Belgium

The Blatant Beast saw meadows, made for peace, Sunlit and gently asway, and held them light, Till each green blade grew rigid in the night And ruddied with a glorious morn's increase. Thou hast suffered; nor till Freedom find release And set for ever on the shining height The eternal rolling banner of her might Shall thy great gift of strife and suffering cease. We, bred of one small island in the west, A little shrine of Freedom, far away We, who can bow at no strong tyrant's hest, Bend low our heads in pride to thee to-day, For all unknown, a smiling babe at rest, Within thy lowly manger Freedom lay.