Читать книгу Poems by Speranza онлайн

28 страница из 40

Like a God with conquest glowing

So to love, and work, and die!

ssss1

GONE from us—dead to us—he whom we worshipped so!

Low lies the altar we raised to his name;

Madly his own hand hath shattered and laid it low—

Madly his own breath hath blasted his fame.

He whose proud bosom once raged with humanity,

He whose broad forehead was circled with might,

Sunk to a time-serving, driv'lling inanity—

God! why not spare our loved country the sight?

Was it the gold of the stranger that tempted him?

Ah! we'd have pledged to him body and soul;

Toiled for him—fought for him—starved for him—died for him—

Smiled, tho' our graves were the steps to his goal.

Breathed he one word in his deep, earnest whispering,

Wealth, crown, and kingdom, were laid at his feet;

Raised he his right hand, the millions would round him cling—

Hush! 'tis the Sassenach ally you greet.

Leaders have fallen—we wept, but we triumphed, too—

Patriot blood never sinks in the sod;

He falls, and the jeers of the nation he bent to sue