 | English Roses |  |
TIME WAS.
Time was, when England would not care
To ask the safer road,
But did whatever men could dare
And bore her brother's load.
She went her own imperial way,
With justice at the helm;
And sought not where the shelter lay,
Or pickings from the realm.
She doubted not it might be done,
Nor cringed to powerful friends;
But stept, with purpose straight and one,
To her determined ends.
To ask the safer road,
But did whatever men could dare
And bore her brother's load.
She went her own imperial way,
With justice at the helm;
And sought not where the shelter lay,
Or pickings from the realm.
She doubted not it might be done,
Nor cringed to powerful friends;
But stept, with purpose straight and one,
To her determined ends.
But now she muddles here and there,
Or meddles up and down;
And, though her flag is everywhere,
Not so is her renown.
She counts her halfpence to put by,
And guards the precious till;
While hers is but the policy,
To heap more money still.
She watches for the rise and fall,
Forgetting her dread dower;
As if she were a market stall,
And not a historied power.
Or meddles up and down;
And, though her flag is everywhere,
Not so is her renown.
She counts her halfpence to put by,
217
While hers is but the policy,
To heap more money still.
She watches for the rise and fall,
Forgetting her dread dower;
As if she were a market stall,
And not a historied power.
Time was, when prudence never made
The measure of her act;
She only did as duty bade,
And kept with honour pact.
For on a righteous law she leant,
Which was in mercy laid;
She said out boldly what she meant,
And meant whate'er she said.
She dwelt in day, and largely shaped
The lowliest turn or tie;
And courted simple truth, nor draped
The profit with a lie.
The measure of her act;
She only did as duty bade,
And kept with honour pact.
For on a righteous law she leant,
Which was in mercy laid;
She said out boldly what she meant,
And meant whate'er she said.
She dwelt in day, and largely shaped
The lowliest turn or tie;
And courted simple truth, nor draped
The profit with a lie.
But now she is afraid to strike,
A single honest blow;
She waits on each event alike,
And snaps at crumbs below.
A timid foe, a false ally,
She flouts her sacred call;
Distrusted even in liberty,
Despised by one and all.
She wears the solemn mask of might,
But sheathes a rusty blade;
And though parading love of light,
She shuffles in the shade.
A single honest blow;
She waits on each event alike,
And snaps at crumbs below.
A timid foe, a false ally,
She flouts her sacred call;
Distrusted even in liberty,
Despised by one and all.
She wears the solemn mask of might,
But sheathes a rusty blade;
And though parading love of light,
She shuffles in the shade.
| English Roses | |