 | Flower o' the thorn |  |
II.
But, (forefend it, God in Heaven!) calm unconquered Mother mine,
If the thing be true they tell us, that thy star is in decline,
That thou soon must pass and perish from thy place beneath the sun,
Leave thy heritage of honour to the Vandal and the Hun;
If the thing be true they tell us, that thy star is in decline,
98
Leave thy heritage of honour to the Vandal and the Hun;
If it other than a phantom of the fell impuissant will,
Other than a fond intention be of those that wish thee ill,
If indeed it be foreordered that thy course is near its close
And that thou thy head unvanquished needs must vail unto thy foes,
Other than a fond intention be of those that wish thee ill,
If indeed it be foreordered that thy course is near its close
And that thou thy head unvanquished needs must vail unto thy foes,
Mayst thou not, as one by inches pineth, wait and waste away,
Till the hand of Time the moment mark for ending of thy day!
Face to foe, in open battle, as thou livedst, mayst thou die,
With the corpses of thy haters for thy catafalque heaped high!
Till the hand of Time the moment mark for ending of thy day!
Face to foe, in open battle, as thou livedst, mayst thou die,
With the corpses of thy haters for thy catafalque heaped high!
| Flower o' the thorn | |