 | Sonnets and Other Poems |  |
82
A MONITION.
England, on every sea thy navies ride,And larger breadths of earth thy Throne obey
Than own'd of old the conquering Roman's sway;
Yet, at this full swell of thy fortune's tide,
Hear thou a warning word: Beware of pride—
A Nemesis sits ever at her gates;
Shun selfish greed; respect thy sister States,
And fail not those who in thy truth confide.
Wrong not the dark-hued subjects of thy rule,
Compel them not to toil for others' gain
In blind and unaspiring servitude.
Rather, with godlike art Prométhean, school
Each laggard race by discipline humane,
And lead them gently on to all things good.
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