 | The Emperor's Vigil, and The Waves And The War |  |
67
V. Brother-Lands.
THE ENGLISHMAN TO THE AMERICAN.
No hostile stranger-nations we,
To war with impious hands:
One land around a common sea;
One people in two lands.
To war with impious hands:
One land around a common sea;
One people in two lands.
In vain our kindred shores to part,
Are waves between us thrown;
The tide that warms a British heart,
Is that which fills your own.
Are waves between us thrown;
The tide that warms a British heart,
Is that which fills your own.
No beacon ranged on either beach
But like an angel stands,
To call new hopes from each to each,
And link our loving lands.
But like an angel stands,
To call new hopes from each to each,
And link our loving lands.
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No ship that sails from either shore,
While to and fro it plies,
But weaves the thread of friendship o'er
The gulf that 'twixt us lies.
While to and fro it plies,
But weaves the thread of friendship o'er
The gulf that 'twixt us lies.
No pilgrims from our harbours part,
Or come with eager oars,
But give you more of England's heart,
And more to us of yours.
Or come with eager oars,
But give you more of England's heart,
And more to us of yours.
No song that soothes our children's rest,
But unto yours is dear;
No lay that stirred our soldiers' breast,
But yours have glowed to hear.
But unto yours is dear;
No lay that stirred our soldiers' breast,
But yours have glowed to hear.
No fame that flashed on Britain's brow,
But gleams on yours alike:
Then, if ye can, abjure us now,
Forget it all—and strike!
But gleams on yours alike:
Then, if ye can, abjure us now,
Forget it all—and strike!
| The Emperor's Vigil, and The Waves And The War | |