 | English Roses |  |
BUILDERS OF EMPIRE.
Builders of Empire, makers of men,
Terrible, tall,
Girt with the glaive or mightier pen
Governing all;
Blood and the iron arm and environ
You as our bulwarks, buttress and wall.
Health to you, wealth to you,
Riches and rank
Not of the giving earth, or a living
Often but blank.
Kings may go down, but ye never fail—
HAIL!
Terrible, tall,
Girt with the glaive or mightier pen
Governing all;
Blood and the iron arm and environ
You as our bulwarks, buttress and wall.
Health to you, wealth to you,
Riches and rank
Not of the giving earth, or a living
Often but blank.
Kings may go down, but ye never fail—
HAIL!
Hewn of the granite, carving us fame
Steadfast and strong
Out of the thunder, out of the flame,
Compassed with song.
Ours is the glory, ours is the story
Writ by your grand deeds, living and long.
Grace to you, place to you
Unto all time,
Bright'ning the stages still of the ages
Over each clime;
Ye, that have conquered cross and the nail,
HAIL!
Steadfast and strong
Out of the thunder, out of the flame,
Compassed with song.
Ours is the glory, ours is the story
Writ by your grand deeds, living and long.
Grace to you, place to you
Unto all time,
Bright'ning the stages still of the ages
Over each clime;
Ye, that have conquered cross and the nail,
HAIL!
Drawing the future burden and bliss
Into your sweep,
Bridging the desert sand or abyss
Curtained in sleep;
Huge and heroic, saint or the stoic,
Bridling the levin, bitting the deep!
Power to you, dower to you,
Passionate souls,
Forging us beauties deathless of duties'
Loftiest goals.
Worlds set or sicken, ye do not ail;
HAIL!
Into your sweep,
Bridging the desert sand or abyss
Curtained in sleep;
Huge and heroic, saint or the stoic,
Bridling the levin, bitting the deep!
Power to you, dower to you,
215
Forging us beauties deathless of duties'
Loftiest goals.
Worlds set or sicken, ye do not ail;
HAIL!
Pillars of Church, columns of State,
Yours is the hand
Opening and shutting fortunes and fates,
Worthy our land;
Laying your measure, moulding at pleasure
Laws and our lives by kingly command.
Might to you, light to you
Endless and large,
Gathering praises yet as it raises
Dawn without marge.
Dynasties tremble, ye do not quail;
HAIL!
Yours is the hand
Opening and shutting fortunes and fates,
Worthy our land;
Laying your measure, moulding at pleasure
Laws and our lives by kingly command.
Might to you, light to you
Endless and large,
Gathering praises yet as it raises
Dawn without marge.
Dynasties tremble, ye do not quail;
HAIL!
Builders of empire, makers of men
Noble as ye,
Guides of the globe in statesmanlike ken
Forming it free;
Greatly believing, greatly achieving
Wonders that only œons shall see.
Health to you, wealth to you
Better than gold;
Love of a nation, song's celebration,
Thanks never old;
Peoples may perish, ye never fail—
HAIL!
Noble as ye,
Guides of the globe in statesmanlike ken
Forming it free;
Greatly believing, greatly achieving
Wonders that only œons shall see.
Health to you, wealth to you
Better than gold;
Love of a nation, song's celebration,
Thanks never old;
Peoples may perish, ye never fail—
HAIL!
| English Roses | |