Stanzas Written in Celebration
of the Late Birmingham Meeting.
Hark ! ’tis the myriads’ cry—1
We will be free !2
Hark ! the shout rends the sky,3
We will be free !4
Free as the air—as light—5
Chainless as thought—6
Thought, whose redeeming might7
Worlds have been taught.8
Fetters from all our kind9
Hourly shall fall—10
Where is the chain to bind11
Millions in thrall ?12
Millions with but one
mind,13
One will, one
hope ;14
Legions of slaves combined—15
Come, let us cope !16
Fools ! o’er the radiant day17
Throw gloom and night—18
Mimics of Canute’s sway,19
Check Ocean’s might !20
Turn Nature from her track,21
Bid mountains glide ;22
Do this ! and then turns back23
The mental tide.24
Truth has at last gone forth—25
All maild, she wends—26
To Ind and the bleak North27
Her voice she sends,28
False priests and tyrants fierce29
Fly from her ire !30
Dungeons her light shall pierce—31
Thrones it shall fire !32