 | The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth |  |
142
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.
O'er regal domes, renowned in story,
The trinal banner proudly waves,
And France resumes the march of glory,
Her gallant sons no longer slaves.
With tyrants vainly had they pleaded,
But when the press in thunder spoke,
It burst their chains with lightning stroke,
And peace and liberty succeeded.
Then swell the choral strain
To hail the blessed decree!
Rejoice! rejoice! the press shall reign,
And all the world be free!
The trinal banner proudly waves,
And France resumes the march of glory,
Her gallant sons no longer slaves.
With tyrants vainly had they pleaded,
But when the press in thunder spoke,
It burst their chains with lightning stroke,
And peace and liberty succeeded.
Then swell the choral strain
To hail the blessed decree!
Rejoice! rejoice! the press shall reign,
And all the world be free!
All hail! renowned chivalric nation!
Land of the olive and the vine!
Inspired with kindred emulation,
Our bosoms glow with joy like thine!
Columbia's grateful sons can never
Forget, that in her darkest hour,
She owed to Gallia's arm, the power
To disenthrall her press for ever.
Then swell the choral strain
To hail the blessed decree!
Rejoice! rejoice! the press shall reign,
And all the world be free!
Land of the olive and the vine!
Inspired with kindred emulation,
Our bosoms glow with joy like thine!
Columbia's grateful sons can never
Forget, that in her darkest hour,
143
To disenthrall her press for ever.
Then swell the choral strain
To hail the blessed decree!
Rejoice! rejoice! the press shall reign,
And all the world be free!
The day which saw the sceptre shivered,
And hailed Columbia truly free,
From every hireling foe delivered,
We consecrate to joy and thee.
For tyrants tremble now before thee,
And a free press, the beacon light
That burst upon Oppression's night,
Has spread eternal glory o'er thee.
Then swell the choral strain
To hail the blessed decree!
Rejoice! rejoice! the press shall reign,
And all the world be free!
And hailed Columbia truly free,
From every hireling foe delivered,
We consecrate to joy and thee.
For tyrants tremble now before thee,
And a free press, the beacon light
That burst upon Oppression's night,
Has spread eternal glory o'er thee.
Then swell the choral strain
To hail the blessed decree!
Rejoice! rejoice! the press shall reign,
And all the world be free!
Thy chartered rights, with lawless daring,
Beneath oppressors' feet were trod,
Till startled despots heard, despairing,
The people's voice, the voice of God!
Their sovereign will was loudly spoken;
The press proclaimed it to the world!
Till Freedom's ensign waved unfurled,
And Gallia's galling chains were broken!
Then swell the choral strain
To hail the blessed decree!
Rejoice! rejoice! the press shall reign,
And all the world be free!
Beneath oppressors' feet were trod,
Till startled despots heard, despairing,
The people's voice, the voice of God!
Their sovereign will was loudly spoken;
The press proclaimed it to the world!
144
And Gallia's galling chains were broken!
Then swell the choral strain
To hail the blessed decree!
Rejoice! rejoice! the press shall reign,
And all the world be free!
Thy gallant band of youthful heroes,
Roused by their bleeding country's prayers,
Undaunted hurled on ruthless Neros,
The vengeance due to crimes like theirs!
Too late they see their fatal error,
Their hireling guards by thousands fall,
The press resigns its types for ball,
And despots fly the scene in terror!
Then swell the choral strain
To hail the blessed decree!
Rejoice! rejoice! the press shall reign,
And all the world be free!
Roused by their bleeding country's prayers,
Undaunted hurled on ruthless Neros,
The vengeance due to crimes like theirs!
Too late they see their fatal error,
Their hireling guards by thousands fall,
The press resigns its types for ball,
And despots fly the scene in terror!
Then swell the choral strain
To hail the blessed decree!
Rejoice! rejoice! the press shall reign,
And all the world be free!
Their deeds shall live in deathless story,
And song preserve their chaplets green;
Yet still the brightest rays of glory
Circle one Godlike brow serene.
'T is his whose youthful valor aided
Columbia's cause, when hostile bands
Were laying waste her fairest lands,
And all her blooming hopes had faded!
Then swell the choral strain
To hail the blessed decree!
Rejoice! rejoice! the press shall reign,
And all the world be free!
And song preserve their chaplets green;
Yet still the brightest rays of glory
Circle one Godlike brow serene.
'T is his whose youthful valor aided
Columbia's cause, when hostile bands
Were laying waste her fairest lands,
And all her blooming hopes had faded!
145
To hail the blessed decree!
Rejoice! rejoice! the press shall reign,
And all the world be free!
Immortal Lafayette! we hail thee,
The friend of equal rights on earth,
Though servile tools of kings assail thee,
Columbia knows and owns thy worth.
Thou first of heroes, best of sages,
The glorious chaplet thou hast won,
Disciple of our Washington,
Shall bloom, like his, for endless ages.
Then swell the choral strain
To hail the blessed decree!
Rejoice! rejoice! the press shall reign,
And all the world be free!
The friend of equal rights on earth,
Though servile tools of kings assail thee,
Columbia knows and owns thy worth.
Thou first of heroes, best of sages,
The glorious chaplet thou hast won,
Disciple of our Washington,
Shall bloom, like his, for endless ages.
Then swell the choral strain
To hail the blessed decree!
Rejoice! rejoice! the press shall reign,
And all the world be free!
| The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth | |