Poems by Robert Nicoll Second edition: with numerous additions, and a memoir of the author |
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| II. |
| III. |
THE BURSTING OF THE CHAIN.
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| IV. |
| V. |
 | Poems by Robert Nicoll |  |
THE BURSTING OF THE CHAIN.
AN ANTHEM FOR THE THIRD CENTENARY OF THE REFORMATION.
(INSCRIBED TO THE REVEREND H. CLARKE.)
An offering to the shrine of Power
Our hands shall never bring—
A garland on the car of Pomp
Our hands shall never fling—
Applauding in the Conqueror's path
Our voices ne'er shall be;
But we have hearts to honour those
Who bade the world go free!
Our hands shall never bring—
A garland on the car of Pomp
Our hands shall never fling—
Applauding in the Conqueror's path
Our voices ne'er shall be;
But we have hearts to honour those
Who bade the world go free!
Stern Ignorance man's soul had bound
In fetters, rusted o'er
With tears—with scalding human tears—
And red with human gore;
But men arose—the Men to whom
We bend the freeman's knee—
Who, God-encouraged, burst the chain,
And made our fathers free!
In fetters, rusted o'er
With tears—with scalding human tears—
And red with human gore;
But men arose—the Men to whom
We bend the freeman's knee—
Who, God-encouraged, burst the chain,
And made our fathers free!
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Light dwelt where Darkness erst had been—
The morn of Mind arose—
The dawning of that Day of Love
Which never more shall close:
Joy grew more joyful, and more green
The valley and the lea,—
The glorious sun from Heaven look'd down,
And smiled upon the Free!
The morn of Mind arose—
The dawning of that Day of Love
Which never more shall close:
Joy grew more joyful, and more green
The valley and the lea,—
The glorious sun from Heaven look'd down,
And smiled upon the Free!
Truth came, and made its home below;
And Universal Love,
And Brotherhood, and Peace, and Joy,
Are following from above:
And happy ages on the earth
Humanity shall see;
And happy lips shall bless their names
Who made our children free!
And Universal Love,
And Brotherhood, and Peace, and Joy,
Are following from above:
And happy ages on the earth
Humanity shall see;
And happy lips shall bless their names
Who made our children free!
Praise to the Good—the Pure—the Great—
Who made us what we are!—
Who lit the flame which yet shall glow
With radiance brighter far:—
Glory to them in coming time,
And through Eternity!
They burst the Captive's galling chain,
And bade the world go free!
Who made us what we are!—
Who lit the flame which yet shall glow
With radiance brighter far:—
Glory to them in coming time,
And through Eternity!
They burst the Captive's galling chain,
And bade the world go free!
| Poems by Robert Nicoll | |