Through the North-land Arctic demons 

 Rode the frozen ice-bound ranges; 

 Through the Southland fiery dragons 

 Scourged the earth with blazing horrors. 

 Then the drifting to the death-traps! 

 Hopeless struggling of the helpless! 

 Herds a-wreck from drouth and famine! 

 Bleaching bones to tell the story! 



As the spear by shield is shattered, 

 As the" shore turns back the waters, 

 As the rock resists the torrent, 

 So the wild enforced her mandates, 

 Claimed her tribute of the reckless, 

 Taught the lesson of the ages. 

 Nature brooks not mad defiance! 



But the earth renewed its fruitage. 

 Sunbeams dancing on the ranges, 

 Waters from the purple mountains, 

 Soft airs from the Western ocean, 

 Called the grasses from their slumbers, 

 Clothed again the world with verdure. 

 And again the herds were gathered, 

 Not with folly in the councils, 

 Not with blind chiefs in the saddles. 

 Children scorched by fire have wisdom. 



On the trails that led not backward 

 Once again the cattle entered; 

 Once again the herds were scattered 

 Far and wide across the pastures; 

 At their head a pale-faced stranger 

 Staunch of limb and lion-hearted, 

 From beyond the deep sea waters, 

 From the distant shores of England. 

 His the heritage of ages 

 From the hills of grim Glamorgan; 

 His the power that was descended 

 Through the Hereford generations, 

 From the wearing of the burdens 

 Of the yoke of heavy hauling, 

 From a life of toil and travail 

 In the service of his masters. 



Proud the bearing of this chieftain 

 As he armed them for the battle; 

 Wrapped them in red robes of courage, 

 Bound them by the ties of kindred 



1085 



