Now sheath'd is the Sword that was wild as the blast: <br />The Tempest of Slaughter and Terror is past; <br />Old ALBION her Neighbour all smilingly hails— <br />For the OLIVE of PEACE blooms again in our Vales! <br />Beam on the day, <br />Thou Olive gay: <br />'Matchless is he <br />Who planted thee; <br />And mayst thou like him immortal be!' <br /> <br />Divinest of Olives, O, never was seen <br />A bloom so enchanting, a verdure so green! <br />Sweet, sweet do thy Beauties entwiningly smile <br />In the Vine-tree of France and the Oak of our Isle! <br />Beam on the day, <br />Thou Olive gay, &c. <br /> <br />Long, long did thy envied Exotic delay, <br />'Till the voice of HUMANITY charm'd thee away; <br />And here, ever here mayst thou bloom in repose, <br />As firm as our Oak-tree, and gay as the Rose! <br />Bloom on the day, <br />Thou Olive gay, &c. <br /> <br />Let ALCIDES his Poplar of Majesty prize, <br />And VENUS her Myrtle exalt to the skies: <br />FRANCE and ALBION excell all the Gods of old Greece— <br />For they crown their wise heads with the OLIVE of PEACE! <br />Bloom on the day, <br />Thou Olive gay, &c. <br /> <br />The delicate Lily may gracefully mount, <br />And the Pink all her charms with the Rainbow recount; <br />Green, green is the Olive on ALBION'S brow, <br />And the Lily and Pink to the Olive must bow! <br />Bloom on the day, <br />Thou Olive gay, &c. <br /> <br />Thou Olive divine, may Eternity's Sun <br />Beam warm where thy roots thro' the ages shall run; <br />The Dew of Affection 'light soft where they twine, <br />And the Love of an Universe stamp thee divine! <br />Bloom on the day, <br />Thou Olive gay: <br />'Matchless was he <br />Who planted thee; <br />And mayst thou like him immortal be!'<br /><br />James Henry Leigh Hunt<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-olive-of-peace/
