Poems By Richard Chenevix Trench: New ed |
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ON THE BREAKING OFF OF THE CONFERENCES AT VIENNA, JUNE, 1855. |
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 | Poems |  |
189
ON THE BREAKING OFF OF THE CONFERENCES AT VIENNA, JUNE, 1855.
Heart of England, faltering never in the good time or the ill,
But thy great day's task of duty strong and patient to fulfil;
But thy great day's task of duty strong and patient to fulfil;
Men of England, constant ever, to your own plain instincts true,
Praise the Giver of all good things for the gift He gave to you;
Praise the Giver of all good things for the gift He gave to you;
Praise the Giver of all good things, praise the Giver of the best,
Of a firm heart firmly beating in a strong resolvëd breast.
Of a firm heart firmly beating in a strong resolvëd breast.
Praise Him that, when others faltered, ye continued at one stay,
Praise Him that the hour of weakness has for ever passed away.
Praise Him that the hour of weakness has for ever passed away.
To her cancelled scroll of greatness none shall now set England's name;
What she sowed in tears and anguish she shall never reap in shame.
What she sowed in tears and anguish she shall never reap in shame.
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Lift your heads up, O ye weepers; from the dust yourselves arouse;
Chase away the double sadness that was gathering on your brows.
Chase away the double sadness that was gathering on your brows.
Lift your heads up, O ye weepers; those that were your joy and pride,
Those whom you must weep for ever, not for nothing shall have died.
Those whom you must weep for ever, not for nothing shall have died.
If the crown of all your gladness has been stricken from your head,
If, discrowned, ye mourn in ashes for your unreturning dead,
If, discrowned, ye mourn in ashes for your unreturning dead,
Not to purchase shameful baffling at a higher dearer rate
Than our fathers purchased honour, were your homes made desolate.
Than our fathers purchased honour, were your homes made desolate.
For oh! hearken ye, and hearken, all who still retain delight
In the old land's fiery valour, in the victories of right;
In the old land's fiery valour, in the victories of right;
List, oh! list, what tales of triumph flash the magic wires along,
Long delayed, now each on other in a swift succession throng.
Long delayed, now each on other in a swift succession throng.
First-fruits of a mightier harvest, preludes of a loftier strain,
Pledges of a part well chosen, stir our hearts again, again;
Pledges of a part well chosen, stir our hearts again, again;
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Till in his good time He give us, who has proved and purified,
Who has shamed our shallow boasting, who has tamed our guilty pride,
Who has shamed our shallow boasting, who has tamed our guilty pride,
Till He give us, when the giving shall not lift us up nor spoil,
All we sought, the ample guerdon of a nation's tears and toil.
All we sought, the ample guerdon of a nation's tears and toil.
| Poems | |