| |
| HIS tongue was touched with sacred fire, | |
| He could not rest, he must speak out, | |
| When Liberty lay stabbed, and doubt | |
| Stalked through the night in vestments dire,— | |
| |
| When slaves uplifted manacled hands, | 5 |
| Praying in agony and despair, | |
| And answer came not anywhere, | |
| But gloom through all the stricken lands,— | |
| |
| His voice for freedom instant rang, | |
| “For shame!” he cried; “spare thou the rod; | 10 |
| All men are free before their God!” | |
| The dragon answered with its fang. | |
| |
| ’T is brave to face embrasured death | |
| Hot belching from the cannon’s mouth, | |
| Yet brave it is, for North or South, | 15 |
| And Truth, to face the mob’s mad breath. | |
| |
| So spake he then,—he and the few | |
| Who prized their manhood more than praise; | |
| Their faith failed not of better days | |
| After the nights of bloody dew. | 20 |
| |
| England’s great heart misunderstood: | |
| She looked upon her child askance; | |
| But heard his words and lowered her lance, | |
| Remembering her motherhood. | |
| |
| Majestic Liberty, serene | 25 |
| Thou frontest on the chaste white sea! | |
| Quench thou awhile thy torch, for he | |
| Lies dead on whom thou once did lean. | |
| |
| Thy cause was ever his,—the slave | |
| In any fetters was his friend; | 30 |
| His warfare never knew an end; | |
| Wherever men lay bound he clave. | |
| |
