Chapter V

_Ring! ye loud bells, in deep, triumphal tone, And bind a zone Around this earth of glorious melody, Till land and sea Awaken and, rejoicing, answer ye. Ah! noble Queen! who lookst around thee now On this great nation. Thy life, since first the circlet touched thy brow, Was consecration Of self to us. Through half a century From darkness into light we followed thee. The poet, patriot, warrior, statesman, sage Have given thee service long, Lending their fiery youth and thoughtful age To make thy sceptre strong, And in the never-ending march of man To higher things, still England leads the van._