The Poetical Works of Ebenezer Elliott Edited by his Son Edwin Elliott ... A New and Revised Edition: Two Volumes |
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THE TRICOLOR CROSS.
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 | The Poetical Works of Ebenezer Elliott |  |
82
THE TRICOLOR CROSS.
PARODIED FROM BERANGER'S “CROSS OF THE LEGION OF HONOUR.”
Thou took'st thy deep blue from the eyes of the soul,
And thy white from the foam of the far rolling sea:
But, Cross of the Billows! famed far as they roll,
Why stain thy bright red with the blood of the free?
Columbia beheld thee flaunt over her slain,
When she call'd up the ghosts of Pym, Hampton, and Vane;
And steep'd were thy folds in the blood of her brave,
When France broke her chain, to dig tyrants a grave.
And thy white from the foam of the far rolling sea:
But, Cross of the Billows! famed far as they roll,
Why stain thy bright red with the blood of the free?
Columbia beheld thee flaunt over her slain,
When she call'd up the ghosts of Pym, Hampton, and Vane;
And steep'd were thy folds in the blood of her brave,
When France broke her chain, to dig tyrants a grave.
Famed Red Cross of England, famed ever to be!
Bright Cross of the Tricolor! when wilt thou wave,
A meteor in darkness, from sea unto sea—
The symbol of justice, the hope of the slave?
Where, where wast thou waving when Poland arose,
Crying “God for Sarmatia!” to Liberty's foes?
Oh, not o'er the ranks of the sworn-to-be free,
Stain'd Cross of the Ocean, stain'd ever to be!
Bright Cross of the Tricolor! when wilt thou wave,
A meteor in darkness, from sea unto sea—
The symbol of justice, the hope of the slave?
Where, where wast thou waving when Poland arose,
Crying “God for Sarmatia!” to Liberty's foes?
Oh, not o'er the ranks of the sworn-to-be free,
Stain'd Cross of the Ocean, stain'd ever to be!
83
Stain'd ever?—No, Ocean! thy Tricolor Cross
Shall yet shame the Tricolor dreadfully fair;
Through the ranks of th' oppressor its brightness shall toss
Defiance and havoc, defeat and despair;
O'er the treason of priests, the rebellion of kings,
Our halcyon shall rise, with thy blue on his wings,
And sport with the billows wherever they roll,
Bright, bright as heav'n's depth in the eyes of the soul.
Shall yet shame the Tricolor dreadfully fair;
Through the ranks of th' oppressor its brightness shall toss
Defiance and havoc, defeat and despair;
O'er the treason of priests, the rebellion of kings,
Our halcyon shall rise, with thy blue on his wings,
And sport with the billows wherever they roll,
Bright, bright as heav'n's depth in the eyes of the soul.
| The Poetical Works of Ebenezer Elliott | |