_Long ago, long ago,_
And the voice of Youth with the world to roam.
_Clifton for aye!_
The voice of passion and human tears,
And the voice of the vision that lights the years.
_City of Song shall stand alway._
{101}
_The Best School of All_
It's good to see the School we knew,
The land of youth and dream,
To greet again the rule we knew
Before we took the stream:
Though long we've missed the sight of her,
Our hearts may not forget;
We've lost the old delight of her,
We keep her honour yet.
_We'll honour yet the School we knew,
The best School of all:
We'll honour yet the rule we knew,
Till the last bell call.
For, working days or holidays,
And glad or melancholy days,
They were great days and jolly days
At the best School of all._
The stars and sounding vanities
That half the crowd bewitch,
What are they but inanities
To him that treads the pitch?
{102}
And where's the wealth, I'm wondering,
Could buy the cheers that roll
When the last charge goes thundering
Beneath the twilight goal?
The men that tanned the hide of us,
Our daily foes and friends,
They shall not lose their pride of us,
Howe'er the journey ends.
Their voice, to us who sing of it,
No more its message bears,
But the round world shall ring of it
And all we are be theirs.
To speak of Fame a venture is,
There's little here can bide,
But we may face the centuries,
And dare the deepening tide:
For though the dust that's part of us
To dust again be gone,
Yet here shall beat the heart of us--
The School we handed on!
_We'll honour yet the School we knew,
The best School of all:
We'll honour yet the rule we knew.
Till the last bell call.
For, working days or holidays,
And glad or melancholy days,
They were great days and jolly days
At the best School of all._
{103}
_England_
Praise thou with praise unending
The Master of the Wine;
To all their portions sending
Himself he mingled thine:
The sea-born flush of morning,
The sea-born hush of night,
The East wind comfort scorning,
And the North wind driving right:
The world for gain and giving,
The game for man and boy,
The life that joys in living,
The faith that lives in joy.
{104}
_Victoria Regina_
(JUNE 21ST, 1897*)
A thousand years by
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