National Lyrics, and Songs for Music/The Name of England

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For other versions of this work, see The Name of England.


THE NAME OF ENGLAND.




The trumpet of the battle
    Hath a high and thrilling tone;
And the first deep gun of an ocean fight
    Dread music all its own.

But a mightier power, my England!
    Is in that name of thine,
To strike the fire from every heart
    Along the banner'd line.

Proudly it woke the spirits
    Of yore, the brave and true,
When the bow was bent on Cressy's field,
    And the yeoman's arrow flew.


And proudly hath it floated
    Through the battles of the sea,
When the red-cross flag o'er smoke-wreaths play'd
    Like the lightning in its glee.

On rock, on wave, on bastion,
    Its echoes have been known,
By a thousand streams the hearts lie low,
    That have answered to its tone.

A thousand ancient mountains
    Its pealing note hath stirr'd;
—Sound on, and on, for evermore,
    O thou victorious word!