Stand Firm!

Beware! The sword of England
  Is in your hand to keep:
Look that it be not tarnished
  Nor pilfered in your sleep.
As you shall dare or falter
  You mould our England's fate;
We charge you, lead our people
  To keep their country great!

Beware! Lest in your blindness,
  Your folly and your pride,
You fling the strength that guards us
  All wantonly aside:
Lest, when you turn for safety
  To vaunted sword and shield,
Your arm, so strong aforetime,
  Be grown too weak to wield.

The traveller armed for combat
  May tread the bandit's cave;
The hunter with his weapons
  The snarling pack may brave;
But if unarmed and helpless
  He dares his way to wend,
The thief shall bind and rob him,
  The wolf shall turn and rend.

Beware! Lest in your striving
  To make your might secure,
You win for lasting portion
  The shame that shall endure:
The scorning and the spurning
  Of ages yet unborn;
The wrath of strong men helpless,
  The curse of Samson shorn.

By England and her honour,
  Her people and her Throne,
By all she is, and has been,
  We charge you hold your own.
By all you hold most holy,
  By all your burdening powers,
Be true to those who follow,
  Keep faith with us and ours!