The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
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| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
 | X. |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. | XXVI.
PURENESS' CROWN |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
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| XI. |
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
125
XXVI. PURENESS' CROWN
England shall fill the centuries' hands with flowers
And through the mortal years immortal be
If woman's truth defends her swordless bowers,
As guards her shores the sea.
And through the mortal years immortal be
If woman's truth defends her swordless bowers,
As guards her shores the sea.
Then England shall abide; she shall not fail.
No iron monsters of the deep secure:
She needs not cunning suits of woven mail,
If only her heart be pure.
No iron monsters of the deep secure:
She needs not cunning suits of woven mail,
If only her heart be pure.
Though round us loom the thunders of the night
And Europe ring with trumpet-peals of war,
If in one English home pure love gleams bright
On England shines a star.
And Europe ring with trumpet-peals of war,
If in one English home pure love gleams bright
On England shines a star.
Not surelier down the cloud-veiled valleys move
The sun's gold chariot-wheels at close of day
Than lands decline, wherein men cease to love
And women cease to pray.
The sun's gold chariot-wheels at close of day
Than lands decline, wherein men cease to love
And women cease to pray.
126
No jewelled crown that mocks the stars is grand
As that soft white-rose crown pure women wear.
No other sheds such lustre on the land,
That for its sake grows fair.
As that soft white-rose crown pure women wear.
No other sheds such lustre on the land,
That for its sake grows fair.
Nought weighs with us the centuries' smile or frown
If England's daughters, sovereign, fearless, free,
Wear on their brows for ever pureness' crown,
As sunlight crowns her sea.
If England's daughters, sovereign, fearless, free,
Wear on their brows for ever pureness' crown,
As sunlight crowns her sea.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |