To Britain, Queen of all the Seas,
Whose Alfred first did show her might,
Whose Nelson, strong and bold of sprite,
Did waft her fame from breeze to breeze.
The land where Caedmon saw the light,
Where Chaucer shaped his harmonies,
Whose Shakespeare fathom'd all that is,
Whose Milton rose to starry height.
To her whose light shall e'er increase,
Whose might in countless foemen's spite
From land to land shall spread aright,
Whose right to rule shall ne'er decrease,
To her who ever shall be bright,
I, prone to perish, offer these
Decaying, dying melodies,
I, rushing into endless night.