Classic Poem

Hark ! the nations take a song
Of deliverance from the strong; —
Still they cry on every hand,
There is freedom for the land;
For the oppressor's overthrown,
And the golden city's down! —
He who smote the world in wrath
Now lies silent in his path;
None so feeble but may stride
O'er the brow they deified: —
God, in vengeance, hath arisen;
He hath broke the captive's prison;
In his smile a freedom bringing,
Which hath set the whole world singing;
All exulting o'er the ruin
Which declares the dread undoing
Of the awful power that made
Earth grow barren in its shade!
The pines, that trembled at his tread, —
The cedars, doom'd to bow the head
Beneath his lordly axe, that won
The grayest brows of Lebanon, —
Now shout triumphant in the blow
That shields them hence from overthrow.
How stands above his open grave,
With words of scorn, his meanest slave!
To his gloomy ghost they cry,
As it shrouds it from the sky, —
Sinking, under doom of woe,
To the awful realm below.

Thou, that lately stood elate,
Hence! to meet a loathlier state, —
Hell, to hail thee, stirs her dead! —
Rising, as they hear thy tread,
Lo! the great ones of the earth
Hail thee with a mocking mirth;
From their thrones of ancient might,
Rise, to welcome thee to — Night.
Thou, with common voice, they speak,
Art become like us, and weak; —
Pomp and music could not save,
All thy pride is in the grave;
'Neath thee winds the worm, — above,
Crawls and clings, with loathsome love!
How art thou fallen! that, like the star,
The son of morning, shone afar,
Flung, midst the glory of thy light,
In darkness from thy mountain height;
Even at the moment when thy aim
Had been the cope of heaven to claim, —
Above the stars of God to rise,
And sway the assembly of the skies!
Lo! where thou sink'st, with mortal dread,
While Sheol closes o'er thy head; —
Grasping her sides with feeble will,
Yet sinking downward, downward still;
How — could they see thee from above, —
The eyes that never watch'd in love, —
How would they cry — can this be he
That made the crowded nations flee,
Did, in his wrath, the kingdoms shake,
And make earth's far foundations quake!