Explore "Wake Up, England" by Various on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Thou careless, awake! / Thou peacemaker, fight! / Stand, England, for honour, / And God guard the Right!
Thy mirth lay aside, / Thy cavil and play: / The foe is upon thee, / And grave is the day.
The monarch Ambition / Hath harnessed his slaves; / But the folk of the Ocean / Are free as the waves.
For Peace thou art armed / Thy Freedom to hold: / Thy Courage as iron, / Thy Good-faith as gold.
Through Fire, Air, and Water / Thy trial must be: / But they that love life best / Die gladly for thee.
The Love of their mothers / Is strong to command; / The fame of their fathers / Is might to their hand.
Much suffering shall cleanse thee; / But thou through the flood / Shalt win to Salvation, / To Beauty through blood.
Up, careless, awake! / Ye peacemakers, fight! / ENGLAND STANDS FOR HONOUR: / GOD DEFEND THE RIGHT!
ROBERT BRIDGES, / "Poet Laureate"