The World's Best Poetry, Volume 08: National Spirit

Clever men of action, according to Bacon, despise studies, ignorant men too much admire them, wise men make use of them. "Yet," he says, "they teach not their own use, but that...

The king has come to marshal us, in all his armor drest; And he has bound a snow-white plume upon his gallant crest. He looked upon his people, and a tear was in his eye; He loo...

Furl that Banner, for 'tis weary; Round its staff 'tis drooping dreary: Furl it, fold it,--it is best; For there's not a man to wave it, And there's not a sword to save it, And...

"For I brought as much white monic, As gane[A] my men and me, And I brought a half-fou[B] o' gude red goud, Out o'er the sea wi' me.

They brought him to the Watergate, Hard bound with hempen span. As though they held a lion there, And not a 'fenceless man. They set him high upon a cart-- The hangman rode belo...

She has gone,--she has left us in passion and pride-- Our stormy-browed sister, so long at our side! She has torn her own star from our firmament's glow, And turned on her broth...

So that soldierly legend is still on its journey,-- That story of Kearny who knew not to yield! 'Twas the day when with Jameson, fierce Berry, and Birney, Against twenty thousan...

What are the thoughts that are stirring his breast? What is the mystical vision he sees? --"Let us pass over the river, and rest Under the shade of the trees."

For a moment stood the caliph as by doubtful passions stirred-- Then exclaimed: "For ever sacred must remain a monarch's word. Bring another cup, and straightway to the noble Pe...

A good sword and a trusty hand, A merry heart and true, King James's men shall understand What Cornish lads can do. And have they fixed the where and when, And shall Trelawney d...

Here are old trees, tail oaks and gnarled pines, That stream with gray-green mosses; here the ground Was never trenched by spade, and flowers spring up Unsown, and die ungathere...

So spake the Son, and into terror changed His countenance too severe to be beheld, And full of wrath bent on his enemies. At once the four spread out their starry wings With dre...

And she of the seven hills shall mourn her children's ills, And tremble when she thinks on the edge of England's sword; And the kings of earth in fear shall shudder when they he...

Erin, my country! though sad and forsaken, In dreams I revisit thy sea-beaten shore; But, alas! in a far foreign land I awaken, And sigh for the friends who can meet me no more!...

Deep drank Lord Marmion of the wave, And, as she stooped his brow to lave,-- "Is it the hand of Clare," he said, "Or injured Constance, bathes my head?" Then, as remembrance ros...

High walls and huge the body may confine, And iron gates obstruct the prisoner's gaze, And massive bolts may baffle his design, And vigilant keepers watch his devious ways; But...

Fair Science her gates to thy sons shall unbar, And the East see thy morn hide the beams of her star; New bards and new sages unrivalled shall soar To fame unextinguished when t...

What profits it, O England, to prevail In camp and mart and council, and bestrew With argosies thy oceans, and renew With tribute levied on each golden gale Thy treasuries, if t...

Systematic study such as that suggested above will help in answering the questions, "What charm has this poem for us?" and "How does it put a deeper meaning into the events it r...

Yet, spirit immortal, the tomb cannot bind thee, For, like thine own eagle that soared to the sun, Thou springest from bondage and leavest behind thee A name which before thee n...

"What are the bugles blowin' for?" said Files-on-Parade. "To turn you out, to turn you out," the Color-Sergeant said. "What makes you look so white, so white?" said Files-on-Par...

[The foregoing was the official hymn of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis in 1904. It was written upon invitation of the Exposition authorities, and was sung at the...