England to America. William James Linton (1812-1897). Introductory to America. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. 1876-79. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes. America: Vols. XXV-XXIX

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
America: Vols. XXV–XXIX. 1876–79.

Introductory to America

England to America

William James Linton (1812–1897)


1876 A HUNDRED years!
Too long for memory of the justest feud!
Last century’s quarrel to its end pursued
And yours the triumph, may not we grasp hands,
Now each one stands	5
Apart from fears? * * * * *
Brothers! that word
Makes Tyranny weak; Wrong flies, nor looks behind,
Driven as dry leaves before the herald wind
That clears the way for spring’s most gentle flowers.	10
O waiting hours!
Your plaint is heard.

Land named of hope!
Our best have hailed the promise of thy growth;
Surely hath honor’s race-ground room for both	15
America and England, side by side,
Yet leaving pride
Sufficient scope.

New England! ours
Art thou, as England’s thine: thy children own	20
The common parentage. Nor they alone,
But wheresoe’er is heard our English tongue—
World-widely flung
For coming hours.

Be with us then,	25
Thou greater England! second but in time:
Our age shall welcome our young giant’s prime,
As in his sons a father takes delight,
Proud of the height
Of younger men.	30

O’erstride our fame!
Step past the extremest stretch of our renown!
Wreathe round Columbia’s head the laurel crown
Our old heroic worth can well assign!
The crown be thine—	35
In England’s name!

For we are one,—
In race, in will, in energy the same:
Twin aspirations of one-tonguéd flame.
England were fain to see you climb beyond	40
Our hopes most fond,
And all we have done. * * * * *