It is strange!--it is dreadful! Shout, Tyranny, shout Through your dungeons and palaces, "Freedom is o'er"-- If there lingers one spark of her fire, tread it out, And return to your empire of darkness once more. For if such are the braggarts that claim to be free, Come, Despot of Russia, thy feet let me kiss, Far nobler to live the brute-bondman of thee, Than sully even chains by a struggle like this. T. Moore. CCXXXIII. THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE BERLIN LANDSTURM. Father of earth and heaven! I call thy name! Round me the smoke and shout of battle roll; Mine eyes are dazzled with the rustling flame; Father, sustain an untried soldier's soul. Or life, or death, whatever be the goal That crowns or closes round this struggling hour, Thou knowest, if ever from my spirit stole One deeper prayer, 't was that no cloud might lower On my young fame!--O hear! God of eternal power! Now for the fight--now for the cannon-peal-- Forward--through blood, and toils and cloud, and fire! Glorious the shout, the shock, the crash of steel, The volley's roll, the rocket's blasting spire; They shake--like broken waves their squares retire,-- On, hussars!--Now give them rein and heel; Think of the orphaned child, the murdered sire;-- Earth cries for blood--in thunder on them wheel! This hour to Europe's fate shall set the triumph-seal! Körner. CCXXXIV. THE MAIN TRUCK, OR A LEAP FOR LIFE. Old Ironsides at anchor lay In the harbor of Mahon; A dead calm rested on take bay,-- The waves to sleep had gone; When little Hal, the Captain's son, A lad both brave and good, In sport, up shroud and rigging ran, And on the main truck stood! A shudder shot through every vein,-- All eyes were turned on high! There stood the bop with dizzy brain, Between the sea and sky; No hold had he above, below; Alone he stood in air: To that far height none dared to go;-- No aid could reach him there.