In what is perhaps a quaint reflection of the religious background of several of the peers most active in the early days of the Restoration, many of the national airs fit to tunes found in recent Hymnals of the Episcopal Church (the tunes and familiar texts are indicated below). In some cases, the texts as well are but little modified from other verses. But such affairs are not uncommon outside the Realms: some nations of the world (or so we are told) have even based their anthems upon British drinking-songs.
Tune, Sine Nomine, Ralph Vaughan Williams ["For All the Saints"]
[MIDI file]
Words, 1 and 3, The Duke of Númenor; 2, W. W. How, altered
This air is customarily sung at the conclusion of the Council-General.
Kings of the West, who reigned in Númenor,
We raise your standard on a foreign shore
Where it will fly in glory evermore:
We shall defend it, Until the King Return.
If we face soldiers fierce or warfare long,
We still can hear your ancient triumph song:
Our hearts grow brave again, our arms grow strong:
We shall fight nobly, Until the King Return.
And when the battles end, and swords are sheathed,
If we as victors be with laurel wreathed,
Still this high motto ever shall be breathed:
"Let us rule wisely, Until the King Return."
Tune , Ebenezer / Ton-y-Botel, Thomas John Williams ["Once to Every Man
and Nation"; "Thy Strong Word Did Cleave the Darkness"; "Singing
Songs of Expectation"] [MIDI file]
Words, The Duke of Númenor
As our Royal Standard passes,
With its Crown and Stars and Tree,
Think of all our changing greatness,
What we were and what shall be.
We were lords of sea and mountain
Proudly ruling two great lands,
Tall our castles, brave our armies,
Bright the swords in our strong hands.
Now we live in double exile,
Wiser though our strength is less,
Far from Middle-earth, the tree-girt,
Far from foundered Westerness.
Yet our people, still surviving,
Live in peace and prosper now,
And the Standard, our chief glory,
Never in defeat shall bow.
Tune name and composer unknown [" Fair Harvard"; "Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms"] [MIDI file sequenced by Barry Taylor, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada]
Words, The Duke of Númenor, from "Fair Harvard"
First fruit of the Eldest of Trees, we thee praise,
And with blessings surrender thee o'er,
By these festival rites, from the year that is past,
To the year that is waiting before.
O relic and type of our ancestors' worth,
We have long kept thy memory warm,
First flower of Telperion! Star of their night!
Calm standing thro' change and through storm!
Farewell! Be thy destinies onward and bright!
To our children the lesson still give
With Justice to act, and with Mercy to judge,
And with Virtue still bravely to live.
Let no clamorous error keep us from our tasks,
Let the echoes of Truth ever ring:
Be the herald of Peace, and the emblem of Hope,
Till we see the return of the King.
Tune, The British Grenadiers [MIDI file,
RA file performed by the Band of the Cheshire
Regiment]
Words, Anonymous
Our country's under water, our city's in the sea,
And now a mermaid's daughter rules where our seat should be.
She sings of all our conquests to herring by the score,
And only fish and mermen now visit Númenor.
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This page last revised 26 Cerveth 7549 / July 11, 1996.
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