Classic Poem

OFFSPRING of Heav'n we bend to thee,
Sweet smiling goddess liberty!
Thy presence we adore;
Still with thy fav'rite isle reside,
And constant as the flowing tide,
Thy energies restore!
That fell security may never prove,
The grave of freedom, and of public love:

For ah! on ev'ry side, appears
The rusting hand of fleeting years,
And dire corruption's blast;
Thy Athens once so bless'd, and free!
Is curs'd with chains and infamy,
And Sparta's pride is pass'd!
Long hast thou left the fertile vales of Greece,
And with thee vanish'd valour, arts, and peace.

Then lighting on Italia's shore,
Thy temples rose to fame once more,
And Rome thy sway confess'd;
But civil rage, and thirst of pow'r,
More fierce than Vandals to devour!
Estrang'd her from thy breast.
At length, by vice, and faction headlong driv'n,
Rome fell, deserted both by thee and Heaven!

Then as this isle thou hover'st o'er,
Doubtful to shun, or seek the shore
Sway'd by a tyrant's hand;
The barons felt thy balmy breath,
And, braving danger, chains, and death,
They woo'd thee to the land.
Firmly thou stood'st with brow serene,
While bending millions hail'd their queen!—

Despotic pow'r, at once, gave way,
Like yielding night to breaking day!
The iron reign of stern control,
No more appall'd the gen'rous soul;
No more repress'd those glowing fires,
Which freedom in the breast inspires;
Nature, from galling fetters free,
Temper'd command with liberty!
And from that happy moment thou hast prov'd,
The constant guardian of this isle belov'd.

Hear goddess! hear our ardent prayer,
Still be this envied soil thy care,
And never quit our shore!
In Britain's councils still preside,
And constant as the flowing tide,
Thy energies restore!
That fell security may never prove,
The grave of freedom, and of public love!