We rose, a people of the sea, Nursed by the wind, and rocked by wave. Our hard, rock-founded history, Was born from stories of our brave.
And northern ice-blasts steeled our frames When war was but the best of games. We saw a Roman Empire fall, And fell; but falling, learned to rise.
We heard the voice of Progress call, And in our folly we were wise: When Briton, Saxon, Norman, Dane, Bequeathed their progeny the main.
And conquered joined with conqueror; And Norman fire, with Saxon zeal Combined; we swept the world before The twanging bow, and clanging steel.
Tyrants unmurm'ring bore our yoke, And braggarts thought before they spoke. Then Iron Might took Right to wife; And lo! our liberty was born!
We revelled in the newer life When King was mated by a pawn. Men lived between, of mighty worth; From Montfort's death to Cromwell's birth.
We bore the arrogance of kings, But braved death in fear of God. We rose from great, to greater things. The weak grew potent at our nod.
And nations watched the scales of Fate, To see where England threw her weight! We took our seed to other climes, And from it sprang by divers seas,
An Oak — that grew among the Limes! An Oak — among the Blue-gum trees! The Cactus left the land because The Acorn brought its ordered laws.
And like a giant, bearing stings Of gnats, who joy to see him wince, We stand — the envy of the kings Despised by every petty prince!
Who know, that while enduring yet, We bear — but we do not forget. We lived, and live! The world shall see An inextinguishable flame.
The nations fade; but we shall be! When Gaul and Teuton are a name! For us the seven seas in one: For landlocked hordes — oblivion.
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