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When they talk with the stranger bands. Dazed and newly alone;

When they walk in the stranger lands, By roaring streets unknown;

Blessing her where she stands

For strength above their own.

(On high to hold her fame

That stands all fame beyond,

By oath to back the same,

Most faithful-foolish-fond;

Making her mere-breathed name
Their bond upon their bond.)

So thank I God my birth
Fell not in isles aside-
Waste headlands of the earth,
Or warring tribes untried-

But that she lent me worth
And gave me right to pride.

Surely in toil or fray

Under an alien sky,

Comfort it is to say:

"Of no mean city am I."

(Neither by service nor fee Come I to mine estateMother of Cities to me,

For I was born in her gate, Between the palms and the sea,

Where the world-end steamers wait.)

Now for this debt I owe,

And for her far-borne cheer

Must I make haste and go

With tribute to her pier.

And she shall touch and remit
After the use of kings
(Orderly, ancient, fit)

My deep-sea plunderings,
And purchase in all lands.
And this we do for a sign

Her power is over mine,

And mine I hold at her hands.

A SONG OF THE ENGLISH.

Fair is our lot-O goodly is our heritage! (Humble ye, my people, and be fearful in your

mirth!)

For the Lord our God Most High

He hath made the deep as dry,

He hath smote for us a pathway to the ends of all the Earth!

Yea, though we sinned-and our rulers went from righteousness

Deep in all dishonour though we stained our garments' hem.

Oh be ye not dismayed,

Though we stumbled and we strayed,

We were led by evil counsellors-the Lord shall deal with them.

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Except ye pay the Lord

Single heart and single sword,

Of your children in their bondage shall He ask them treble-tale.

Keep ye the Law-be swift in all obedience. Clear the land of evil, drive the road and bridge the ford.

Make ye sure to each his own

That he reap what he hath sown;

By the peace among Our peoples let men know we serve the Lord.

Hear now a song—a song of broken interludesA song of little cunning; of a singer nothing worth.

Through the naked words and mean

May ye see the truth between

As the singer knew and touched it in the ends of

all the Earth!

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