The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Song of the Flag, by Eric Mackay

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Title: The Song of the Flag
A National Ode

Author: Eric Mackay

Release Date: May 12, 2008 [EBook #25455]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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[Illustrated Cover: THE SONG OF THE FLAG BY ERIC MACKAY]

THE
SONG OF THE FLAG

A National Ode

_BY_

ERIC MACKAY

_Author of "Love Letters of a Violinist," "Vox Amoris," &c._

LONDON
Lamley & Co., Exhibition Road, S.W.

1893.

THE SONG OF THE FLAG.

I.

Up with the country's flag!
And let the winds caress it, fold on fold,--
A stainless flag, and glorious to behold!
It is our honour's pledge;
It is the token of a truth sublime,
A thing to die for, and to wonder at,
When, on the shuddering edge
Of some great storm, it waves its woven joy,
Which no man shall destroy,
In shine or shower, in peace or battle-time.
Up with the flag!
The winds are wild to toss it, and to brag
Of England's high renown,--
And of the throne where Chivalry has sat
Acclaimed in bower and town
For England's high renown!--
And of these happy isles where men are free
And masters of the sea,
The million-mouthed sea,
That calls to us from shore to furthest shore--
That fought for us of yore,--
The thunder-throated, foam-frequented sea
That sounds the psalm of Victory evermore!

II.

For England's sake to-day,--
And for this flag of ours which, to the blast,
Unfurls, in proud array,
Its glittering width of splendour unsurpassed,--
For England's sake,
For our dear Sovereign's sake,--
We cry all sham