England! the time is come when thou shouldst wean...

England! the time is come when thou shouldst wean

Thy heart from its emasculating food;

The truth should now be better understood;

Old things have been unsettled; we have seen

Fair seed-time, better harvest might have been

But for thy trespasses; and, at this day,

If for Greece, Egypt, India, Africa,

Aught good were destined, Thou wouldst step between.

England! all nations in this charge agree:

But worse, more ignorant in love and hate,

Far, far more abject is thine Enemy:

Therefore the wise pray for thee, though the freight

Of thy offences be a heavy weight:

Oh grief! that Earth's best hopes rest all with Thee!