The Centenary of the Battle of the Nile

'Horatio Nelson - Honor est a Nilo'     A hundred years have lightened and have waned     Since ancient Nile by grace of Nelson gained     A glory higher in story now than time     Saw when his kings were gods that raged and reigned.     The day that left even England more sublime     And higher on heights that none but she may climb     Abides above all shock of change-born chance     Where hope and memory hear the stars keep chime.     The strong and sunbright lie whose name was France     Arose against the sun of truth, whose glance     Laughed large from the eyes of England, fierce as fire     Whence eyes wax blind that gaze on truth askance.     A name above all names of heroes, higher     Than song may sound or heart of man aspire,     Rings as the very voice that speaks the sea     To-day from all the sea's enkindling lyre.     The sound that bids the soul of silence be     Fire, and a rapturous music, speaks, and we     Hear what the sea's heart utters, wide and far:     "This was his day, and this day's light was he."     O sea, our sea that hadst him for thy star,     A hundred years that fall upon thee are     Even as a hundred flakes of rain or snow:     No storm of battle signs thee with a scar.     But never more may ship that sails thee show,     But never may the sun that loves thee know,     But never may thine England give thee more,     A man whose life and death shall praise thee so.     The Nile, the sea, the battle, and the shore,     Heard as we hear one word arise and soar,     Beheld one name above them tower and glow     Nelson: a light that time bows down before.