This my full rest shall be: England ne’er mourn for me, Nor more esteem me; Victor I will remain Or on this earth lie slain; Never shall she sustain Loss to redeem me.’
‘Poitiers and Cressy tell, When most their pride did swell, Under our swords they fell; No less our skill is Than when our grandsire great, Claiming the regal seat, By many a warlike feat Lopped the French lilies.’
The Duke of York so dread The eager vaward led; With the main Henry sped, Amongst his henchmen; Excester had the rear, A braver man not there: O Lord, how hot they were On the false Frenchmen!
They now to fight are gone, Armour on armour shone, Drum now to drum did groan, To hear was wonder; That with the cries they make, The very earth did shake, Trumpet to trumpet spake, Thunder to thunder.
Well it thine age became, O noble Erpingham, Which did the single aim To our hid forces! When from a meadow by, Like a storm suddenly, The English archery Struck the French horses.
With Spanish yew so strong, Arrows a cloth-yard long, That like to serpents stung, Piercing the weather; None from his fellow starts, But playing manly parts, And like true English hearts Stuck close together.
When down their bows they threw, And forth their bilbos drew, And on the French they flew, Not one was tardy; Arms were from shoulders sent, Scalps to the teeth were rent, Down the French peasants went; Our men were hardy.
This while our noble king, His broadsword brandishing, Down the French host did ding As to o’erwhelm it, And many a deep wound lent, His arms with blood besprent, And many a cruel dent Bruisèd his helmet.
Glo’ster, that duke so good, Next of the royal blood, For famous England stood, With his brave brother; Clarence, in steel so bright, Though but a maiden knight, Yet in that furious fight Scarce such another!
Warwick in blood did wade, Oxford the foe invade, And cruel slaughter made, Still as they ran up; Suffolk his axe did ply, Beaumont and Willoughby Bare them right doughtily Ferrers and Fanhope.
Upon St. Crispin’s Day Fought was this noble fray, Which fame did not delay, To England to carry. O, when shall Englishmen With such acts fill a pen, Or England breed again Such a King Harry?
_Michael Drayton._
IV
THE VIRGINIAN VOYAGE
You brave heroic minds Worthy your country’s name, That honour still pursue; Go and subdue! Whilst loitering hinds Lurk here at home with shame.
Britons, you stay too long: Quickly aboard bestow you, And with a merry gale Swell your stretch’d sail With vows as strong As the winds that blow you.
Your course securely steer West and by south forth keep, Rocks, lee-shores, nor shoals When Æolus scowls You need not fear, So absolute the deep.
And cheerfully at sea Success you shall entice To get the pearl and gold, And ours to hold Virginia Earth’s only paradise.
Where nature hath in store Fowl, venison, and fish, And the fruitfull’st soil Without your toil Three harvests more, All greater than your wish.
And the ambitious vine Crowns with his purple mass The cedar reaching high To kiss the sky, The cypress, pine And useful sassafras.
To whom the golden age Still nature’s laws doth give, Nor other cares attend But them to defend From winter’s rage, That long there doth not live.
When as the luscious smell Of that delicious land Above the seas that flows The clear wind throws Your hearts to swell Approaching the dear strand.
In kenning of the shore (Thanks to God first given) O you the happiest men, Be frolic then! Let cannons roar, Frighting the wide heaven.
And in regions far, Such heroes bring ye forth As those from whom we came; And plant our name Under that star Not known unto our north.
And as there plenty grows Of laurel everywhere,-- Apollo’s sacred tree,-- You it may see A poet’s brows To crown that may sing there.
Thy voyages attend Industrious Hackluit Whose reading shall inflame Men to seek fame, And much commend To after times thy wit.
_Michael Drayton._
SHAKESPEARE
V
A PICTURE OF ENGLAND
This royal throne of kings, this sceptr’d isle, This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, This other Eden, demi-paradise, This fortress built by Nature for herself Against infection and the hand of war, This happy breed of men, this little world, This precious stone set in the silver sea, Which serves it in the office of a wall Or as a moat defensive to a house, Against the envy of less happier lands, This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England, This nurse, this teeming womb of royal kings, Fear’d by their breed, and famous by their birth, Renowned for their deeds as far from home, For Christian service and true chivalry, As is the sepulchre in stubborn Jewry Of the world’s ransom, blessed Mary’s Son, This land of such dear souls, this dear, dear land.
_William Shakespeare._
VI
ENGLAND INVINCIBLE
This England never did, nor never shall, Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror, But when it first did help to wound itself, Come the three corners of the world in arms, And we shall shock them. Nought shall make us rue, If England to itself do rest but true.
_William Shakespeare._
VII
ENGLAND AT WAR
THE PREPARATION