 | Later Lyrics |  |
15
APRIL 19.
A spasm o'er my heart
Sweeps like a burning flood;
A sentence rings upon mine ears,
Avenge the guiltless blood!
Sweeps like a burning flood;
A sentence rings upon mine ears,
Avenge the guiltless blood!
Sit not in health and ease,
Nor reckon loss nor gain,
When men who bear our country's flag
Are set upon and slain,
Nor reckon loss nor gain,
When men who bear our country's flag
Are set upon and slain,
Not by mistaken hearts
With long oppression wrung,
Filled with great thoughts that ripen late,
And madden, when they're young.
With long oppression wrung,
Filled with great thoughts that ripen late,
And madden, when they're young.
16
The murderer's wicked lust
Their righteous steps withstood;
The zeal that thieves and pirates know
Brought down the guiltless blood.
Their righteous steps withstood;
The zeal that thieves and pirates know
Brought down the guiltless blood.
From every vein of mine
Its fiery burthen take;
From every drop the burning coin
Of righteous vengeance make.
Its fiery burthen take;
From every drop the burning coin
Of righteous vengeance make.
Low let the city lie
That thus her guests receives;
A smoking ruin to the eye
Be marble walls and eaves!
That thus her guests receives;
A smoking ruin to the eye
Be marble walls and eaves!
Thou God of love and wrath,
That watchest on the wing,
Remorseless at those caitiff hearts
Thy bolts of judgment fling!
That watchest on the wing,
Remorseless at those caitiff hearts
Thy bolts of judgment fling!
17
Blot from the sight of heaven
The city, where she stood,
And with thy might, avenging Right,
Wipe out the guiltless blood!
The city, where she stood,
And with thy might, avenging Right,
Wipe out the guiltless blood!
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