Patriotic Song : a Book of English Verse : Being an Anthology of the Patriotic Poetry of the British Empire from the Defeat of T
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PATRIOTIC SONG PATRIOTIC SONG A BOOK OF ENGLISH VERSE Being an Anthology of the Patriotic Poetry of the British Empire from the Defeat of the Spanish Armada till the Death of Queen Victoria SELECTED AND ARRANGED BY ARTHUR STANLEY WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY THE RIGHT REVEREND J. E. C. WELLDON LORD BISHOP OP CALCUTTA LATE HEAD-MASTER OP HARROW SCHOOL A nd here the Singerfor his A rt Not all in vain, tnay plead ' The song that nerves a Nations heart, ' Is in itselfa deed. Tennyson. LONDON C. ARTHUR PEARSON, Limited 1901 THIS BOOK is to tfje OF THAT GLORIOUS COMPANY OF MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR ENGLAND^ SAKE 253290 EDITOR'S PREFACE THIS book is intended to be a representative collection of the patriotic poetry of the British Empire. I have taken a wide view of the term "patriotic" wide enough, indeed, to in- clude the Jacobite Songs of Scotland and the National Songs of Ireland. Many of my numbers breathe the spirit of war; for the national instinct is most deeply stirred in times of great national emotion. But I have aimed at making this volume something more than a book of war-songs, holding that a man may prove his patriotism as well at home in the pursuit of his daily business as on the battlefield in the presence of his country's enemies. Love of country is the root of the matter; and, after all, it is harder to live for one's country than to die for it. I gratefully acknowledge the debt I owe to authors and owners of copyright poems. I am equally grateful to all who, whether at home or in the Colonies, have given me encouragement, assistance, or advice. My ix x EDITOE'S PREFACE obligations to Professor Dowden, Mr. W. E. Henley, and Mr. A. T. Quiller- Couch are very great. My scheme, as originally conceived, provided for the inclusion of a section representing the of America on patriotism ; but, reconsideration, I have decided not to go beyond the limits of the British Empire. A. S. INTRODUCTION THE present collection of patriotic songs will, I think, accord with the imperial spirit of the day; for they are representative of the whole British Empire. It is needless to dwell upon the inspiring energy of song. Since the age of Tyrtseus it has everywhere been recognised as a powerful incentive to valour. A nation can scarcely exist without a national anthem. How characteristic are the anthems of the nations ! It may almost be said that the difference of the English and the French nations is expressed by the contrast between God Save the King and the Marseillaise. What an influence songs have exercised upon the life of nations! The debt of Scotland to Burns, the debt of Ireland to Moore, is greater than words can tell. Fletcher of Saltoun was perhaps not wrong in his estimate of the songs, as compared with the laws, of a nation. I am not responsible for the present col- lection; perhaps, if I had made it, I should have left out some few songs which find a place in it, and should have inserted some xi xii INTRODUCTION few others which do not, but the purpose of it I heartily approve. To consolidate the Empire, and to animate it as a whole with noble ideas, is one of the greatest needs and duties of the present day; and an empire, like an admiral, lives not by bread alone, but by its sentiments, its ambitions, its ideals. J. E. C. CALCUTTA. October 1901. LIST OF CONTENTS CONTENTS I. ENGLAND PAGE ANONYMOUS (c. 1580). I. SONG OF THE ENGLISH BOWMEN . 3 GEORGE PEELE (15587-1592?). II. FAREWELL TO DEAKE AND NORRIS . 4 MICHAEL DRAYTON (1563-1631). III. BALLAD OF AGINCOURT .... 5 IV. THE VIRGINIAN VOYAGE .... 8 WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564-1616). V. A PICTURE OF ENGLAND . .II VI. ENGLAND INVINCIBLE . .II VII. ENGLAND AT WAR 12 VIII. WOLSEY TO CROMWELL . -17 BALLADS IX. BRAVE LORD WILLOUGHBY (c. 1590) . l8 X. THE HONOUR OF BRISTOL (c. 1626) . .21 JOHN MILTON (1608-1674). XI. TO THE LORD GENERAL .... 24 XII. DELIVERANCE 24 ANDREW MARVELL (1620-1678). XIII. HORATIAN ODE UPON CROMWELL'S RETURN FROM IRELAND 25 XIV, SONG OF THE EMIGRANTS IN BERMUDA . 2 XV xvi CONTENTS PAGE MARTIN PARKER (ob. 1656?). XV. THE KING'S EXILE 3 ANONYMOUS (c. 1667). xvi. HEBE'S A HEALTH UNTO HIS MAJESTY 31 JOHN DRYDEN (1631-1701). XVII. A SONG OP KING ARTHUR . 3 1 XVJII. LONDON IN l666 3 2 JAMES THOMSON (1700-1748).. XIX. RULE BRITANNIA . 33 JOHN DYER (c. 1708). XX. DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN . 34 ANONYMOUS (c. 1740). XXI. GOD SAVE THE KING .... 34 DAVID GARRICK (1717-1779)- XXII. HEARTS OF OAK . 35 WILLIAM COLLINS (1721-1759). XXIII. THE SLEEP OP THE BRAVE ... 36 WILLIAM COWPER (1731-1800). XXIV. BOADICEA 36 XXV. THE ROYAL GEORGIA .... 38 CHARLES DIBDIN (1745-1814). XXVJ. TOM BOWLING 39 XXVII. THE TRUE ENGLISH SAILOR ... 40 XXVIII. TOM TOUGH 4 1 ANONYMOUS (c. 1750). XXIX. THE BRITISH GRENADIERS ... 42 ANONYMOUS (c. 1758). XXX. THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME -43 PRINCE HOARE (i755-i 834)- XXXI. THE ARETHUSA 44 WILLIAM BLAKE (1757-1827). XXXII. JERUSALEM IN ENGLAND , . 45 CONTENTS xvii WILLIAM WORDSWORTH (1770-1850). XXXIII. ON LANDING IN ENGLAND ... 46 XXXIV. DESTINY 47 XXXV. THE MOTHERLAND 47 XXXVI. TO THE MEN OP KENT .... 48 XXXVII. THE HAPPY WARRIOR .... 48 XXXVIII. AFTER WATERLOO 50 XXXIX. MERRY ENGLAND 50 XL. HOPE 51 SIR WALTER SCOTT (1771-1832). XLI. IN MEMORIAM 51 THOMAS DIBDIN (1771-1841). XLII. THE SNUG LITTLE ISLAND 55 XLIII. THE MERRY SOLDIER ... 57 ROBERT SOUTHEY (1774-1843). XLIV. THE STANDARD-BEARER OF THE BUFFS 58 THOMAS CAMPBELL (1777-1844). XLV. YE MARINERS OF ENGLAND ... 59 XLVI. THE BATTLE OF THE BALTIC . 60 XLVII. MEN OF ENGLAND 62 ALLAN CUNNINGHAM (1785-1842). XLVIII. THE BRITISH SAILOR'S SONG . 63 GEORGE GORDON, LORD BYRON (1788-1824). [XLIX. ON LEAVING ENGLAND .... 64 L. THE ISLES OF GREECE .... 65 LI. THE EVE OF WATERLOO ... 67 CHARLES WOLFE (1791-1823).' LII. THE BURIAL OF SIR JOHN MOORE . 69 FELICIA HEMANS (1793-1835). LIII. THE BENDED BOW 71 LIV. ENGLAND'S DEAD 72 THOMAS BABINGTON, LORD MACAULAY (1800-1859). LV. THE ARMADA 74 LVI. A JACOBITE'S EPITAPH .... 77 RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH (1807-1886). LVII. THE TASK 78 LVIII. THE UNFORGOTTEN .... 78 b xviii CONTENTS ELIZABETH BAKKETT BROWNING (1809-1861). LIX. THE FORCED RECRUIT 80 ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON (1809-1892). LX. THE ANSWER 8 1 LXI. FREEDOM 82 LXII. BATTLE SONG 83 LXIII. VICTORIA'S REIGN 83 LXIV. HANDS ALL ROUND .... 84 LXV. BRITONS, HOLD YOUR OWN ! 85 LXVI. WELLINGTON AT ST. PAUL'S. 85 LXVII. THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE 87 LXVIII. THE USE OF WAR 89 SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE (1810-1888). LXIX. THE PRIVATE OF THE BUFFS . 90 ROBERT BROWNING (1812-1889). LXX. HOME THOUGHTS, FROM ABROAD . 91 LXXI. HOME THOUGHTS, FROM THE SEA . 92 CHARLES MACKAY (1814-1889). LXXII. A SONG OF ENGLAND .... 92 ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH (1819-1861). LXXIII. GREEN FIELDS OF ENGLAND . 93 LXXIV. THE RALLY 94 CHARLES KINGSLEY (1819-1875). LXXV. ODE TO THE NORTH-EAST WIND . 94 SIR HENRY YULE (1820-1889). LXXVI. THE BIRKENHEAD 96 WILLIAM CORY (1823-1892). LXXVII. SCHOOL FENCIBLES .... 97 WILLIAM WALSHAM HOW (1823-1897). LXXVIII. A NATIONAL HYMN .... 99 JOHN KELLS INGRAM (b. 1823). LXXIX. A NATION'S WEALTH .... 99 SIR FRANKLIN LUSHINGTON (b. 1823). LXXX. THE MUSTER OF THE GUARDS IOO CONTENTS xix PAGE FKANCIS TURNEE PALGRAVE (1824-1897). LXXXI. ALFRED THE GREAT . IO3 LXXXII. TRAFALGAR 104 SYDNEY DOBELL (1824-1874). LXXXIII. A SEA ADVENTURE . IO8 WILLIAM ALEXANDER, ARCHBISHOP OF AR- MAGH (b. 1824). LXXXIV. WAR 109 ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER (1825-1864). LXXXV. THE LESSON OF THE WAR . .112 GERALD MASSEY (b. 1828). LXXXVI. SIR RICHARD GRENVILLE'S LAST FIGHT 113 THOMAS EDWARD BROWN (1830-1897). LXXXVII. LAND, HO ! 117 BENN WILKES JONES TREVALDWYN (b. 1830). LXXXVIII. THE GEORGE OF LOOE . Il8 SIR EDWIN ARNOLD (b. 1832). LXXXIX. THE FIRST DISTRIBUTION OF THE VICTORIA CROSS . I2O RICHARD GARNETT (b. 1835). XC. ABROAD 121 WILLIAM SCHWENK GILBERT (b. 1836). XCI. THE ENGLISH GIRL . .122 THEODORE WATTS-DUNTON (6. 1836). XCII. THE BREATH OF AVON . .123 XCIII. ENGLAND STANDS ALONE . .124 ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE (6. 1837). XCIV. ENGLAND 125 xcv. A JACOBITE'S EXILE . .126 xcvi. NEW YEAR'S DAY 129 XCVII. TO WILLIAM MORRIS . 129 THOMAS HARDY (6. 1840). XCVIII. THE GOING OF THE BATTERY . -131 xx CONTENTS AUSTIN DOBSON (b. 1840). XCIX. BALLAD OP THE ARMADA . .132 C. BANK AND FILE 133 ROBERT BRIDGES (b. 1844). CI. THE FAIR BRASS 133 JOHN HUNTLEY SKRINE (b. 1848). Oil. THE GENTLE 134 CIII. THE MOTHER AND THE SONS . .136 WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY (b. 1849). CIV. ENGLAND, MY ENGLAND . .137 ERIC MACKAY (1851-1898). CV. A SONG OF THE SEA . .139 WILLIAM SHARP (b. 1856). CVI. THE BALLAD OF THE RAM . 14! SIR RENNELL RODD (b. 1858). CVII. SPRING THOUGHTS .... 141 WILLIAM WATSON (b. 1858). CVIII. ENGLAND AND HER COLONIES . 143 ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE (b. 1859). CIX. THE SONG OF THE BOW . .143 CX. A BALLAD OF THE RANKS . 144 BARRY PAIN (b. 1860). CXI. OUR DEAD 147 HENRY NEWBOLT (b. 1862). CXII. ADMIRALS ALL 147 CXIII. DRAKE'S DRUM 149 CXIV. A TOAST 150 RUDYARD KIPLING (b. 1865). CXV. THE FLAG OF ENGLAND . -ISO CXVI. RECESSIONAL 154 LAUCHLAN MACLEAN WATT (b. 1867). CXVII. THE GREY MOTHER . -155 GEORGE FREDERIC STEWART BOWLES (6. 1877). CXVIII. THE SONG OF THE SNOTTIES . 1 S7 CONTENTS xxi [I. WALES PAGE THOMAS GRAY (1716-1771). CXIX. THE BAED l6l JAMES HENEY LEIGH HUNT (1784-1859).