 | Miami Woods : a golden wedding and other poems |  |
181
Truth and Freedom.
On the page that is Immortal,
We the pregnant promise see:
“Ye shall know the Truth, my people,
And the Truth shall make you free.”
We the pregnant promise see:
“Ye shall know the Truth, my people,
And the Truth shall make you free.”
For the Truth, then, let us battle,
Whatsoever fate betide!
Long the boast that we are Freemen,
We have made, and published wide.
Whatsoever fate betide!
Long the boast that we are Freemen,
We have made, and published wide.
He who has the Truth, and keeps it,
Keeps what not to him belongs;
But performs a selfish action,
Which his fellow-mortal wrongs.
Keeps what not to him belongs;
But performs a selfish action,
Which his fellow-mortal wrongs.
He who seeks the Truth, and trembles
At the dangers he must brave,
Is not fit to be a Freeman:—
He, at best, is but a slave.
At the dangers he must brave,
Is not fit to be a Freeman:—
He, at best, is but a slave.
He who hears the truth, and places
Its high promptings under ban,
Long may boast of all that 's manly,
But can never be a Man.
Its high promptings under ban,
Long may boast of all that 's manly,
But can never be a Man.
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Friend, this simple lay who readest,
Be not thou like either of them;
But to Truth give utmost freedom,
And the tide it raises, stem.
Be not thou like either of them;
But to Truth give utmost freedom,
And the tide it raises, stem.
Bold in speech, and brave in action,
Be forever!—Time will test,
Of the free-soul'd and the slavish,
Which fulfills life's mission best.
Be forever!—Time will test,
Of the free-soul'd and the slavish,
Which fulfills life's mission best.
Be thou like the noble Ancient—
Scorn the threat that bids thee fear;
Speak!—no matter what betide thee;
Let them strike, but make them hear!
Scorn the threat that bids thee fear;
Speak!—no matter what betide thee;
Let them strike, but make them hear!
Be thou like the first apostles—
Be thou like heroic Paul:
If a free thought seek expression,
Speak it boldly!—speak it all!
Be thou like heroic Paul:
If a free thought seek expression,
Speak it boldly!—speak it all!
Face thine enemies—accusers;
Scorn the prison, rack, or rod!
And, if thou hast Truth to utter,
Speak! and leave the rest to God.
Scorn the prison, rack, or rod!
And, if thou hast Truth to utter,
Speak! and leave the rest to God.
| Miami Woods : a golden wedding and other poems | |