The Poetical Works of Andrew Lang Edited by Mrs. Lang |
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Ye Ministers of England
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 | The Poetical Works of Andrew Lang |  |
181
Ye Ministers of England
Ye Ministers of England
Who pare the native cheese,
Who care more for the Caucus than
Our safety on the seas;
Your old excuses launch again
Ye forged long, long ago,
As ye prate through debate
Of the things we must not know—
Of the questions about ships and forts
We must not ‘want to know’.
Who pare the native cheese,
Who care more for the Caucus than
Our safety on the seas;
Your old excuses launch again
Ye forged long, long ago,
As ye prate through debate
Of the things we must not know—
Of the questions about ships and forts
We must not ‘want to know’.
Britannia does need bulwarks
And towers along the steep;
She's scant of powder, ships and men;
Her rulers are asleep;
The thunder from her phantom fleet
The French can overcrow
With thy might, Melinite,
While the stormy tempests blow—
While the battle rages, short and sharp,
And the stormy tempests blow.
And towers along the steep;
She's scant of powder, ships and men;
Her rulers are asleep;
The thunder from her phantom fleet
The French can overcrow
With thy might, Melinite,
While the stormy tempests blow—
While the battle rages, short and sharp,
And the stormy tempests blow.
182
The meteor flag of England
May yet terrific burn
Above the ruin of her trade
The ashes of her urn.
Then, then, ye bold officials,
Perchance you'll come to know
The hate of the State
In an hour of overthrow,
When a ruined people turn in wrath
On you that wrought their woe.
May yet terrific burn
Above the ruin of her trade
The ashes of her urn.
Then, then, ye bold officials,
Perchance you'll come to know
The hate of the State
In an hour of overthrow,
When a ruined people turn in wrath
On you that wrought their woe.
| The Poetical Works of Andrew Lang | |