Classic Poem

FROM THE BATTLE OF SABLA, IN CARLYLE'S SPECIMENS OFRABIAN
POETRY .

I.

Hast thou not seen the insulting foe
In fancied triumphs crown'd?
And heard their frantic rulers throw
These empty threats around?
" Make now YOUR CHOICE ! The terms we give,
" Desponding Britons, hear!
" These fetters on your hands receive,
" Or in your hearts the spear. "

Can we forget our old renown;
Resign the empire of the sea;
And yield at once our Sovereign's crown,
Our ancient Laws and Liberty?

Shall thus the fierce Destroyer's hand
Pass unresisted o'er our Native Land?
Our Country sink, to barb'rous force a prey,
And ransom'd England bow to Gallic sway?

II.

" Is then the contest o'er? " we cried,
" And lie we at your feet?
" And dare you vauntingly decide
" The fortune we shall meet?
" A brighter day we soon shall see,
" No more the prospect lours;
" And Conquest, Peace, and Liberty,
" Shall gild our future hours. "

Yes! we will guard our old renown;
Assert our empire of the sea;
And keep untouch'd our Sovereign's crown,
Our ancient Laws and Liberty.

Not thus the fierce Destroyer's hand
Shall scatter ruin o'er this smiling land;
No barb'rous force shall here divide its prey,
Nor ransom'd England bow to Gallic sway.

III.

The Foe advance. In firm array
We'll rush o'er Albion's sands —
Till the red sabre marks our way,
Amid their yielding bands!
Then, as they lie in Death's cold grasp,
We'll cry, " O UR CHOICE IS MADE !
" These hands the sabre's hilt shall clasp,
" Your hearts shall feel the blade. "

Thus Britons guard their ancient fame,
Assert their empire o'er the sea,
And to the envying world proclaim,
One Nation still is brave and free! —

Resolved to conquer or to die,
True to their K ING , their L AWS , their L IBERTY :
No barb'rous foe here finds an easy prey —
Un-ransom'd England spurns all foreign sway.