OdeForGeneralWashington'sBirthday

odeforgeneralwashington'sbirthday

nospartantube,noatticshell,

nolyreaeolianiawake;

'tisliberty'sboldnoteiswell,

thyharp,columbia,letmetake!

seegatheringthousands,whileising,

abrokenchainexultingbring,

anddashitinatyrant'sface,

anddarehimtohisverybeard,

andtellhimhenomoreisfeared—

nomorethedespotofcolumbia'srace!

atyrant'sproudestinsultsbrav'd,

theyshout—apeoplefreed!theyhailanempiresaved.

whereisman'sgod-likeform?

whereisthatbrowerectandbold—

thateyethatcanunmov'dbehold

thewildestrage,theloudeststorm

thate'ercreatedfurydaredtoraise?

avaunt!thoucaitiff,servile,base,

thattremblestatadespot'snod,

yet,crouchingundertheironrod,

canstlaudthehandthatstruckth'insultingblow!

artthouofman'simperialline?

dostboastthatcountenancedivine?

eachskulkingfeatureanswers,no!

butcome,yesonsofliberty,

columbia'soffspring,braveasfree,

indanger'shourstillflaminginthevan,

yeknow,anddaremaintain,theroyaltyofman!

alfred!onthystarrythrone,

surroundedbythetunefulchoir,

thebardsthatersthavestruckthepatriotlyre,

androus'dthefreebornbriton'ssouloffire,

nomorethyenglandown!

dareinjurednationsformthegreatdesign,

tomakedetestedtyrantsbleed?

thyenglandexecratesthegloriousdeed!

beneathherhostilebannerswaving,

everypangofhonourbraving,

englandinthundercalls,“thetyrant'scauseismine!”

thathouraccursthowdidthefiendsrejoice

andhell,thro'allherconfines,raisetheexultingvoice,

thathourwhichsawthegenerousenglishname

linktwithsuchdamneddeedsofeverlastingshame!

thee,caledonia!thywildheathsamong,

fam'dforthemartialdeed,theheaven-taughtsong,

totheeiturnwithswimmingeyes;

whereisthatsouloffreedomfled?

immingledwiththemightydead,

beneaththathallow'dturfwherewallacelies