 | Household Verses |  |
113
SONNET,
ON THE SAME SUBJECT.
1844.
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
liberty.”
Soul-stirring text! Proclaim
it far and wide,
Throughout the length and breadth of all your land!
Till he who runs may read and understand
The glorious truth in these few words implied!
How—where that Spirit most is deified,
The fame of freedom, by its influence fanned,
Bidding each heart with love to all expand,
Slavery, accurst, no longer can abide!
But oh! what heavier, or more hopeless doom
Can be a nation's or a people's lot,
Or fling upon their fame a fouler blot,
Withering their spirits by its chilling gloom,
Than one which leaves for doubt too fearful room,
That there the Spirit of the Lord is not!
Throughout the length and breadth of all your land!
Till he who runs may read and understand
The glorious truth in these few words implied!
How—where that Spirit most is deified,
The fame of freedom, by its influence fanned,
Bidding each heart with love to all expand,
Slavery, accurst, no longer can abide!
But oh! what heavier, or more hopeless doom
Can be a nation's or a people's lot,
Or fling upon their fame a fouler blot,
Withering their spirits by its chilling gloom,
Than one which leaves for doubt too fearful room,
That there the Spirit of the Lord is not!
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