Читать книгу Poems by Speranza онлайн

38 страница из 40

With hymns of the conquering rising together—

God, Liberty, Truth! How they burn heart and brain—

These words shall they burn—shall they waken in vain?

No! soul answers soul, steel flashes on steel,

And land wakens land with a grand thunder-peal.

Shall we, oh! my Brothers, but weep, pray, and groan,

When France reads her rights by the flames of a Throne?

Shall we fear and falter to join the grand chorus,

When Europe has trod the dark pathway before us?

Oh, courage! and we, too, will trample them down,

The minions of power, the serfs of a crown.

Oh, courage! but courage, if once to the winds

Ye fling Freedom's banner, no tyranny binds.

At the voice of the people the weak symbols fall,

And Humanity marches o'er purple and pall,

O'er sceptre and crown, with a glorious disdain,

For the symbol must fall and Humanity reign.

Onward! then onward! ye brave to the vanguard,

Gather in glory round Liberty's standard!

Like France, lordly France, we shall sweep from their station