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The Spike or Victoria College Review, June 1906

The Lady of the Hill

The Lady of the Hill

Devoid of classic heritage,
O Lad of the Hill,
Thou hast begun thy pilgrimage
With brimming goblet to assuage
The thirst for truth that age to age
Bequeaths unsated still.

Lo! By thy snowy breast I swear,
And by thy dawnward gaze,
That thou art pure as thou art fair,
Nor canst thou suffer bonds to wear;
But freely-born, shalt freely bear
In honour all thy days.

Thy head is high, thine arms are wide,
Imploring love and light.
Oh! never be thy prayer denied,
And ne'er in darkness turn aside
Thy seed; but constant be their guide
Thy starry eyes at night.

page 61

Deny that Honour e'er should sleep,
Or Folly ever wake;
Bid Love a mother-vigil keep
O'er infant Thought, until the peep
Of dawning Truth, let freedom leap
At sight of bonds to break.

Prepare thy children for the road
Or furrowed or untrod.
Nor bow them 'neath a needless load
By day, and see them safe bestowed
At eve in rich or poor abode
With them that seek for Goa.

Victoria! I see thee rise,
Who kiss thy garment's hem.
I give thee hail. Do not despise
The songs of lips, the looks of eyes
That tell thee all Zealandia's skies
Reflect thy diadem.

Geo. Rae Hutcheson.

May 17th, 1906.