NOT two ages yet have fled, | |
Since, by holy fervour led, | |
When loud danger shriekd alarm, | |
And Intolerance reard her arm, | |
Urged by Hope, and markd by Fame, | 5 |
To these shores our fathers came. | |
Here, content each ill to brave, | |
Peace and liberty to save. | |
See, from clouds their spirits bend! | |
Hear the sacred charge they send! | 10 |
By yon orb of living light, | |
Swear to guard your native right; | |
Sooner let it cease to shine, | |
Than your liberties resign! | |
|
But in vain did Freedom glow, | 15 |
Not to them that boon we owe: | |
They, across the spreading main, | |
Draggd the tyrants lengthend chain; | |
And a century saw them still | |
Subjects to a despots will; | 20 |
Till, at last, the goddess rose, | |
Proud from iterated woes | |
Tis her form each breast inflames, | |
Tis her voice that yet exclaims, By yon orb, &c. | |
|
Then, to save from anarchs storm, | 25 |
Who the shield of truth should form? | |
Who with dauntless brow would stand, | |
Meet oppressions crushing hand, | |
Claim our rights, our wrongs declare, | |
And each shaft of malice dare? | 30 |
Jeffersonin virtue tried, | |
Now a grateful peoples guide; | |
Brave as learnd, and wise as brave, | |
This the precept that he gave: By yon orb, &c. | |
|
Oer the gloomy breast of night | 35 |
Cynthia sheds her tranquil light; | |
So, to dark, inveterate foes | |
Mild and pure his language flows. | |
Far along the morning sky, | |
Swift the rays of Phbus fly, | 40 |
So, with fire and force combined, | |
Darts the splendour of his mind. | |
Formd base faction to appal, | |
Thus his heaven-taught accents fall: By yon orb, &c. | |
|
While Columbias favourite son, | 45 |
Soul-directed Washington, | |
Led his heroes to the field, | |
Teaching haughty power to yield. | |
Jefferson, in council great, | |
Pennd the charter of the state. | 50 |
On this day each heart be blessd, | |
Every care of life suppressd: | |
Glorys garland, Freedoms lay, | |
Crown Columbias natal day! | |
By yon orb of living light, | 55 |
We swear to guard our native right: | |
Sooner shall it cease to shine | |
Than our liberties decline. | |
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