WHEN England's king put English to the horn, To England thus spake England over sea, "In peace be friend, in war my enemy"; Then countering pride with pride, and lies with scorn, Broke with the man whose ancestor had borne A sharper pain for no more injury. How otherwise should freemen deal and be, With patience frayed and loyalty outworn? No act of England's shone more generous gules Than that which sever'd once for all the strands Which bound you English. You may search the lands In vain, and vainly rummage in the schools To find a deed more English, or a shame On England with more honour to her name. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CHAMBER MUSIC: 19 by JAMES JOYCE INVITATION TO A PAINTER: 3 by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM CAMPUS SONNET: TALK by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET CONTRA MORTEM: THE WATER by HAYDEN CARRUTH ARMAGEDDON by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON |