ENGLAND, on every sea thy navies ride, And larger breadths of earth thy throne obey Than own'd of old the conquering Roman's sway; Yet, at this full swell of thy fortune's tide , Hear thou a warning word: Beware of pride A Nemesis sits ever at her gates; Shun selfish greed; respect thy sister States, And fail not those who in thy truth confide. Wrong not the dark-hued subjects of thy rule, Compel them not to toil for others' gain In blind and unaspiring servitude. Rather, with godlike art Prométhean , school Each laggard race by discipline humane, And lead them gently on to all things good. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WRITTEN ON A WALL AT WOODSTOCK by ELIZABETH I MOZART'S REQUIEM by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS PREFATORY POEM TO MY BROTHER'S SONNETS by ALFRED TENNYSON THE PASSERS BY by AL-RADI BILLAH ON AN INTAGLIO HEAD OF MINERVA (2) by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH HYMN IX by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |