Stand Firm! Poem by Cicely Fox Smith

Beware! The sword of England
Is in your hand to keep:
Look that it be not tarnished
Nor pilfered in your sleep.
As you shall dare or falter
You mould our England's fate;
We charge you, lead our people
To keep their country great!

Beware! Lest in your blindness,
Your folly and your pride,
You fling the strength that guards us
All wantonly aside:
Lest, when you turn for safety
To vaunted sword and shield,
Your arm, so strong aforetime,
Be grown too weak to wield.

The traveller armed for combat
May tread the bandit's cave;
The hunter with his weapons
The snarling pack may brave;
But if unarmed and helpless
He dares his way to wend,
The thief shall bind and rob him,
The wolf shall turn and rend.

Beware! Lest in your striving
To make your might secure,
You win for lasting portion
The shame that shall endure:
The scorning and the spurning
Of ages yet unborn;
The wrath of strong men helpless,
The curse of Samson shorn.

By England and her honour,
Her people and her Throne,
By all she is, and has been,
We charge you hold your own.
By all you hold most holy,
By all your burdening powers,
Be true to those who follow,
Keep faith with us and ours!