The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince Edited by R. A. Douglas Lithgow |
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THE SOUL OF THE LAND IS AWAKE.
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 | The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince |  |
301
THE SOUL OF THE LAND IS AWAKE.
(A SONG FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS.)
The soul of the land is awake,
Whatever the scorner may say,
And nothing shall sadden her, nothing shall shake
The spirit that moves her to-day;
With the faith and the firmness of yore,
With souls that no threat can appal,
Her sons stand the girdle and shield of her shore,
And are ready—aye ready for all.
Whatever the scorner may say,
And nothing shall sadden her, nothing shall shake
The spirit that moves her to-day;
With the faith and the firmness of yore,
With souls that no threat can appal,
Her sons stand the girdle and shield of her shore,
And are ready—aye ready for all.
Behold how they throng o'er the land,
From city, and hamlet, and plain,
A legion of freemen, a resolute band,
Prepared to do battle again;
From the centre all round to the coast,
They will muster when duty shall call;
Too steady to swerve, and too manly to boast,
They are ready—aye ready for all.
From city, and hamlet, and plain,
A legion of freemen, a resolute band,
Prepared to do battle again;
From the centre all round to the coast,
They will muster when duty shall call;
Too steady to swerve, and too manly to boast,
They are ready—aye ready for all.
They seek not to strive with the foe,
They challenge not kaiser or king;
They best love the blessings that peace can bestow,
And the triumphs that commerce can bring:
But should reckless ambition presume
To menace with danger and thrall,
Give them heroes to lead them, and plenty of room,
And they're ready—aye ready for all.
They challenge not kaiser or king;
They best love the blessings that peace can bestow,
And the triumphs that commerce can bring:
But should reckless ambition presume
To menace with danger and thrall,
Give them heroes to lead them, and plenty of room,
And they're ready—aye ready for all.
302
True Britons can never grow cold
To dignity, honour, and right,
They can prove it to-day, as they proved it of old
In many a glorious fight:
With courage undaunted and keen,
Prepared for what chance may befall,
In defence of their freedom, their country and Queen,
They are ready—aye ready for all.
To dignity, honour, and right,
They can prove it to-day, as they proved it of old
In many a glorious fight:
With courage undaunted and keen,
Prepared for what chance may befall,
In defence of their freedom, their country and Queen,
They are ready—aye ready for all.
| The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince | |