Thus Switzerland again was
free;
Thus Death made way for Liberty!
JAMES MONTGOMERY.
* * * * *
POLAND.
FROM “THE PLEASURES OF HOPE,” PART I.
O sacred Truth! thy triumph ceased awhile,
And Hope, thy sister, ceased with thee
to smile,
When leagued Oppression poured to Northern
wars
Her whiskered pandours and her fierce
hussars,
Waved her dread standard to the breeze
of morn,
Pealed her loud drum, and twanged her
trumpet horn;
Tumultuous horror brooded o’er her
van,
Presaging wrath to Poland—and
to man!
Warsaw’s last champion
from her height surveyed,
Wide o’er the fields, a waste of
ruin laid;
“O Heaven!” he cried, “my
bleeding country save!—
Is there no hand on high to shield the
brave?
Yet, though destruction sweep these lovely
plains,
Rise, fellow-men! our country yet remains!
By that dread name, we wave the sword
on high,
And swear for her to live—with
her to die!”
He said, and on the rampart-heights
arrayed
His trusty warriors, few, but undismayed;
Firm-paced and slow, a horrid front they
form,
Still as the breeze, but dreadful as the
storm;
Low murmuring sounds along their banners
fly,
Revenge, or death,—the watchword
and reply;
Then pealed the notes, omnipotent to charm,
And the loud tocsin tolled their last
alarm!—
In vain, alas! in vain, ye
gallant few!
From rank to rank your volleyed thunder
flew:—
O, bloodiest picture in the book of Time!
Sarmatia fell, unwept, without a crime;
Found not a generous friend, a pitying
foe,
Strength in her arms, nor mercy in her
woe!
Dropped from her nerveless grasp the shattered
spear,
Closed her bright eye, and curbed her
high career;
Hope, for a season, bade the world farewell,
And Freedom shrieked—as Kosciusko
fell!
THOMAS CAMPBELL.
* * * * *
THE MARSEILLAISE.
Ye sons of freedom, wake to glory!
Hark! hark! what myriads bid
you rise!
Your children, wives, and grandsires hoary,
Behold their tears and hear
their cries!
Shall hateful tyrants, mischiefs breeding,
With hireling
hosts, a ruffian band,
Affright and desolate
the land,
While peace and liberty lie bleeding?
To arms! to arms!
ye brave!
The
avenging sword unsheathe;
March on! march
on! all hearts resolved
On
victory or death.
Now, now the dangerous storm is rolling,
Which treacherous kings confederate
raise;
The dogs of war, let loose, are howling,
And lo! our fields and cities
blaze;
And shall we basely view the ruin,
While lawless
force, with guilty stride,
Spreads desolation
far and wide,
With crimes and blood his hands imbruing?
To
arms! to arms! ye brave, etc.