Explore "The Vigil" by Various on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
England! where the sacred flame / Burns before the inmost shrine, / Where the lips that love thy name / Consecrate their hopes and thine, / Where the banners of thy dead / Weave their shadows overhead, / Watch beside thine arms to-night, / Pray that God defend the Right.
Think that when to-morrow comes / War shall claim command of all, / Thou must hear the roll of drums, / Thou must hear the trumpet's call. / Now before they silence ruth, / Commune with the voice of truth; / England! on thy knees to-night / Pray that God defend the Right.
Single-hearted, unafraid, / Hither all thy heroes came, / On this altar's steps were laid / Gordon's life and Outram's fame. / England! if thy will be yet / By their great example set, / Here beside thine arms to-night / Pray that God defend the Right.
So shalt thou when morning comes / Rise to conquer or to fall, / Joyful hear the rolling drums, / Joyful hear the trumpet's call. / Then let memory tell thy heart; / "England! what thou wert, thou art!" / Gird thee with thine ancient might, / Forth! and God defend the Right!
HENRY NEWBOLT