Classic Poem

La Sainte Alliance des Peuples

Peace have I seen come down amidst us here,
Bidding Earth teem with corn, with flowers, with gold;
Calm were the Heavens — for lo! as Peace drew near,
War's lurid bolts were all extinct and cold
" French, English, Belgian, " thus I heard her call,
" German, and Russ, in prowess equal all;
Nations, unite to form one holy band,
And join ye hand in hand!

" Such lengthened hate, poor souls, 'tis hard to bear!
Slumber ye taste not, unalloyed by pain:
This narrow globe more equitably share;
One gleam of sunshine each of you shall gain.
Now to the car of Power all yoked and bound,
Ye miss the path where happiness is found.
Nations, unite to form one holy band,
And join ye hand in hand!

" Amidst your neighbors burning brands ye wield —
The North-wind roars — your roofs are blazing high —
And if at length Time cools the blackened field,
Maimed are your arms, your ploughs all useless lie:
Along the boundary line of States, be sure,
No blade of corn from human blood is pure
Nations, unite to form one holy band,
And join ye hand in hand!

" Within your cities wrapped in smoke and flame,
Monarchs with tips of insolent sceptres dare
Men — men — to mark, to number, to proclaim,
Whom one fierce triumph portioned as their share.
Ah! feeble herds — in your defence no stroke —
Ye quit the heavy for the cruel yoke!
Nations, unite to form one holy band,
And join ye hand in hand!

" Mars stays his footsteps — be it not in vain!
Your countries mourn — bid Laws their solace bring!
No more the sources of your life's blood drain
For mighty Conqueror, for ungrateful King!
Abjure the influence of false stars — they fail —
Bugbears to-day, to-morrow they shall pale!
Nations, unite to form one holy band,
And join ye hand in hand!

" Yes, free at length, let Earth breathe freely — throw,
To hide the past, a veil before our eyes —
To sound of lyres your fields in gladness sow —
For Peace the Arts should bid their incense rise:
Then smiling Hope will reap, on Plenty's breast,
The fruits with which such union must be blessed.
Nations, unite to form one holy band,
And join ye hand in hand! "

Such were her words, the ever honored maid;
Kings, more than one, her gentle strain pursued:
Earth as in Spring-time gaily was arrayed,
And Autumn, flowering, Spring's soft love renewed.
Good wines of France, flow, freely flow to-day —
Back to his land the Alien takes his way:
Let us, O Nations, form one holy band,
And join we hand in hand!