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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  844. England, My England

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

William Ernest Henley. 1849–1903

844. England, My England

WHAT have I done for you, 
  England, my England? 
What is there I would not do, 
  England, my own? 
With your glorious eyes austere,         5
As the Lord were walking near, 
Whispering terrible things and dear 
  As the Song on your bugles blown, 
    England— 
  Round the world on your bugles blown!  10
 
Where shall the watchful sun, 
  England, my England, 
Match the master-work you’ve done, 
  England, my own? 
When shall he rejoice agen  15
Such a breed of mighty men 
As come forward, one to ten, 
  To the Song on your bugles blown, 
    England— 
  Down the years on your bugles blown?  20
 
Ever the faith endures, 
  England, my England:— 
‘Take and break us: we are yours, 
  England, my own! 
Life is good, and joy runs high  25
Between English earth and sky: 
Death is death; but we shall die 
  To the Song on your bugles blown, 
    England— 
  To the stars on your bugles blown!’  30
 
They call you proud and hard, 
  England, my England: 
You with worlds to watch and ward, 
  England, my own! 
You whose mail’d hand keeps the keys  35
Of such teeming destinies, 
You could know nor dread nor ease 
  Were the Song on your bugles blown, 
    England, 
  Round the Pit on your bugles blown!  40
 
Mother of Ships whose might, 
  England, my England, 
Is the fierce old Sea’s delight, 
  England, my own, 
Chosen daughter of the Lord,  45
Spouse-in-Chief of the ancient Sword, 
There ‘s the menace of the Word 
  In the Song on your bugles blown, 
    England— 
  Out of heaven on your bugles blown!  50