Note 96 — 1816

Land of our fathers! precious unto me Since the first joys of thinking infancy; When of thy gallant chivalry I read, And hugged the volume on my sleepless bed! O England!—dearer far than life is dear, If I forget thy prowess, never more 1816. Be thy . . . Land of our fathers! loved by me Since the first joys of thinking infancy; Loved with a passion since I caught thy praise A Listener, at or on some patient knee, With an ear fastened to rude ballad lays— Or of thy gallant chivalry I read, And hugged the volume on a sleepless bed! 1837. O England!—dearer far, etc.