Chapter XCIII: England Stands Alone

(‘ENGLAND STANDS ALONE--WITHOUT AN ALLY.’

--_A Continental Newspaper_)

‘She stands alone: ally nor friend has she,’
Saith Europe of our England--her who bore
Drake, Blake, and Nelson--Warrior-Queen who wore
Light’s conquering glaive that strikes the conquered free.
Alone!--From Canada comes o’er the sea,
And from that English coast with coral shore,
The old-world cry Europe hath heard of yore
From Dover cliffs: ‘Ready, aye ready we!’
‘Europe,’ saith England, ‘hath forgot my boys!--
Forgot how tall, in yonder golden zone
‘Neath Austral skies, my youngest born have grown
(Bearers of bayonets now and swords for toys)--
Forgot ’mid boltless thunder--harmless noise--
The sons with whom old England ‘stands alone!’

_Theodore Watts-Dunton._

SWINBURNE