O Freedom! Freedom! O! how oft
Thy loving children call on Thee!
In wailings loud, and breathings soft,
Beseeching God, Thy face to see.
With agonizing hearts we kneel,
While 'round us howls the oppressor's cry, —
And suppliant pray, that we may feel
The ennob'ling glances of Thine eye.
We think of Thee as once we saw
Thee, jewel'd by Thy Father's hand,
Afar beside dark Egypt's shore,
Exulting with Thy ransom'd band.
We hear, as then, the thrilling song,
That hail'd Thy passage through the sea, —
While distant echoes still prolong
The cymbal'd anthem, sung to Thee.
And wafted yet, upon the gales
Borne pure and fresh from sunny skies,
Come startling words! that 'long the vales
Where Pelion and Ossa rise,
Were shouted by Thine own clear voice!
And Grecian hearts leap'd at the call:
E'en as now Patriot souls rejoice,
To see invading tyrants fall.
We view Thy stately form, loom o'er
The topmost of the seven hills!
While 'round Thee glittering eagles soar —
The symbol'd rise of freeborn wills.
Down in the plains, we still behold
The circled forums built to Thee; —
Hear Tully's strains, and Brutus bold,
Call on his country to be free.
When from those groves of citron bloom,
And classic Helle's vine clad shore, —
Through countries hung in castled gloom,
Attending winds Thy chariot bore, —
We followed Thee o'er all the fields
Of Europe, crimson-dyed with blood;
Where broken spears, and buried shields,
Now mark the spots where Thou hast stood.
*****
Exulting in their mission high,
Columbia's sons had pledged Thy cause —
Thy first endeavor, — " to untie
The cords of caste and slavish laws. "
Long years roll'd by, and still went on
The strife of man, 'gainst regal power:
Till, falsely, in Thy strength, was won
Thy since, polluted, blood-stained dower.
We mourn for this! yet joyfully
O Freedom! we loud praises give,
That on Thine altar in the sea,
For us Thy holy fires live.
O! grant! unto our parent home,
Thy constant presence and Thy shield!
That when again rude hirelings come,
Though starr'd from every battle field,
The spirit of the patriot true,
Toussaint, the " man of men, " may ring
The shrill war cry the welkin through,
And plain to mount the echo sing.
*****
When from the slave's crush'd, aching heart,
The cry went up to Sabaoth's God, —
And man, with his immortal part,
Alike, were thrust beneath the sod,
We saw Thee wield convictions strength,
And heard Thy blows fall thick and fast;
While loud and clear through all the length
Of Britain, blew Thy trumpet blast.
Thou wast the answer! C LARKSON ! thou
The mighty soul that woke to life!
That took the consecrated vow,
To conquer — perish in the strife.
Well hast thou fought, great pioneer!
The snows of age upon thy head,
Were Freedom's wreaths; by far, more dear,
Than finest sculpture o'er the dead.
We leave thee to thy long repose!
Thou hast the blessings of the slave:
We pray that at the world's dread close,
Thou rise a freeman from the grave.
What more can we O! Freedom! speak
In praise of Thee? our hearts grow faint!
Where else shall we Thy triumphs seek?
What fairer pictures can we paint?
We stand upon the shaking ground
Of tyranny! we call it home:
The earth is strewn with Christians bound, —
We've cried to Thee — Thou dost not come.
We know Thou has Thy chosen few, —
The men of heart, who live by right, —
Who steadily their way pursue,
Though round them pall the shades of night.
We hold them dear: defamed, beset,
They fight the civil war of man:
The fiercest struggle, that has yet
Been waged against oppressions ban.
We give them thanks: the bondman's prayer
As holy incense soars on high,
That nought to Thee their love impair,
'Till shall be gained the victory.
But, O! Great Spirit! see'st Thou
Thy spotless ermine men defile?
God's civil rulers cringing bow
To hate, and fraud, and customs vile!
The CHURCH, to her great charge untrue,
Keeps Christian guard, o'er slavery's den!
Her coward laymen, wrong pursue,
Her recreant priesthood, say — amen.
O! purify each holy court!
The ministry of law and light!
That man, no longer, may be bought
To trample down his brother's right.
We lift imploring hands to Thee!
We cry for those in prison bound!
O! in Thy strength, come! Liberty!
And 'stablish right the wide world round.
We pray to see Thee, face to face:
To feel our souls grow strong and wide:
So ever shall our injured race,
By Thy firm principles abide.
Thy loving children call on Thee!
In wailings loud, and breathings soft,
Beseeching God, Thy face to see.
With agonizing hearts we kneel,
While 'round us howls the oppressor's cry, —
And suppliant pray, that we may feel
The ennob'ling glances of Thine eye.
We think of Thee as once we saw
Thee, jewel'd by Thy Father's hand,
Afar beside dark Egypt's shore,
Exulting with Thy ransom'd band.
We hear, as then, the thrilling song,
That hail'd Thy passage through the sea, —
While distant echoes still prolong
The cymbal'd anthem, sung to Thee.
And wafted yet, upon the gales
Borne pure and fresh from sunny skies,
Come startling words! that 'long the vales
Where Pelion and Ossa rise,
Were shouted by Thine own clear voice!
And Grecian hearts leap'd at the call:
E'en as now Patriot souls rejoice,
To see invading tyrants fall.
We view Thy stately form, loom o'er
The topmost of the seven hills!
While 'round Thee glittering eagles soar —
The symbol'd rise of freeborn wills.
Down in the plains, we still behold
The circled forums built to Thee; —
Hear Tully's strains, and Brutus bold,
Call on his country to be free.
When from those groves of citron bloom,
And classic Helle's vine clad shore, —
Through countries hung in castled gloom,
Attending winds Thy chariot bore, —
We followed Thee o'er all the fields
Of Europe, crimson-dyed with blood;
Where broken spears, and buried shields,
Now mark the spots where Thou hast stood.
*****
Exulting in their mission high,
Columbia's sons had pledged Thy cause —
Thy first endeavor, — " to untie
The cords of caste and slavish laws. "
Long years roll'd by, and still went on
The strife of man, 'gainst regal power:
Till, falsely, in Thy strength, was won
Thy since, polluted, blood-stained dower.
We mourn for this! yet joyfully
O Freedom! we loud praises give,
That on Thine altar in the sea,
For us Thy holy fires live.
O! grant! unto our parent home,
Thy constant presence and Thy shield!
That when again rude hirelings come,
Though starr'd from every battle field,
The spirit of the patriot true,
Toussaint, the " man of men, " may ring
The shrill war cry the welkin through,
And plain to mount the echo sing.
*****
When from the slave's crush'd, aching heart,
The cry went up to Sabaoth's God, —
And man, with his immortal part,
Alike, were thrust beneath the sod,
We saw Thee wield convictions strength,
And heard Thy blows fall thick and fast;
While loud and clear through all the length
Of Britain, blew Thy trumpet blast.
Thou wast the answer! C LARKSON ! thou
The mighty soul that woke to life!
That took the consecrated vow,
To conquer — perish in the strife.
Well hast thou fought, great pioneer!
The snows of age upon thy head,
Were Freedom's wreaths; by far, more dear,
Than finest sculpture o'er the dead.
We leave thee to thy long repose!
Thou hast the blessings of the slave:
We pray that at the world's dread close,
Thou rise a freeman from the grave.
What more can we O! Freedom! speak
In praise of Thee? our hearts grow faint!
Where else shall we Thy triumphs seek?
What fairer pictures can we paint?
We stand upon the shaking ground
Of tyranny! we call it home:
The earth is strewn with Christians bound, —
We've cried to Thee — Thou dost not come.
We know Thou has Thy chosen few, —
The men of heart, who live by right, —
Who steadily their way pursue,
Though round them pall the shades of night.
We hold them dear: defamed, beset,
They fight the civil war of man:
The fiercest struggle, that has yet
Been waged against oppressions ban.
We give them thanks: the bondman's prayer
As holy incense soars on high,
That nought to Thee their love impair,
'Till shall be gained the victory.
But, O! Great Spirit! see'st Thou
Thy spotless ermine men defile?
God's civil rulers cringing bow
To hate, and fraud, and customs vile!
The CHURCH, to her great charge untrue,
Keeps Christian guard, o'er slavery's den!
Her coward laymen, wrong pursue,
Her recreant priesthood, say — amen.
O! purify each holy court!
The ministry of law and light!
That man, no longer, may be bought
To trample down his brother's right.
We lift imploring hands to Thee!
We cry for those in prison bound!
O! in Thy strength, come! Liberty!
And 'stablish right the wide world round.
We pray to see Thee, face to face:
To feel our souls grow strong and wide:
So ever shall our injured race,
By Thy firm principles abide.