Sonnets written chiefly during a tour through Holland, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Hungary. By Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley |
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TO ENGLAND. |
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214
TO ENGLAND.
To thee—to thee, my England!—
This heart with fondness turns!—
And with one Hope—one Memory,
Lingering and longing burns!
This heart with fondness turns!—
And with one Hope—one Memory,
Lingering and longing burns!
I have dreamed old Asiatic dreams,
On that green, hallowed shore
The glory of whose sounding streams
First Man's great Image bore!
On that green, hallowed shore
The glory of whose sounding streams
First Man's great Image bore!
I have seen the bright, enchanted show
Of Stamboul's splendour rise,
As somewhere magic kindgoms glow,
In blue and boundless skies!
Of Stamboul's splendour rise,
As somewhere magic kindgoms glow,
In blue and boundless skies!
But thou, oh!—thou, my England!—
Thou hast not lost thy sway
O'er this true heart of feeling,
O'er its pulses' faithful play!
Thou hast not lost thy sway
O'er this true heart of feeling,
O'er its pulses' faithful play!
215
And where Grecia's azure mountains smile,
Where her dread ruins rise!—
Where soft she links sweet isle to isle,
One Heaven—Earth—Seas—and Skies!
Where her dread ruins rise!—
Where soft she links sweet isle to isle,
One Heaven—Earth—Seas—and Skies!
I have wandered, evermore, to own
The beauty—the delight,
O'er this wide world, so richly strown,
Make hearts more feel Love's might!
The beauty—the delight,
O'er this wide world, so richly strown,
Make hearts more feel Love's might!
To thee—to thee—my England,
My love for ever turns;
'Tis thine—'tis thine for ever;
For thee my spirit yearns!
My love for ever turns;
'Tis thine—'tis thine for ever;
For thee my spirit yearns!
I have seen the Alp-mountains pierce the dome
Of Switzerland's clear sky,
And hailed the dark-blue Heavens of Rome,
The Suns of Italy!
Of Switzerland's clear sky,
And hailed the dark-blue Heavens of Rome,
The Suns of Italy!
I have tracked the old Danube's silvery line,
A Lord of Waters he!
And on the broad breast of the Rhine
Owned Nature's Sovereignty!
A Lord of Waters he!
And on the broad breast of the Rhine
Owned Nature's Sovereignty!
216
But for thee—for thee my England,
Thy sons and daughters still,
In all Countries and all Climates,
With one devotion thrill!
Thy sons and daughters still,
In all Countries and all Climates,
With one devotion thrill!
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