Cecil Spring-Rice, a career diplomat who represented Great Britain in Japan, Germany, Persia, and Russia and served as Ambassador to the United States during World War I, died in Ottawa on this date in 1918. A month before his death, he wrote the words of a dedicatory anthem which was set several years later to music both stirring and solemn -- an excerpt from the Planets suite, in its hymn form called Thaxted -- by Gustav Holst.



There is neither chauvinism in his words, nor precisely the classical Roman sentiment of Horace's Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori, but an ideal instead of noble service and selfless devotion. And there are men and women still who live it, and who, protecting us, are prepared to die.



I vow to thee, my country—all earthly things above—

Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;

The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,

That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;

The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,

The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.



And there’s another country, I’ve heard of long ago—

Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;

We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;

Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;

And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,

And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace.