Explore "Stand Fast" by Henry van Dyke on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Stand fast, Great Britain!
Together England, Scotland, Ireland stand / One in the faith that makes a mighty land --
True to the bond you gave and will not break / And fearless in the fight for conscience' sake!
Against the Giant Robber clad in steel, / With blood of trampled Belgium on his heel, / Striding through France to strike you down at last, / Britain, stand fast!
Stand fast, brave land!
The Huns are thundering toward the citadel; / They prate of Culture but their path is Hell; / Their light is darkness, and the bloody sword / They wield and worship is their only Lord.
O land where reason stands secure on right, / O land where freedom is the source of light, / Against the mailed Barbarians' deadly blast, / Britain, stand fast!
Stand fast, dear land!
Thou island mother of a world-wide race, / Whose children speak thy tongue and love thy face, / Their hearts and hopes are with thee in the strife, / Their hands will break the sword that seeks thy life; / Fight on until the Teuton madness cease; / Fight bravely on, until the word of peace / Is spoken in the English tongue at last --
Britain, stand fast!
September, 1914