Fatherland

The brave old land of deed and song,
Of gentle hearts and spirits strong,
Of queenly maids and heroes grand,
Of equal laws, — our Fatherland !

Though born beneath a brighter sun,
Shall we forget the marvels done,
By soul outspoken, blood outpoured,
By bard and patriot, song and sword ?

Forget how firm and true our sires,
Still lighted by their battle-fires,
'Gainst kingly power and kingly crime,
Long struggled in the darkened time ?

How in a rolling sea they stood,
Where every wave was freemen's blood, —
Shall we forget the time of strife,
When freedom's only price was life ?

Shall Cromwell's memory, Milton's lyre,
Not kindle 'mong us souls of fire,
Not raise in us a spirit strong —
High scorn of shams, quick hate of wrong ?

Shall we not learn, Australians born !
To smile on tinselled power our scorn, —
At least, a freeman's pride to try,
When tinselled power would bend or buy ?

The brave old land of deed and song,
We ne'er will do her memories wrong !
For freedom here we'll firmly stand,
As stood our sires for Fatherland !