Britain! you with a heart of flame br One as in days gone by, br You who honour your Nelson's name, br How could you hear the word of shame br Nor rise and give it the lie! br br Better endure war's worst of ills, br The woe of a hundred fights, br Than cower behind your banks and tills br And smug with your money, your mines, your mills, br Forswear a neighbour's rights. br br For how could you hope for a wide world's trust br If, traitor by land and sea, br You had let French lilies lie in the dust br Nor challenged for peace the War-Lord's lust br And struck for a Europe free. br br Fight and in hope, for battle is banned, br The world shall yet rejoice, br For the peoples rise in wrath to demand br Henceforth no war shall trouble the land br Except at a people's voice.