The New Spirit.

When England of the quiet heart
Flung back the covenant of shame,
A dignity of high resolve
Upon her councils came.

Freedom's old standard, long laid by
Shook out its tattered folds once more;
And rank on rank with steady eyes
Her sons went out to war.

Unbroken in these ancient fields
A Sabbath calm dwells in the air,
And men along the shady road
Go quietly to prayer.

Vial of wrath has burst the seal
Thrones fall and dominations cease;
The silent face of England wears
The dignity of peace.

EDWARD MELBOURNE.

Media: <html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The New Spirit.</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">When</span> England of the quiet heart</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Flung back the covenant of shame,</p><p class="line">A dignity of high resolve</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Upon her councils came.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Freedom's old standard, long laid by</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Shook out its tattered folds once more;</p><p class="line">And rank on rank with steady eyes</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Her sons went out to war.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Unbroken in these ancient fields</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A Sabbath calm dwells in the air,</p><p class="line">And men along the shady road</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Go quietly to prayer.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Vial of wrath has burst the seal</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Thrones fall and dominations cease;</p><p class="line">The silent face of England wears</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The dignity of peace.</p></div><p class="byline">EDWARD MELBOURNE.<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/></p></body></html>