Liberty! Freedom!
— how our bosoms glow
With honest indignation, when we hear
Your sacred import basely misapplied,
To sanction deeds of such a monstrous die.
Liberty! Freedom! — soul inspiring sounds! |
5 |
'Tis a strange mockery to hear
them fall
From felon's lips — to hear a wretch proclaim,
(A self-elected demagogue), that he
Can give to his misguided lawless band,
The best, — the noblest, — highest gift of heaven! |
10 |
Can a
corrupted stream pour through the land,
Health giving waters? — Can the slave who lures
His wretched followers with the hope of gain,
Feel in his bosom the immortal fire
That bound a Wallace to his country's cause? |
15 |
That bade the *Thracian
Shepperd cast away
Rome's iron yoke — while the astonished world,
Rapt into admiration at the deed
Paused, ere she crushed with overwhelming force,
The man who fought to win a glorious grave — |
20 |
Washington strove with justice
on his side —
A bold, a brave independent man, who broke,
The servile chain that bound a groaning land —
Strong in the majesty of simple right,
With honor, truth and justice for his guard; |
25 |
Freedom's intrepid champion
calmly rose,
To wield the delegated sword of heaven!
His was no love of gain, no lust of sway, —
He sought no object but his country's good,
No higher title than a patriot's name. |
30 |
But sons of anarchy! who leads
you on?
To trample on our rights, and fire the homes
Of peaceful citizens? Men who have sworn
Faithful allegiance to their lawful prince —
Who never in their daily prayers forget, |
35 |
To bless the parent land from
whence they sprung,
And deem their highest privilege is still
To live beneath her mild maternal sway.
Is it not he, who fears to brave the storm
His impious hand has raised? — who shrinks to meet, |
40 |
True hearted Britons in the
open field?
But calls a host of foreign malcontents,
To scathe and desolate a smiling land.
Well — let them come — such robber host deserves
A felon leader — kindred spirits link'd |
45 |
By the same hopes, and aims and
crimes, in one. —
But let him tremble. — In our righteous cause,
Men of undaunted courage still are found,
To rally round the standard of their Queen —
Men who have stood the awful shock of war, |
50 |
And shed their blood in
freedom's sacred cause;
Who need no venal stimulant to draw
The long neglected weapon from the sheath!
What noble independent heart would stoop,
Though lowly born, to take a paltry bribe? |
55 |
When duty pointed out the
forward path,
And self approving conscience urg'd him on.
Canadians! hear a feeble voice proclaim,
The path of honour, rectitude, and peace: —
I cannot aid you with my woman's arm, |
60 |
Or send my infant sons,
(Canadian born)
To fight beneath the banner that asserts
The sacred claims to free-born Britons dear;
But if the spirit which inspires my breast,
Wakens a sympathy in loyal hearts, |
65 |
And nerves the strong arm in
his country's cause,
A child of Briton will not speak in vain.O this
is freedom! — this is to be free —
Secure in conscious worth to stand the shock;
To feel no self accusing foe within, |
70 |
No spirit whispering to the
guilty soul;
"Thou art a traitor to thy native land!
An outcast from all honourable men!
Who for thine own base ends wouldst sacrifice
All private happiness and public good!" |
75 |
Up fathers! husbands! brothers!
take the sword,
Go forth and conquer in your sacred cause;
The God of battles will assert your right,
His wrath will hurl to darkness and despair,
The selfish aims of these presumptuous men. |
80 |