Poems (Hornblower)/Sonnet, addressed to a distinguished American Minister
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SONNET,
ADDRESSED TO A DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN MINISTER.
Let the great nations mingle!—England, thou
To thy freed child extend a smile of love,
On her proud march with joy behold her move,
And midst the kingdoms raise her youthful brow!
And thou, America! in ails and arms
Revere thy mother!—read her scrolls of fame,
The high descent of many a stainless name,
Of heroes formed 'mid danger's wild alarms,
Of martyrs, statesmen, poets.—Still may come
Thy sons with kindly welcome to our shore,
Still will we hail the wind that wafts them o'er,
And with regretful blessing speed them home—
Charmed in their noble virtues, still to trace
The purity and pride of England's race!
To thy freed child extend a smile of love,
On her proud march with joy behold her move,
And midst the kingdoms raise her youthful brow!
And thou, America! in ails and arms
Revere thy mother!—read her scrolls of fame,
The high descent of many a stainless name,
Of heroes formed 'mid danger's wild alarms,
Of martyrs, statesmen, poets.—Still may come
Thy sons with kindly welcome to our shore,
Still will we hail the wind that wafts them o'er,
And with regretful blessing speed them home—
Charmed in their noble virtues, still to trace
The purity and pride of England's race!