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 | The poetical works of William H. C. Hosmer |  |
159
INDEPENDENCE ODE.
Ye sons of sires who gathered proudly
Our flag of stars and stripes around,
When rang the dread alarum loudly,
And paled Oppression at the sound—
Bless God—the just, the Ever-living,
Who guarded with his mighty shield
Young Freedom on the battle-field,
And shout an anthem of thanksgiving!
Cheer on! cheer on the march
Of mind throughout the globe,
Till wit and worth ennoble man,
Not crown and purple robe!
Our flag of stars and stripes around,
When rang the dread alarum loudly,
And paled Oppression at the sound—
Bless God—the just, the Ever-living,
Who guarded with his mighty shield
Young Freedom on the battle-field,
And shout an anthem of thanksgiving!
Cheer on! cheer on the march
Of mind throughout the globe,
Till wit and worth ennoble man,
Not crown and purple robe!
That ground is hallowed where one martyr
For holy truth contending dies,
And vile are they who would not barter
Gems, gold, and blood for such a prize;
Oh! dark the doom is of that vassal,
Lost in a maze of mental night—
Too abject to maintain the right,
Who hungers that his lord may wassail—
Then cheer, cheer on the march
Of mind throughout the globe,
Till wit and worth ennoble man,
Not crown and purple robe.
For holy truth contending dies,
And vile are they who would not barter
Gems, gold, and blood for such a prize;
Oh! dark the doom is of that vassal,
Lost in a maze of mental night—
Too abject to maintain the right,
Who hungers that his lord may wassail—
Then cheer, cheer on the march
Of mind throughout the globe,
Till wit and worth ennoble man,
Not crown and purple robe.
Our nation's dark and dismal morning
Hath brightened into cloudless day,
But notes of deep and fearful warning
Call on the wise to watch and pray.
From mountain, vale, and cavern lonely—
From Lexington and Monmouth ground,
Breathe out these words of solemn sound—
“In union there is safety only!”
Then cheer, cheer on the march
Of mind throughout the globe,
Till wit and worth ennoble man,
Not crown and purple robe.
Hath brightened into cloudless day,
But notes of deep and fearful warning
Call on the wise to watch and pray.
160
From Lexington and Monmouth ground,
Breathe out these words of solemn sound—
“In union there is safety only!”
Then cheer, cheer on the march
Of mind throughout the globe,
Till wit and worth ennoble man,
Not crown and purple robe.
The valor that found voice in thunder
On Bunker's glorious battle-hill,
And made the nations gaze in wonder,
Is living yet, is burning still.
Hark to the screaming of our eagle
Where fly, before a dauntless band,
The men of Montezuma's land,
Like frightened hares before the beagle!
Nine cheers, then, for the brave
Whose fame will know no blight!
They prove that mind wins mastery,
Not numbers in the fight.
On Bunker's glorious battle-hill,
And made the nations gaze in wonder,
Is living yet, is burning still.
Hark to the screaming of our eagle
Where fly, before a dauntless band,
The men of Montezuma's land,
Like frightened hares before the beagle!
Nine cheers, then, for the brave
Whose fame will know no blight!
They prove that mind wins mastery,
Not numbers in the fight.
A beacon on our coast is lighted
That kindles up the gloom of earth,
And guides the wanderer benighted
To Freedom's altar-stone and hearth
Would not our sires, entombed and sleeping,
Leap with their rusty brands from dust,
Should we prove faithless to the trust
Sternly committed to our keeping?
Yes, yes:—then cheer the march
Of mind throughout the globe,
Till wit and worth ennoble man—
Not crown and purple robe.
That kindles up the gloom of earth,
And guides the wanderer benighted
To Freedom's altar-stone and hearth
Would not our sires, entombed and sleeping,
Leap with their rusty brands from dust,
Should we prove faithless to the trust
Sternly committed to our keeping?
Yes, yes:—then cheer the march
Of mind throughout the globe,
Till wit and worth ennoble man—
Not crown and purple robe.
| The poetical works of William H. C. Hosmer | |