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[1775]
IN a chariot of light from the regions of day, | |
| The Goddess of Liberty came; | |
| Ten thousand celestials directed the way, | |
| And hither conducted the dame. | |
| A fair budding branch from the gardens above, | 5 |
| Where millions with millions agree, | |
| She brought in her hand as a pledge of her love, | |
| And the plant she named Liberty Tree. | |
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| The celestial exotic struck deep in the ground, | |
| Like a native it flourished and bore; | 10 |
| The fame of its fruit drew the nations around, | |
| To seek out this peaceable shore. | |
| Unmindful of names or distinction they came, | |
| For freemen like brothers agree; | |
| With one spirit endued, they one friendship pursued, | 15 |
| And their temple was Liberty Tree. | |
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| Beneath this fair tree, like the patriarchs of old, | |
| Their bread in contentment they ate, | |
| Unvexed with the troubles of silver and gold, | |
| The cares of the grand and the great. | 20 |
| With timber and tar they Old England supplied, | |
| And supported her power on the sea; | |
| Her battles they fought, without getting a groat, | |
| For the honor of Liberty Tree. | |
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| But hear, O ye swains, ’t is a tale most profane, | 25 |
| How all the tyrannical powers, | |
| Kings, Commons, and Lords, are united amain, | |
| To cut down this guardian of ours; | |
| From the east to the west blow the trumpet to arms, | |
| Through the land let the sound of it flee, | 30 |
| Let the far and the near, all unite with a cheer, | |
| In defence of our Liberty Tree. | |
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