The King Of England

(June 24th, 1902)

In that eclipse of noon when joy was hushed
    Like the bird's song beneath unnatural night,
And Terror's footfall in the darkness crushed
    The rose imperial of our delight,
Then, even then, though no man cried "He comes,"
    And no man turned to greet him passing there,
    With phantom heralds challenging renown
        And silent-throbbing drums
    I saw the King of England, hale and fair,
    Ride out with a great train through London town.

Unarmed he rode, but in his ruddy shield
    The lions bore the dint of many a lance,
And up and down his mantle's azure field
    Were strewn the lilies plucked in famous France.
Before him went with banner floating wide
    The yeoman breed that served his honour best,
    And mixed with these his knights of noble blood;
        But in the place of pride
    His admirals in billowy lines abreast
    Convoyed him close like galleons on the flood.

Full of a strength unbroken showed his face
    And his brow calm with youth's unclouded dawn,
But round his lips were lines of tenderer grace
    Such as no hand but Time's hath ever drawn.
Surely he knew his glory had no part
    In dull decay, nor unto Death must bend,
    Yet surely too of lengthening shadows dreamed
        With sunset in his heart,
    So brief his beauty now, so near the end,
    And now so old and so immortal seemed.

O King among the living, these shall hail
    Sons of thy dust that shall inherit thee:
O King of men that die, though we must fail
    Thy life is breathed from thy triumphant sea.
O man that servest men by right of birth,
    Our hearts' content thy heart shall also keep,
    Thou too with us shalt one day lay thee down
        In our dear native earth,
    Full sure the King of England, while we sleep,
    For ever rides abroad, through London town.

Henry John Newbolt

Sir Henry John Newbolt was an English poet and author, famous for his ballads such as 'Vitaï Lampada'. He graduated from Oxford and was called to the bar, but he is better remembered for his literary contributions than his legal career. Newbolt served as a government advisor on military and naval literature during World War I. He was knighted in 1915 for his services to literature. Newbolt's work often reflected themes of patriotism and duty.

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