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(From The Rising in 1776)
THE PASTOR rose: the prayer was strong; | |
| The psalm was warrior David’s song; | |
| The text, a few short words of might,— | |
| “The Lord of hosts shall arm the right!” | |
| He spoke of wrongs too long endured, | 5 |
| Of sacred rights to be secured; | |
| Then from his patriot tongue of flame | |
| The startling words for Freedom came. | |
| The stirring sentences he spake | |
| Compelled the heart to glow or quake, | 10 |
| And, rising on his theme’s broad wing, | |
| And grasping in his nervous hand | |
| The imaginary battle-brand, | |
| In face of death he dared to fling | |
| Defiance to a tyrant king. | 15 |
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| Even as he spoke, his frame, renewed | |
| In eloquence of attitude, | |
| Rose, as it seemed, a shoulder higher; | |
| Then swept his kindling glance of fire | |
| From startled pew to breathless choir; | 20 |
| When suddenly his mantle wide | |
| His hands impatient flung aside, | |
| And, lo! he met their wondering eyes | |
| Complete in all a warrior’s guise. * * * * * | |
| And now before the open door— | 25 |
| The warrior-priest had ordered so— | |
| The enlisting trumpet’s sudden soar | |
| Rang through the chapel, o’er and o’er, | |
| Its long reverberating blow, | |
| So loud and clear, it seemed the ear | 30 |
| Of dusty Death must wake and hear. | |
| And there the startling drum and fife | |
| Fired the living with fiercer life; | |
| While overhead, with wild increase, | |
| Forgetting its ancient toll of peace, | 35 |
| The great bell swung as ne’er before: | |
| It seemed as it would never cease; | |
| And every word its ardor flung | |
| From off its jubilant iron tongue | |
| Was, “War! War! War!” | 40 |
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| “Who dares”—this was the patriot’s cry, | |
| As striding from the desk he came— | |
| “Come out with me, in Freedom’s name, | |
| For her to live, for her to die?” | |
| A hundred hands flung up reply, | 45 |
| A hundred voices answered, “I!” | |
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