# The Domestic Affections, and Other Poems/The Wreath of Loyalty

THE WREATH OF LOYALTY.
written for the jubilee of the 25th oct. 1809.
"I glory in the name of Briton."
October! tho' thy rugged brow,  No vivid wreaths entwine; Tho' not for thee the zephyr blow, Tho' not for thee the blossom glow,  Or skies unclouded shine:
Tho' o'er thy dark and russet vest  No rainbow-colors play; Tho' dim thine eye, tho' cold thy breast, Yet be thou honor'd, be thou blest,  E'en more than youthful May!
No vernal suns illume thy day,  Fair star of joy! then brighter beam! No forest-notes attend thy way, Then strike the lyre, then wake the lay,  To one inspiring theme!
Thy steps may blight the roseate plain,  Thy winds may chill the vale; Yet, blooming 'midst thy shadowy train, One radiant morn adorns thy reign;  Hail! dark October! hail!
Thine is the day, to Britons dear, That bids fair Albion dry the tear; With myrtles wreath her victor-spear,  And ev'ry grief disown. Oh! let a people's voice prolong, Proud Loyalty's triumphal song; And faith, and truth, and valor, throng  Around Britannia's throne!
That still their monarch's heart may feel  How sweet affections grateful zeal  Still kindle with the patriot flame,  And "glory in a Briton's name!"  O name! by deeds emblazon'd high,  O name! exalted to the sky,  O name! ennobled by the free!  Thou sacred sovereign! worthy thee!
Then wake, fairest Albion! awake to rejoice, To the Pæan of rapture attuning thy voice,  And suspending thy war-song awhile! Thou hast mourn'd for the great, thou hast wept o'er the brave, Thou hast bent in despair o'er the Patriot's grave; But now from thy bosom repressing the sigh, Dispelling the tear from thy sun-darting eye,  Let ecstacy dawn in thy smile!
Yet the storm is around thee, the hurricane roars; But Freedom and Loyalty dwell on thy shores, Defending a Monarch ador'd!
They are true, they are dauntless, their bosoms are mail; In vain may Ambition their fortress assail; And bright is their streamer that plays on the breeze And crimsons the wave, as it floats o'er the seas,  And keen is their fire-flashing sword!
Thy oak shall be firm till the tempest is past; Majestic it rises, disdaining the blast,  It is proud, independent, supreme! The nations around thee are cheerless in night, And hope has extinguished her quivering light! But the sun-beam of heaven on thy bosom shall rest, And the planet of freedom be bright in the west,  Where its ray shall eternally stream!
Thou art like the fair vales, with exuberance crown'd, Embosom'd in Appenines, cheerless around,  Where dwells Desolation alone! Thou art like the proud laurel, still blooming and green, When verdure and life have deserted the scene;
Thou art like a tall column, unmoulder'd by time, That rises 'midst ruins, imperial, sublime,  So firm is thy rock-pillar'd throne!
Yet the storm is around thee, the hurricane roars; But valor and loyalty dwell on thy shores,  And long may the guardians remain! Firm, ardent, intrepid, oh! long may they stand, The sabre of justice and truth in their hand: Then the fire-flag of rapine may blaze thro' the air, The torch of invasion, a comet, may glare,  And the war-tempest threaten—in vain!
O Monarch of Albion! ador'd by the free! O temple of Liberty! queen of the sea!  What Briton but worships your name? And where is the spirit that burns not with pride, For a country to freedom, to glory allied? And who would not kindle, exulting in death, And triumph, and glow, in resigning his breath,  For a King, for a land, so exalted in fame?
Yes! ye bands of noble fire,  Dauntless on the plain! Ye, who firm, in danger try'd, Thought on England ere ye died, Mingling blood with Tajo's tide; Ye, whose memory shall inspire, Many a bard and many a lyre,  Songs of Spain.
Heroes of Corunna's field!  Ye, who perish'd there, Be your names for ever dear! Yes! tho' dew'd with many a tear, Yet triumphal was your bier! Who like you the sword could wield? Deathless trophies grace your shield,  Bright and fair!
Ye, who purchas'd, ere ye fell,  Talavera's crown!
Sainted spirits of the brave, Lo! immortal o'er your grave, Glory's amaranth shall wave! Who your gallant deeds may tell? Who may ring your thrilling knell?  High renown!
Faithful friends, who mourn sincere,  Where the brave repose; Cold and low the mighty sleep. Yes! ye well may sadly weep, Well desponding vigils keep! Yet shall kindling pride be near, Yet shall triumph gild the tear  Love bestows!
By the patriot's holy flame,  Of transcendent rays; Lyre! by thy sublimest chord, Freedom! by thy shrine ador'd, Honor! by thy radiant sword,
O'er the heroes lofty name. Shall the noon-tide sun of fame  Deathless blaze!
Then let thy tear, O Albion! shed Its dew-balm o'er the valiant dead,  (A tear so sad, and yet so proud!) But let the smile thine eye illume, But let thy cheek the smile resume, As the bright rainbow's vivid bloom  Streams o'er the parting cloud!
And form, thy sovereign's brow to shade, A diadem that shall not fade,  A wreath, of glow eternal! And there the British oak may shine, And there let Mercy's palm entwine, And Science there her bays combine.  That ever shall be vernal!
And come! ye forms of towering mien,  In graceful dignity serene;  Ye fearless guardians of the state,  Superior to the storms of fate!  And round the British throne attending,  Its arms, its fame, its cause defending;  There, firm in faith, united stand,  Invincible, immortal band!
Thou, Freedom! with the lightning-eye, Th' intrepid look, the Lion-heart; Be there! unfurl thy flag on high, And all thy mounting soul impart! And bid thy living flame expand, Warm, bright, ethereal, o'er the land.— Rise, Freedom! rise, with all thy fires, When Britain's throne thine aid requires; Come! in thy proud, refulgent car, Whose beam is Albion's guiding star;
And wave that sabre, dazzling bright,  Pure, hallow'd, spotless, as the light;  Whose ray for us a sun-beam glows,  Whose flash is lightning on our foes!  Be near, majestic maid! be near,  Hope in thine eye and justice on thy spear!
And thou, Fidelity! thou angel-form, True in the combat, stedfast in the storm; Whose truth shall beam, celestial, constant, pure, And 'midst the fiery ordeal, smile secure; Thou! with a cincture of Asbestos wove, Thou queen of friendship, and thou guide of love! Seraph, be there! impart thy sacred aid, Be there! Britannia's glowing soul pervade! Unite each heart by thy unchanging laws, Firm, loyal, bold, in one transcendent cause!
 Valor! thou, whose burning soul,  Kindles, mounts, beyond control;}}
Thou! whose ardor death defies,  Rushing to th' immortal prize;  Monarch of the conquering spear,  Dauntless on thy proud career;  Stern defiance on thy crest,  Melting mercy in thy breast;  Thou! with arms emblazon'd fair,  King of Danger!—be thou there!  Bid thy votaries round thee throng.  Wake thy boldest martial song!  Sing in proud, triumphant lay,  Agincourt's victorious day!  Sing the chief of Acre's fame,  Sing of Maida's brilliant name!  Sing Vimeira's high renown,  Talavera's recent crown!  Be thou there! with kindling eye,  Peril, toil, and foes defy;  Raise thy beamy falchion high,  Wave thy banner to the sky!
Sound thy clarion thro' the air.  Bid thy ardent sons be there!  Be their watch-word in the fight,  "Brunswick and Albion! Liberty and Right!!!"
 With thee be Fortitude, whose awful mien,  Tow'rs in the blast, collected and serene!  Queen of the cliff! thy look sublimely braves  Fate's wint'ry blast, affliction's mountain-waves;  Thy lofty heart, secure in ten-fold mail,  Misfortune's arrows may in vain assail!  'Tis thine unchang'd, to meet, with proud disdain,  The spectre-forms of danger and of pain!  In glory's track undaunted to proceed,  To smile and suffer—to exult—and bleed!  Derive new spirit from the tempest rude,  And rise august—exalted—unsubdu'd!
And thou, fair Loyalty! be still enshrin'd In every manly heart, each-patriot-mind:
Lo! in Religion's fane I see thee bend, I hear thy prayer on fervor's wing ascend! (While the warm tear-drop glitters on thy cheek, While faith and hope thy melting eyes bespeak.)
 "Sovereign of kings! whose high decree  Controls the storm, subdues the sea!  Who giv'st thy scourge Ambition, pow'r  To spread dismay, his destin'd hour;  To win his blood-stain'd, regal prize,  To reign, to ravage, to chastise;  Look down! on him in mercy smile,  The Monarch of the favor'd Isle!  Undimm'd, unclouded by regret,  May his mild star in glory set!  And peace and joy, with softest ray,  Illume his calm declining day!  Oh! long extend his hallow'd reign,  Oh! long his throne august, maintain!
And when, a mourner o'er his bier,  Sad Albion pours the filial tear;  Around may guardian-seraphs wait,  And waft him to a happier state;  Conduct him to a brighter throne,  A realm of peace, a fairer crown;  Enrich'd with many a spotless gem,  Virtue's illustrious diadem!"