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154
THE LAY OF THE LIFEBOAT.
Stern on the Sussex Downs she watched, the England of our sires,
When west the Armada's challenge woke the answer of her fires;
And Beachy flashed the beacon on, high o'er the encircling main,
Which lit to ruin and to wreck the imperial hosts of Spain.
When west the Armada's challenge woke the answer of her fires;
And Beachy flashed the beacon on, high o'er the encircling main,
Which lit to ruin and to wreck the imperial hosts of Spain.
So watched she still, when once again the ages' pauseless beat
Saw Europe, bleeding and disarmed, prone at Napoleon's feet;
In iron grip of iron sons, unconquered as of old,
Among her cliffs lay England then—strong, resolute, and bold.
Saw Europe, bleeding and disarmed, prone at Napoleon's feet;
In iron grip of iron sons, unconquered as of old,
Among her cliffs lay England then—strong, resolute, and bold.
Cold on the great cold sea she looks, her rocks defying yet
The foremost of the world to rob her priceless coronet;
While yet thro' all her island hearts the glorious message runs,
Which fires with courage all their own, the manhood of her sons.
The foremost of the world to rob her priceless coronet;
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Which fires with courage all their own, the manhood of her sons.
Far from the old Norwegian coast, full on the rockline driven,
His hope the storm-racked sailor finds in Englishmen and Heaven:
And on the wild and awful waste his wail of anguish swells,
Ere on the seaside town has died the peal of Sabbath bells.
His hope the storm-racked sailor finds in Englishmen and Heaven:
And on the wild and awful waste his wail of anguish swells,
Ere on the seaside town has died the peal of Sabbath bells.
The sinking lives ring out all day their unavailing cry,
While furious waves show fiercer coast, and veil but hope and sky.
Ne'er in the face of storm like this lived craft of mortal manned;
So to the cliff, in strength not ours, the Lifeboat drag by land.
While furious waves show fiercer coast, and veil but hope and sky.
Ne'er in the face of storm like this lived craft of mortal manned;
So to the cliff, in strength not ours, the Lifeboat drag by land.
Drag the long miles up rock and hill, and struggle, man and horse,
Till the brave boat the outlook gain thro' that determined force;
Then lower by the gap to sea, right through the blinding spray,
To find the savage storm had rent all foothold sheer away!
Till the brave boat the outlook gain thro' that determined force;
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To find the savage storm had rent all foothold sheer away!
The sinking lives are living yet; but voiceless, hopeless, vain;
The gulf is all too deep to pass, and fiercer beats the rain;
But yet shall courage force the road, if there be help in men,
So do the thing impossible, and build the way again.
The gulf is all too deep to pass, and fiercer beats the rain;
But yet shall courage force the road, if there be help in men,
So do the thing impossible, and build the way again.
They gather timber to the work, they bridge it right or wrong,
And for the small devoted crew they make the passage strong;
“Pray for us, lads,” the master cries, “that we return once more!”
And full into the boiling surf the boat bounds from the shore.
And for the small devoted crew they make the passage strong;
“Pray for us, lads,” the master cries, “that we return once more!”
And full into the boiling surf the boat bounds from the shore.
She breasts and breaks the giant crests—she battles for an hour,—
And nerves the living power of men, blind force to overpower;
In very teeth of hope and chance, the desperate fray survives,
And one by one, and missing none, brings back her tale of lives.
And nerves the living power of men, blind force to overpower;
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And one by one, and missing none, brings back her tale of lives.
No! never since the name was sired, in Time's eternal race,
Has Englishman with grander front met terror face to face;
Or careless all of self and life, for men and lives unknown,
Through nobler conflict ever laid such offerings at the throne.
Has Englishman with grander front met terror face to face;
Or careless all of self and life, for men and lives unknown,
Through nobler conflict ever laid such offerings at the throne.
Have we no fear; when England sleeps, she sleeps but in the sun,
For English hands can do again what English hands have done:
While honour bows to heroes' work, be His the glory still,
Who wakes such souls with clarion call, to answer with a will.
For English hands can do again what English hands have done:
While honour bows to heroes' work, be His the glory still,
Who wakes such souls with clarion call, to answer with a will.
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