* * * * *
And now our modern Yankee sees
Nor omens, spells, nor mysteries;
And naught above, below, around,
Of life or death, of sight or sound,
Whate'er its nature, form, or look,
Excites his terror or surprise,—
All seeming to his knowing eyes
Familiar as his "catechize,"
Or "Webster's Spelling-Book."
A New England Legend. J.G. WHITTIER.
Long as thine Art shall love true love,
Long as thy Science truth shall know,
Long as thine Eagle harms no Dove,
Long as thy Law by law shall grow,
Long as thy God is God above,
Thy brother every man below,—
So long, dear Land of all my love,
Thy name shall shine, thy fame shall glow!
Centennial Meditation of Columbia: 1876. S. LANIER.
His home!—the Western giant smiles,
And turns the spotty globe to find it;—
This little speck the British Isles?
'Tis but a freckle,—never mind it.
A Good Time Going. O.W. HOLMES.
ENGLAND.
O England! model to thy inward greatness,
Like little body with a mighty heart.
King Henry V., Act ii. Chorus. SHAKESPEARE.
This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war:
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea.
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands;
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.
King Richard II., Act ii. Sc. 1. SHAKESPEARE.
England! my country, great and free!
Heart of the world, I leap to thee!
Festus: Sc. The Surface. P.J. BAILEY.
We must be free or die, who speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake; the faith and morals hold
Which Milton held. In everything we are sprung
Of earth's first blood, have titles manifold.
National Independence, Sonnet XVI. W. WORDSWORTH.