On this, the Feast Day of Saint George, patron saint of England,
we wish all our English friends, visitors and all those throughout the
world whose roots are in that "sceptred isle," a proud, blessed and
happy Saint George's Day.
We
remember, too, that it is on this day that William Shakespeare, the
greatest writer in the English language, was born and died; so what
could be more appropriate to the day than these lines from his great
history play, King Richard II. Act ii. Sc. 1?
This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England....
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England....
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