Thomas Hardy - His Country lyrics

[He travels southward, and looks around;] I journeyed from my native spot Across the south sea shine, And found that people in hall and cot Laboured and suffered each his lot Even as I did mine. [and cannot discern the boundary] Thus noting them in meads and marts It did not seem to me That my dear country with its hearts, Minds, yearnings, worse and better parts Had ended with the sea. [of his native country;] I further and further went anon, As such I still surveyed, And further yet—yea, on and on, And all the men I looked upon Had heart-strings fellow-made. [or where his duties to his fellow-creatures end;] I traced the whole terrestrial round, Homing the other side; Then said I, "What is there to bound My denizenship? It seems I have found Its scope to be world-wide." [nor who are his enemies] I asked me: "Whom have I to fight, And whom have I to dare, And whom to weaken, crush, and blight? My country seems to have kept in sight On my way everywhere." 1913.