Part 22 (1/2)

Advance three steps, the glorious work is done;-- Advance!

The first is COURAGE--'tis a giant stride!-- Advance!

With bounding step up Freedom's rugged side Advance!

KNOWLEDGE will lead thee to the dazzling heights, TOLERANCE will teach and guard thy brother's rights.

Faint not! for thee a pitying Future waits-- Advance!

Be wise, be just, with will as fixed as Fate's,-- Advance!

REMONSTRANCE.

Bless the dear old verdant land, Brother, wert thou born of it?

As thy shadow life doth stand, Twining round its rosy band, Did an Irish mother's hand Guide thee in the morn of it?

Did thy father's soft command Teach thee love or scorn of it?

Thou who tread'st its fertile breast, Dost thou feel a glow for it?

Thou, of all its charms possest, Living on its first and best, Art thou but a thankless guest, Or a traitor foe for it?

If thou lovest, where the test?

Wouldst thou strike a blow for it?

Has the past no goading sting That can make thee rouse for it?

Does thy land's reviving spring, Full of buds and blossoming, Fail to make thy cold heart cling, Breathing lover's vows for it?

With the circling ocean's ring Thou wert made a spouse for it!

Hast thou kept, as thou shouldst keep, Thy affections warm for it, Letting no cold feeling creep, Like the ice breath o'er the deep, Freezing to a stony sleep Hopes the heart would form for it-- Glories that like rainbows weep Through the darkening storm for it?

What we seek is Nature's right-- Freedom and the aids of it;-- Freedom for the mind's strong flight Seeking glorious shapes star-bright Through the world's intensest night, When the suns.h.i.+ne fades of it!

Truth is one, and so is light, Yet how many shades of it!

A mirror every heart doth wear, For heavenly shapes to s.h.i.+ne in it; If dim the gla.s.s or dark the air, That Truth, the beautiful and fair, G.o.d's glorious image, s.h.i.+nes not there, Or s.h.i.+nes with nought divine in it: A sightless lion in its lair, The darkened soul must pine in it!

Son of this old, down-trodden land, Then aid us in the fight for it; We seek to make it great and grand, Its s.h.i.+pless bays, its naked strand, By canvas-swelling breezes fanned.

Oh! what a glorious sight for it!

The past expiring like a brand, In morning's rosy light for it!

Think that this dear old land is thine, And thou a traitor slave of it; Think how the Switzer leads his kine, When pale the evening star doth s.h.i.+ne, His song has home in every line, Freedom in every stave of it!

Think how the German loves his Rhine, And wors.h.i.+ps every wave of it!

Our own dear land is bright as theirs, But, oh! our hearts are cold for it; Awake! we are not slaves but heirs; Our fatherland requires our cares, Our work with man, with G.o.d our prayers.

Spurn blood-stained Judas-gold for it, Let us do all that honour dares-- Be earnest, faithful, bold for it!

IRELAND'S VOW.

Come! Liberty, come! we are ripe for thy coming-- Come freshen the hearts where thy rival has trod-- Come, richest and rarest!--come, purest and fairest!-- Come, daughter of Science!--come, gift of the G.o.d!

Long, long have we sighed for thee, coyest of maidens-- Long, long have we wors.h.i.+pped thee, queen of the brave!