Tiresias, and Other Poems

Hands all Round

Alfred Tennyson


FIRST PLEDGE our Queen this solemn night,
    Then drink to England, every guest;
That man’s the best Cosmopolite
    Who loves his native country best.
May freedom’s oak for ever live
    With stronger life from day to day;
That man’s the true Conservative
    Who lops the moulder’d branch away.
                Hands all round!
    God the traitor’s hope confound!
To this great cause of Freedom drink, my friends,
    And the great name of England, round and round.

To all the loyal hearts who long
    To keep our English Empire whole!
To all our noble sons, the strong
    New England of the Southern Pole!
To England under Indian skies,
    To those dark millions of her realm!
To Canada whom we love and prize,
    Whatever statesman hold the helm.
                Hands all round!
    God the traitor’s hope confound!
To this great name of England drink, my friends,
    And all her glorious empire, round and round.

To all our statesmen so they be
    True leaders of the land’s desire!
To both our Houses, may they see
    Beyond the borough and the shire!
We sail’d wherever ship could sail,
    We founded many a mighty state;
Pray God our greatness may not fail
    Thro’ craven fears of being great.
                Hands all round!
    God the traitor’s hope confound!
To this great cause of Freedom drink my friends,
    And the great name of England, round and round.


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