Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Americas: Vol. XXX. 1876–79. | | | | Introductory to British America | | To the Queen | | Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892) |
| | (Excerpt)
WITNESS, too, the silent cry, | |
| The prayer of many a race and creed and clime,— | |
| Thunderless lightnings striking under sea | |
| From sunset and sunrise of all thy realm, | |
| And that true North, whereof we lately heard | 5 |
| A strain to shame us “keep you to yourselves; | |
| So loyal is too costly! friends—your love | |
| Is but a burthen: loose the bond, and go.” | |
| Is this the tone of empire? here the faith | |
| That made us rulers? this, indeed, her voice | 10 |
| And meaning, whom the roar of Hougoumont | |
| Left mightiest of all peoples under heaven? | |
| What shock has fooled her since, that she should speak | |
| So feebly? wealthier—wealthier—hour by hour! | |
| The voice of Britain, or a sinking land, | 15 |
| Some third-rate isle half-lost among her seas? | | | | |
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