EOCENE PERIOD 
Their juicy fruits. Here too has found its way 
The eucalyptus : and laurel growths display 
Their glossy green. Here Nipa palms are bending 
With nutty loads. Bananas are extending 175 
Their yellow fingers. Here mimosas bloom. 
Truly a motley horde of life has come ; 
As men from divers regions might repair 
To lands where cries of " gold " are in the air. 
Now has Britannia won back from the sea 1 80 
Some portions of her sunken territory. 
But not as yet her south-east is released 
From old invading waters from the east. 
With Norway's lands still is she conjoined found, 
And still by south-west lands with Francia bound. 185 
Still holds she with the land that westward stretches, 
And through the Faroe Isles and Iceland reaches 
To Greenland's shores ; a land that barrier stands 
To keep chill Arctic waves off southern strands. 
Not yet with lusty vigour Tamesis speeds, 1 90 
But plays, a wanton child, about the meads. 
But through the lands o'er which there heave to-day 
The North Sea tides, a river wends its way. 
Along through sylvan scenes its waters flow 
Past stately palms, and where luxuriant grow 195 
Big Royal ferns ; and on through shady bowers, 
Rich with the scent of many coloured flowers. 
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