England, thy foes make boast of thy decline; Thy world-wide commerce slackens its old pace, Thy sea-girt jewel holds a second place, Now that our masters live along the Rhine, No! Leadership in freedom still is thine. Mazzini, Marx -- yes, Manuel, you embrace. Prophets and kings, in exile, seek thy face And live secure beneath thy sheltering vine. If mind and merchants make a new race great, That barters freedom for a tyrant's smile -- Then leap to studies; arm with conquering thought, That nothing may destroy the only state Where tyrants cannot reach or spies beguile And justice is a goddess still unbought. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WRITTEN UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DELIRIUM by WILLIAM COWPER THE IVY; ADDRESSED TO A YOUNG FRIEND by BERNARD BARTON GIVE HIM HIS DUE by LEVI BISHOP INSPIRATION by GRACE HOLBROOK BLOOD SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 24 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |