TOLL! Roland, toll! | |
| High in St. Bavon’s tower, | |
| At midnight hour, | |
| The great bell Roland spoke, | |
| And all who slept in Ghent awoke. | 5 |
| What meant its iron stroke? | |
| Why caught each man his blade? | |
| Why the hot haste he made? | |
| Why echoed every street | |
| With tramp of thronging feet,— | 10 |
| All flying to the city’s wall? | |
| It was the call, | |
| Known well to all, | |
| That Freedom stood in peril of some foe; | |
| And even timid hearts grew bold, | 15 |
| Whenever Roland tolled, | |
| And every hand a sword could hold: | |
| For men | |
| Were patriots then, | |
| Three hundred years ago! | 20 |
| |
| Toll! Roland, toll! | |
| Bell never yet was hung, | |
| Between whose lips there swung | |
| So true and brave a tongue! | |
| —If men be patriots still, | 25 |
| At thy first sound | |
| True hearts will bound, | |
| Great souls will thrill,— | |
| Then toll! and wake the test | |
| In each man’s breast, | 30 |
| And let him stand confessed! | |
| |
| Toll! Roland, toll! | |
| Not in St. Bavon’s tower, | |
| At midnight hour,— | |
| Nor by the Scheldt, nor far-off Zuyder Zee; | 35 |
| But here,—this side the sea!— | |
| And here, in broad, bright day! | |
| Toll! Roland, toll! | |
| For not by night awaits | |
| A brave foe at the gates, | 40 |
| But Treason stalks abroad,—inside!—at noon! | |
| Toll! Thy alarm is not too soon! | |
| To arms! Ring out the leader’s call! | |
| Re-echo it from east to west, | |
| Till every dauntless breast | 45 |
| Swell beneath plume and crest! | |
| Till swords from scabbards leap! | |
| What tears can widows weep | |
| Less bitter than when brave men fall? | |
| Toll! Roland, toll! | 50 |
| Till cottager from cottage wall | |
| Snatch pouch and powder-horn and gun,— | |
| The heritage of sire to son, | |
| Ere half of Freedom’s work was done! | |
| Toll! Roland, toll! | 55 |
| Till son, in memory of his sire, | |
| Once more shall load and fire! | |
| Toll! Roland, toll! | |
| Till volunteers find out the art | |
| Of aiming at a traitor’s heart! | 60 |
| |
| Toll! Roland, toll! | |
| St. Bavon’s stately tower | |
| Stands to this hour, | |
| And by its side stands Freedom yet in Ghent; | |
| For when the bells now ring, | 65 |
| Men shout, “God save the king!” | |
| Until the air is rent! | |
| Amen!—So let it be; | |
| For a true king is he | |
| Who keeps his people free. | 70 |
| Toll! Roland, toll! | |
| This side the sea! | |
| No longer they, but we, | |
| Have now such need of thee! | |
| Toll! Roland, toll! | 75 |
| And let thy iron throat | |
| Ring out its warning note, | |
| Till Freedom’s perils be outbraved, | |
| And Freedom’s flag, wherever waved, | |
| Shall overshadow none enslaved! | 80 |
| Toll! till from either ocean’s strand | |
| Brave men shall clasp each other’s hand, | |
| And shout, “God save our native land!” | |
| And love the land which God hath saved! | |
| Toll! Roland, toll! | 85 |
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