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Algernon Charles Swinburne - Sir William Gomm: Sonnets
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I.
AT threescore years and five aroused anew
    To rule in India, forth a soldier went
    On whose bright-fronted youth fierce war had spent
Its iron stress of storm, till glory grew
Full as the red sun waned on Waterloo.
    Landing, he met the word from England sent
    Which bade him yield up rule: and he, content,
Resigned it, as a mightier warrior’s due;
And wrote as one rejoicing to record
    That ‘from the first’ his royal heart was lord
    Of its own pride or pain; that thought was none
Therein save this, that in her perilous strait
England, whose womb brings forth her sons so great,
    Should choose to serve her first her mightiest son.

II.

Glory beyond all flight of warlike fame
    Go with the warrior’s memory who preferred
    To praise of men whereby men’s hearts are stirred,
And acclamation of his own proud name
With blare of trumpet-blasts and sound and flame
    Of pageant honour, and the titular word
    That only wins men worship of the herd,
His country’s sovereign good: who overcame
Pride, wrath, and hope of all high chance on earth,
For this land’s love that gave his great heart birth.
    O nursling of the sea-winds and the sea,
Immortal England, goddess ocean-born,
What shall thy children fear, what strengths not scorn,
    While children of such mould are born to thee?
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