Land Of Hope And Glory Poem by Arthur Christopher Benson

1902 version:

Land of hope and glory, Mother of the free,
How may we extol thee, who are born of thee?

Truth and Right and Freedom, each a holy gem,
Stars of solemn brightness, weave thy diadem.

Tho' thy way be darkened, still in splendour drest,
As the star that trembles o'er the liquid West.

Throned amid the billows, throned inviolate,
Though hast reigned victorious, thou has smiled at fate.

Land of hope and glory, Fortress of the free,
How may we extol thee, praise thee, honour thee?

Hark, a mighty nation maketh glad reply;
Lo, our lips are thankful, lo, our hearts are high!

Hearts in hope uplifted, loyal lips that sing;
Strong in faith and freedom, we have crowned our King!

1912 version:

Dear Land of Hope, thy hope is crowned
God make thee mightier yet!
On Sov'ran brows, belov'd, renown'd,
Once more thy crown is set.
Thine equal laws, by freedom gained,
Have ruled thee well and long;
By Freedom gained, by Truth maintain'd,
Thine Empire shall be strong.

Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set,
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.

1914 Version:


Dear Land of Hope, thy hope is crowned
God make thee mightier yet!
On Sov'ran brows, belov'd, renown'd,
Once more thy crown is set.
Thine equal laws, by freedom gained,
Have ruled thee well and long;
By Freedom gained, by Truth maintain'd,
Thine Empire shall be strong.

Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set,
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.

Thy fame is ancient as the days,
As Ocean large and wide;
A pride that dares, and heeds not praise,
A stern and silent pride.
Not that false joy that dreams content
With what our sires have won;
The blood a hero sire hath spent
Still nerves a hero son.

Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set,
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.