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THE NATIONAL EMBLEM. 

 THE ROSE OF OLD ENGLAND. 



No weak exotic flower art thou, 



True emblem of a nation great, 



No clumsy bloom on ill-grown bough, 

 Denoting poor or weakly state : 



For Britons bred in their own land 

 Are noble, hardy, bold and free, 



And, like the Rose, all climates stand — 

 They've sampled in their old country. 



But thou of every flower art Queen ; 



And who can tell thy royal worth? 

 For 'midst the rest, when thou art seen, 



Thou reignest o'er the gems of earth. 



£ach natiofi owns thy mighty power ; 



Each empire harks to thy decree; 

 And though they envy, all admire 



And praise thy true nobility. 



But yet within thy foliage rare, 



Thy sturdy wood reveals a thorn 



That bids each ruthless hand beware. 



Lest from its home some Rose to be torn. 



So, too, there guards each citizen 



Our national sword of sharp defence. 



The Union Jack protects us when 



Some foreign hand would pluck us hence. 



Upon the briar that fosters thee, 



Procured from ancient British soil, 



Thy parent stock gives growth that's free. 

 Rewarding labourers for their toil. 



