@3Spoken by Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson at the opening of the Theatre of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, May 27, 1921@1 ENGLAND will keep her dearest jewel bright, And see her sons like to their sires renown'd; Whose Shakespeare is with deathless Homer crown'd, Her freedom the world's hope throned in the height. All gifts of spirit are of such airy flight That if their fire be spent they fall to ground; Their virtue must with newborn life abound, And by young birth renew their old birthright. We workers therefore in this troublous age Would keep our beauty of language from misfeature, Presenting manners noble, and mirth unblamed: So Truth shall walk majestic on our stage, And when we hold the mirror up to Nature, She, seeing her face therein, shall not be ashamed | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PSALM 104: THE MAJESTY AND MERCY OF GOD by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE GRACE AND STRENGTH by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH ON MRS PRIESTLEY'S LEAVING WARRINGTON by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE CONFESSION by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM THE GOOD SAMARITAN by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD |