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 THE ISLANDERS

No doubt but ye are the People—your throne is above the King's.

Whoso speaks in your presence must say acceptable things:

Bowing the head in worship, bending the knee in fear—

Bringing the word well smoothen—such as a King should hear.

Fenced by your careful fathers, ringed by your leaden seas,

Long did ye wake in quiet and long lie down at ease;

Till ye said of Strife, "What is it?" of the Sword, "It is far from our ken";

Till ye made a sport of your shrunken hosts and a toy of your armed men. 133