 | The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth |  |
162
HORNET AND PEACOCK.
Rejoice! rejoice! Fredonia's sons rejoice!
And swell the loud trumpet in patriotic strain;
Your choice, your choice, fair Freedom is your choice,
Then celebrate her triumphs on the main.
For the trident of Neptune, long by Britain wielded,
At length to Fredonia reluctantly yielded.
Then for Hull, Decatur, Jones,
And for Bainbridge, swell the tones,
While the ready hand of Fame
Bright emblazons every name—
Brave Lawrence, gallant Lawrence, now is shouted with acclaim.
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, boys,
Free is our soil, and the ocean shall be free;
Our tars, shall Mars protect beneath our stars,
And Freedom's eagle hover o'er the sea.
And swell the loud trumpet in patriotic strain;
Your choice, your choice, fair Freedom is your choice,
Then celebrate her triumphs on the main.
For the trident of Neptune, long by Britain wielded,
At length to Fredonia reluctantly yielded.
Then for Hull, Decatur, Jones,
And for Bainbridge, swell the tones,
While the ready hand of Fame
Bright emblazons every name—
Brave Lawrence, gallant Lawrence, now is shouted with acclaim.
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, boys,
Free is our soil, and the ocean shall be free;
Our tars, shall Mars protect beneath our stars,
And Freedom's eagle hover o'er the sea.
Attend, attend, ye gallant tars attend,
While your deeds are recounted in patriotic song;
Ascend, ascend, your banners high ascend,
And your cannon the loud chorus still prolong.
First, the bold Constitution led the path of glory,
The gallant little Wasp then added to the story;
Soon a brighter glory 'waits,
The renowned United States—
For she gave Columbia's fleet,
A new frigate that she beat;
While the famed Constitution sunk another in the deep.
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, boys,
Free is our soil, and the ocean shall be free;
Our tars shall Mars protect beneath our stars,
And Freedom's eagle hover o'er the sea.
While your deeds are recounted in patriotic song;
Ascend, ascend, your banners high ascend,
And your cannon the loud chorus still prolong.
163
The gallant little Wasp then added to the story;
Soon a brighter glory 'waits,
The renowned United States—
For she gave Columbia's fleet,
A new frigate that she beat;
While the famed Constitution sunk another in the deep.
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, boys,
Free is our soil, and the ocean shall be free;
Our tars shall Mars protect beneath our stars,
And Freedom's eagle hover o'er the sea.
Again, again, Columbia's flag again
Triumphantly floats where Britannia's used to soar;
In vain the main has owned the Peacock's reign,
Her gaudy rainbow honors are no more!
For Lawrence taught the Hornet so fiercely to assail her,
That all her boasted prowess in fight could not avail her;
But she ended her career,
Like the Java and Guerriere;
For the Hornet's sting was plied
Till the sea, with blushes dyed,
Its tyrant's fifth defeat in its bosom sought to hide.
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, boys,
Free is our soil, and the ocean shall be free;
Our tars shall Mars protect beneath our stars,
And Freedom's eagle hover o'er the sea.
Triumphantly floats where Britannia's used to soar;
In vain the main has owned the Peacock's reign,
Her gaudy rainbow honors are no more!
For Lawrence taught the Hornet so fiercely to assail her,
That all her boasted prowess in fight could not avail her;
But she ended her career,
Like the Java and Guerriere;
For the Hornet's sting was plied
Till the sea, with blushes dyed,
Its tyrant's fifth defeat in its bosom sought to hide.
164
Free is our soil, and the ocean shall be free;
Our tars shall Mars protect beneath our stars,
And Freedom's eagle hover o'er the sea.
Unite, unite, Columbia's sons, unite,
And hurl on aggressors the tempest they provoke,
The fight is right, then raise your sabres bright,
And Britons soon shall tremble at the stroke.
The foe's on our coast! put your mountain-oaks in motion,
Fly to the main, for your wrongs were on the ocean;
There in a flood of fire,
Every tar shall breathe his ire;
His motto, while he fights,
Be “Free trade and sailors' rights,”
Till even-handed Justice every injury requites.
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, boys,
Free is our soil, and the ocean shall be free;
Our tars shall Mars protect beneath our stars,
And Freedom's eagle hover o'er the sea.
And hurl on aggressors the tempest they provoke,
The fight is right, then raise your sabres bright,
And Britons soon shall tremble at the stroke.
The foe's on our coast! put your mountain-oaks in motion,
Fly to the main, for your wrongs were on the ocean;
There in a flood of fire,
Every tar shall breathe his ire;
His motto, while he fights,
Be “Free trade and sailors' rights,”
Till even-handed Justice every injury requites.
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, boys,
Free is our soil, and the ocean shall be free;
Our tars shall Mars protect beneath our stars,
And Freedom's eagle hover o'er the sea.
| The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth | |