 | Areytos or songs and ballads of the South |  |
I.
They wept to hear the Hero's name!—
Ah! had they wept to emulate
His spirit's hope, his patriot aim,
Their tears were worthy of his fame,
And they were worthy—of his fate!
Ah! had they wept to emulate
His spirit's hope, his patriot aim,
Their tears were worthy of his fame,
And they were worthy—of his fate!
But tears are toys—are mocks—unless
They rouse the soul which makes success;
Unless they rouse the patriot mood,
Oft baffled, never yet subdued,
Which weeps not oft, but when in vain
It strives to snap its country's chain,
And then—its tears are tears of blood!
They rouse the soul which makes success;
Unless they rouse the patriot mood,
Oft baffled, never yet subdued,
Which weeps not oft, but when in vain
It strives to snap its country's chain,
And then—its tears are tears of blood!
These, from the deep soul's deepest source,
Give birth to Valor's mightiest force;
Wake noble anger; sting the heart,
Forgetful of its sacred part,
That long has slumber'd, to Remorse:
And this to stern Resolve—that braves
A thousand deaths, of strife and pain,
Striving for honorable graves,
But not to weep, or sleep, again!
Unlike that vainer wo, that cries,
Still feels, but dare not seek in fight
Its fierce and fatal destinies,
Though all its country bleeds in sight!
Give birth to Valor's mightiest force;
Wake noble anger; sting the heart,
Forgetful of its sacred part,
That long has slumber'd, to Remorse:
And this to stern Resolve—that braves
A thousand deaths, of strife and pain,
Striving for honorable graves,
But not to weep, or sleep, again!
Unlike that vainer wo, that cries,
Still feels, but dare not seek in fight
Its fierce and fatal destinies,
Though all its country bleeds in sight!
| Areytos or songs and ballads of the South | |