The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson ... for the first time fully collected and compared with the original and early editions ... edited ... by the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart ... with portrait, illustrations, &c |
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JEFFERSON AND LIBERTY.
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 | The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson |  |
JEFFERSON AND LIBERTY.
A PATRIOTIC SONG.
The gloomy night before us flies,
The reign of terror now is o'er;
Its gags, inquisitors, and spies,
Its herds of harpies are no more.
The reign of terror now is o'er;
Its gags, inquisitors, and spies,
Its herds of harpies are no more.
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CHORUS.
Rejoice! Columbia's sons, rejoice,To tyrants never bend the knee;
But join, with heart, and soul, and voice,
For Jefferson and Liberty.
Hail! long expected, glorious day;
Illustrious, memorable morn!
That freedom's fabric, from decay,
Rebuilds for millions yet unborn.
Illustrious, memorable morn!
That freedom's fabric, from decay,
Rebuilds for millions yet unborn.
His country's glory, hope, and stay,
In virtue and in talents tried;
Now rises to assume the sway,
O'er this great temple to preside.
In virtue and in talents tried;
Now rises to assume the sway,
O'er this great temple to preside.
Within its hallowed walls immense,
No hireling bands shall e'er arise;
Arrayed in tyranny's defence,
To crush an injured people's cries.
No hireling bands shall e'er arise;
Arrayed in tyranny's defence,
To crush an injured people's cries.
No lordling here, with gorging jaws,
Shall wring from Industry her food;
No holy bigot's fiery laws
Lay waste our ruined fields in blood.
Shall wring from Industry her food;
No holy bigot's fiery laws
Lay waste our ruined fields in blood.
Here, strangers from a thousand shores,
Compelled by tyranny to roam;
Still find, amidst abundant stores,
A nobler, and a happier home.
Compelled by tyranny to roam;
Still find, amidst abundant stores,
A nobler, and a happier home.
Here Art shall lift her laurelled head,
Wealth, industry, and peace divine;
And, where unbounded forests spread,
Shall fields and lofty cities shine.
Wealth, industry, and peace divine;
And, where unbounded forests spread,
Shall fields and lofty cities shine.
From Europe's wants and woes remote,
A friendly waste of waves between;
Here plenty cheers the humblest cot,
And smiles on every village green.
A friendly waste of waves between;
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And smiles on every village green.
Here, free as air's expanded space,
To every soul and sect shall be,
That sacred privilege of our race,
The worship of the Deity.
To every soul and sect shall be,
That sacred privilege of our race,
The worship of the Deity.
These gifts, great Liberty, are thine
Ten thousand more we owe to thee;
Immortal may their memories shine,
Who fought and died for Liberty.
Ten thousand more we owe to thee;
Immortal may their memories shine,
Who fought and died for Liberty.
What heart but hails a scene so bright?
What soul but inspiration draws?
Who would not guard so dear a right,
Or die in such a glorious cause?
What soul but inspiration draws?
Who would not guard so dear a right,
Or die in such a glorious cause?
Let foes to freedom dread the name;
But should they touch this sacred tree,
Thrice fifty thousand swords shall flame,
For Jefferson and Liberty!
But should they touch this sacred tree,
Thrice fifty thousand swords shall flame,
For Jefferson and Liberty!
O'er vast Columbia's varied clime,
Her cities, forests, shores, and dales,
In rising majesty sublime,
Immortal liberty prevails.
Her cities, forests, shores, and dales,
In rising majesty sublime,
Immortal liberty prevails.
From Georgia to Lake Champlain,
From seas to Mississippi's shore;
Ye sons of freedom loud proclaim,
The reign of terror is no more.
From seas to Mississippi's shore;
Ye sons of freedom loud proclaim,
The reign of terror is no more.
Rejoice Columbia's sons rejoice,
To tyrants never bend the knee;
But join, with heart, and soul, and voice,
For Jefferson and Liberty!
To tyrants never bend the knee;
But join, with heart, and soul, and voice,
For Jefferson and Liberty!
| The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson | |