NURSE of the Pilgrim sires, who sought, Beyond the Atlantic foam, For fearless truth and honest thought, A refuge and a home! Who would not be of them or thee A not unworthy son, That hears, amid the chain'd or free, The name of Washington? Cradle of Shakspeare, Milton, Knox! King-shaming Cromwell's throne! Home of the Russells, Watts, and Lockes! Earth's greatest are thine own: And shall thy children forge base chains For men that would be free? No! by thy Elliots, Hampdens, Vanes, Pyms, Sydneys, yet to be! No! -- for the blood which kings have gorged Hath made their victims wise, While every lie that fraud hath forged Veils wisdom from his eyes: But time shall change the despot's mood: And mind is mightiest then, When turning evil into good, And monsters into men. If round the @3soul@1 the chains are bound That hold the world in thrall -- If tyrants laugh when men are found In brutal fray to fall -- Lord! let not Britain arm her hands, Her sister states to ban; But bless through her all other lands, Thy family of man. For freedom if thy Hampden fought; For peace if Falkland fell; For peace and love if Bentham wrote, And Burns sang wildly well -- Let knowledge, strongest of the strong, Bid hate and discord cease; Be this the burden of her song: "Love, liberty, and peace!" Then, Father, will the nations all, As with the sound of seas, In universal festival, Sing words of joy, like these: -- Let each love all, and all be free, Receiving as they give; Lord! -- Jesus died for love and thee! So let thy children live! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RIVALS by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON SONG FIRST BY A SHEPHERD by WILLIAM BLAKE SONNET: 61 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE THE SONG OF THE CAMP by BAYARD TAYLOR THE DIFFERENCE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH EMPTY ROOM by NATHANIEL ANKETELL BENSON |