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COLUMBIA, Columbia, to glory arise, | |
The queen of the world, and the child of the skies! | |
Thy genius commands thee; with rapture behold, | |
While ages on ages thy splendors unfold. | |
Thy reign is the last and the noblest of time, | 5 |
Most fruitful thy soil, most inviting thy clime; | |
Let the crimes of the East neer encrimson thy name, | |
Be freedom and science and virtue thy fame. | |
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To conquest and slaughter let Europe aspire; | |
Whelm nations in blood, and wrap cities in fire; | 10 |
Thy heroes the rights of mankind shall defend, | |
And triumph pursue them, and glory attend. | |
A world is thy realm; for a world be thy laws | |
Enlarged as thine empire, and just as thy cause; | |
On Freedoms broad basis that empire shall rise, | 15 |
Extend with the main, and dissolve with the skies. | |
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Fair Science her gates to thy sons shall unbar, | |
And the East see thy morn hide the beams of her star; | |
New bards and new sages unrivalled shall soar | |
To fame unextinguished when time is no more; | 20 |
To thee, the last refuge of virtue designed, | |
Shall fly from all nations the best of mankind; | |
Here, grateful to Heaven, with transport shall bring | |
Their incense, more fragrant than odors of spring. | |
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Nor less shall thy fair ones to glory ascend, | 25 |
And genius and beauty in harmony blend; | |
The graces of form shall awake pure desire, | |
And the charms of the soul ever cherish the fire; | |
Their sweetness unmingled, their manners refined, | |
And virtues bright image, enstamped on the mind, | 30 |
With peace and soft rapture shall teach life to glow, | |
And light up a smile on the aspect of woe. | |
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Thy fleets to all regions thy power shall display, | |
The nations admire, and the ocean obey; | |
Each shore to thy glory its tribute unfold, | 35 |
And the East and the South yield their spices and gold. | |
As the dayspring unbounded thy splendor shall flow, | |
And earths little kingdoms before thee shall bow, | |
While the ensigns of union, in triumph unfurled, | |
Hush the tumult of war, and give peace to the world. | 40 |
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Thus, as down a lone valley, with cedars oerspread, | |
From wars dread confusion, I pensively strayed, | |
The gloom from the face of fair heaven retired; | |
The wind ceased to murmur, the thunders expired; | |
Perfumes, as of Eden, flowed sweetly along, | 45 |
And a voice, as of angels, enchantingly sung: | |
Columbia, Columbia, to glory arise, | |
The queen of the world, and the child of the skies! | |
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