 | Areytos or songs and ballads of the South |  |
OUR COUNTRY IS A GALLANT BARK!
I.
Our country is a gallant bark,And gallant seamen man her;
The eagle's spirit makes her flight,
The eagle's wing her banner!
Where heaven unveils its cloudless blue,
Where winds and waves can bear her,
Her thunders speak to hostile realms,
That, hating, still must fear her!
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II.
From thirty empires link'd in oneShe takes her strength and glory,
And makes a progress, 'neath the sun,
That glows, a sunlike story;
In peace she grasps the pride of war,
In war, her purpose fondly,
Is still to save from cloud the star
That shines for Freedom only!
III.
And thus with giant might endowed,No giant will degrades her;
Of power and wisdom justly proud,
No injured realm upbraids her;
She heeds no mock of foes who hate,
But steers with progress steady,
For those who hail with cheers, elate,
For those with curses, ready!
IV.
O gallant bark! IF EVER THUSThy course in right pursuing,
No hostile hate can rear the rock,
Or wave, to work thy ruin!
The seas shall own thy progress wide,
The realms of earth thy glory,
And, in his daily march of pride,
The sun shall write thy story!
| Areytos or songs and ballads of the South | |