Page:A Treasury of South African Poetry.djvu/248

 Peace shall her spell impose no longer, Honour than gain shall prove the stronger. Fealty and faith, our strength of yore, Shall fearless face a world once more; Nor ever shall our country be Shorn of her rank by land or sea.

Hark! through old England's world-wide bounds, The shout of love and succour sounds: From vast Acadia's woodland vales, From far Australia's golden dales, From India's many-peopled lands, From Southern Afric's struggling bands; Wherever English foot hath trod, Or English knee bends low to God, They say that ne'er our land shall be Shorn of her rank by land or sea.

O England! home of homes, we swear, While we the claims of sonship share, Whilst thou to us art staunch and true, Shall we to thee give royal due. For thee with earth's rude powers contending, Our hearts and arms their strength are spending. Thy tongue we speak, thy laws we spread, Through savage realms thy rights we shed; Nor e'er shall thou, our country, be Shorn of thy rank by land or sea.

O'erweening foes may band their might— Our steadfast Isle stands firm to fight! Her homes no victor-hosts despoil, No hostile foot e'er shames her soil.