 | Under Arms |  |
24
THE QUEEN'S MEDALS.
Shine as bright stars on your heroic breasts,
Soldiers which come again home from the wars,
Badges of silver and enduring bronze,
Whereon, to endless ages, well impressed,
Victoria's august image shall be seen.
Who mater patriæ there undying writ
(So have a grateful Nation titled her),
Beloved of all her Peoples, Empress-Queen.
Soldiers which come again home from the wars,
Badges of silver and enduring bronze,
Whereon, to endless ages, well impressed,
Victoria's august image shall be seen.
Who mater patriæ there undying writ
(So have a grateful Nation titled her),
Beloved of all her Peoples, Empress-Queen.
These make you to be honoured in all eyes.
Tokens are they in Afric's field ye strove,
Where many have laid down, in Britain's cause,
Their strong young lives, and shed their generous blood:
Whence ye returned, a few, in stedfast ranks.
Tokens are they in Afric's field ye strove,
Where many have laid down, in Britain's cause,
Their strong young lives, and shed their generous blood:
Whence ye returned, a few, in stedfast ranks.
25
Young men and who grey-headed shall uprise,
To yield them honour, whom they see adorns
The meed of valour, ye have manly earned.
To yield them honour, whom they see adorns
The meed of valour, ye have manly earned.
Is this the glory of your generous youth!
The valourous old soldiers shall you praise,
And call you comrades.—Who is there not covets
Honour, him count less than a man of worth.
The valourous old soldiers shall you praise,
And call you comrades.—Who is there not covets
Honour, him count less than a man of worth.
| Under Arms | |