Classic Poem

Lafayette en Amerique.

" What means yon train, Republicans, declare! "
" An aged warrior lands upon our shore. "
" Comes he the alliance of some king to swear? "
" Kings on his head their wrath would gladly pour! "
" Hath he vast power? " " Alone he crossed the waves. "
" What hath he done? " " He hath enfranchised slaves
Man of two worlds, immortal fame be thine!
O'er all the earth, O days of triumph, shine!

" Thou seest, European, far and near
Upon this strand, whence joyous shouts resound,
Thou seest, free from pain or servile fear,
Peace, Labor, Law, and Charities abound
Here the oppressed a refuge find from strife;
Here tyrants bid our deserts teem with life:
Man and his rights have here a Judge Divine.
O'er all the earth, O days of triumph, shine!

" But oh, what blood for this our state we paid!
Here Lafayette, when we were tottering, flew,
Pointed to France, our Washington obeyed,
And conquering fought till England's host withdrew
For holy Freedom, for his native State,
Amidst reverses he hath since grown great;
Of Olmutz' fetters we efface the sign
O'er all the earth, O days of triumph, shine!

" This old ally, now hailed with rapturous glee —
Hero who once a hero's choice hath been —
Blessed the young sapling of our Liberty,
In days while yet its opening leaves were green.
But now, the tree full-leaved and rooted fast,
Braving in peace the lightning and the blast,
He comes beneath its shadow to recline
O'er all the earth, O days of triumph, shine!

" Mark, how our chiefs, our sages round him press!
Our veterans strive his features to recall;
Mark a whole people! and wild tribes, no less,
Drawn by his name, from out their forests crawl
The sainted tree for this vast crowd hath made,
With ever-verdant boughs, a grateful shade;
Far shall the winds its goodly seed consign.
O'er all the earth, O days of triumph, shine! "

The European, whom these words amaze,
Had bowed to kings, and swelled the conqueror's show:
Slaves to those idols offered hymns of praise;
More lofty honors freemen can bestow!
" Alas! " he cries, and o'er the wave his eye
Seems some dear land, far distant, to descry,
" Both worlds may Worth in closer bonds entwine!
O'er all the earth, O days of triumph, shine! "