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Words by Shapcott Wensley: music by Sir Edward Elgar

It comes from the misty ages, The banner of England's might, The blood-red cross of the brave St. George, That burns on a field of white! It speaks of the deathless heroes5 On fame's bright page inscrolled, And bids great England ne'er forget The glorious deeds of old!

O'er many a cloud of battle The banner has floated wide;10 It shone like a star o'er the valiant hearts That dashed the Armada's pride! For ever amid the thunders The sailor could do or die, While tongues of flame leaped forth below,15 And the flag of St. George was high!

O ne'er may the flag beloved Unfurl in a strife unblest, But ever give strength to the righteous arm, And hope to the hearts oppressed!20 It says to the passing ages: "Be brave if your cause be right, Like the soldier saint whose cross of red Still burns on your banner white!"

Great race, whose empire of splendour25 Has dazzled the wondering world! May the flag that floats o'er thy wide domains Be long to all winds unfurled! Three crosses in concord blended, The banner of Britain's might!30 But the central gem of the ensign fair Is the cross of the dauntless Knight!

—By permission of the publishers, Novello & Co.

Preparatory—Divide the poem into two parts, giving to each part a descriptive title.

What feelings are aroused by this poem?

What lines in stanzas i and iv call up a mental picture of the flag?

What three phrases in stanza i suggest the important ideas to be associated with the flag? How does the voice indicate the importance of these ideas? (Introduction, p. 8.)

Of what phrases in stanza i is stanza ii only an elaboration?

What wish is contained in stanza iii? What sentences express it?

What additional idea does stanza iv add to this wish?

star, valiant, armada, central. Make a distinction in the sound of the letter a in these words, and elsewhere in the poem. (Appendix A, 1.)

George, cross, forget, forth, concord. What sound has the letter o in each word? (Appendix A, 1.)

Articulate with energy the final consonantal combinations of all such words as: England's, burns, speaks, inscrolled, floated, hearts, dashed, leaped, unblest, strength, dazzled, unfurled, blended. (Appendix A, 3.)