Take,
O take the martial Lyre,
Boldly
strike the deep-ton'd wire;
Make
it's notes sublimely roll,
Kindle
rapture in the soul:
Touch
the secrets of the heart,
|
5 |
Bid
it's every life thread start,
And,
with sympathetic sway,
Lead
it captive quick away. |
|
Ye
that, by the muses blest,
Know
to move the dormant breast;
|
10 |
Wake,
O wake the song of praise,
Loudly
sing, in [unintelligible] lays,
Glorious
deeds by heroes done,
Laurell'd
Crowns by heroes won:
Tell
that freedom was their cause,
|
15 |
Liberty
and equal Laws;
Rights
to Freemen only known,
Freemen's
heritage alone. |
|
Ye
that boast a Patriot's name,
Ye
that feel a Patriot flame
|
20 |
Ardent
in your bosom glow,
Thro'
your veins, high-mounting, flow;
You
that rais'd a helping hand,
To
protect your native land,
|
|
When
invasion, stalking round,
|
25 |
Half
our Country captive bound;
Tell
me, Patriots, for you know,
What
should gratitude bestow,
What
award the noble brave,
What
from threefold dangers saved,
|
30 |
Saved
the land when hope had fled,
And
desponding hung her head?
You
who, deep with wisdom fraught,
Harsh
discordant matter wrought
Moulded
from the seeds of strife, |
35 |
Form
and order, union, life;
You,
whose Legislative sway,
In
the dark and trying day,
Gave
the arm of power it's force,
Turn'd
it to it's proper course; |
40 |
Dar'd
to immolate a part,
To
preserve the vital heart:
Tell
me, Statesmen, for you know,
What
should gratitude bestow,
What
award the wise and good, |
45 |
Who
the raging storm withstood,
Nobly
braved it 'till the last,
'Till
the danger all was past?
Patriots,
Statesmen, all you crave,
Is
your Country's love–to
have; |
50 |
Affection's
fond effusions tell,
That
you deserve its praises well. |
|
Wake,
O wake the trembling wire,
O'er
it breathe ecstatic fire!
Strike
the deep–ton'd
chords and tell, |
55 |
The
deeds of those who fought and fell!
Crown
each ever honour'd name,
With
the laurell'd wreaths of fame.
Foremost
in the glorious band,
|
|
Best
and greatest, BROCK shall stand,
|
60 |
Followed
by a patriot train,
Who
have sav'd the embattled plain.
They
stood firm in freedom's cause,
To
their country and it's laws;
They
have left their names in trust,
|
65 |
And
their country must be just. |
|
Wake
then, wake the martial lyre,
Boldly
touch the obedient wire;
Strike
the deep–ton'd
chords and tell,
The
deeds of those who for their country fell. |
70 |
ERIEUS. |
|
Talbot-Road, 26th Feb. 1818 |
|
|