Jonathan Williams

Air—“The topsail shivers in the wind”

FAIR Freedom, lend thy gracious aid,

To sing our fabric’s fame:

By patriots raised, celestial maid!

It boasts thy sacred name:

On thy broad basis may it be

The pride and safeguard of the free!

Here Justice holds her even scales,

And grasps her rightful sword;

As Truth directs, she never fails

To punish or reward:

Here, equal law is Virtue’s guide,

And Virtue’s sons therein confide.

Here blue-eyed Peace, with gentle sway,

Extends her blessings far;

Though, by her dictates ruled, we may

Be still prepared for war:

The force which from our union grows

Shall aid our friends, and crush our foes.

Thus is our constitution rear’d

On freedom, strength, and peace;

By Virtue loved, by Faction fear’d:

For Faction’s self must cease.

Contented now, we’ll happy live,

While industry and trade shall thrive.

Come, Ceres! come in golden pride:

Adorn each waving field:

Come, with Pomona by thy side,

And fruitful harvests yield:

The heavenly pair their favours shower,

And Agriculture owns their power.

See, Commerce, with extended hand,

Flies the restraint of kings;

And foreign riches to this land,

From every climate brings.

Bless’d by her smiles, we soon shall find,

That where she’s free, she’s always kind.

May Science, and her handmaid, Art,

To this new world belong!

And infant Muses joy impart

In strains of sportive song.

Apollo see! with glory dress’d,

Appears, refulgent, in the west.

America is thus become

A seat to Freedom dear,

Where virtuous strangers find a home,

And no oppression fear.

These rising states shall be renown’d;

By Plenty, Art, and Science crown’d.

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