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416
THE PEACE.
1856.
It means in Paris that a tyrant's strengthened
To hold a noble nation, crouching slaves,
It means his hold on France's soul is lengthened,
By that which kings, from rising nations, saves.
To hold a noble nation, crouching slaves,
It means his hold on France's soul is lengthened,
By that which kings, from rising nations, saves.
It means in Turin that the hopes there cherished
To unchain Italy half-withered droop;
They find its soldiers for a dream have perished,
And that Sardinia is a despot's dupe.
To unchain Italy half-withered droop;
They find its soldiers for a dream have perished,
And that Sardinia is a despot's dupe.
It means in Warsaw that a half-dead nation,
Finds the West's words were merely meant to fool
Its woes to dreams, and wakes with indignation,
To know 'twas used and thrown by as a tool.
Finds the West's words were merely meant to fool
Its woes to dreams, and wakes with indignation,
To know 'twas used and thrown by as a tool.
417
It means in Stockholm fear and sore complaining,
That the West lured its Swedes to beard the Czar,
To leave them, mocked and scorned, without regaining
Finland, the bait that armed them half for war.
That the West lured its Swedes to beard the Czar,
To leave them, mocked and scorned, without regaining
Finland, the bait that armed them half for war.
It means in Berlin, Wurtemberg, and Baden,
That Germans are to be the things they are,
From whom their owners no free voice will pardon,
Slaves, through this peace, from freedom doubly far.
That Germans are to be the things they are,
From whom their owners no free voice will pardon,
Slaves, through this peace, from freedom doubly far.
And in Vienna peace means the relinking
Of half-cracked chains on Austrian and on Pole,
That Hun and Lombard long may cease from thinking
Of hope of freeing limb, or tongue, or soul.
Of half-cracked chains on Austrian and on Pole,
That Hun and Lombard long may cease from thinking
Of hope of freeing limb, or tongue, or soul.
It means that we to whom each suffering nation
Most looked for help to freedom, next to God,
Hating this peace, must know the degradation,
To smile and sign it at a tyrant's nod.
Most looked for help to freedom, next to God,
Hating this peace, must know the degradation,
To smile and sign it at a tyrant's nod.
Therefore, O roaring guns, you well may thunder,
And thunder on as if you ne'er would cease;
Therefore, O clanging steeples, who can wonder
You're clashing England's welcome to this peace!
And thunder on as if you ne'er would cease;
Therefore, O clanging steeples, who can wonder
You're clashing England's welcome to this peace!
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