And bring the fiery freeborn soul along. Neptune for you shall smooth the hoary deep, And awe the wild tumultuous waves to sleep; Here vernal woods, and flow'ry meadows blow, Luxuriant harvests in rich plenty grow, Commerce extends as far as waves can roll, And freedom, God-like freedom, crowns the whole. And you, brave men, who scorn the dread of death, Resolv'd to conquer to the latest breath, Soldiers in act, and heroes in renown, Warm in the cause of Boston's hapless town, Still guard each pass; like ancient Romans, you At once are soldiers, and are farmers too; Still arm impatient for the vengeful blow, And rush intrepid on the yielding foe; As when of late midst clouds of fire and smoke, Whole squadrons fell, or to the center shook, And even the bravest to your arm gave way, And death, exulting, ey'd the unhappy fray. Behold, your Warren bleeds, who both inspir'd To noble deeds, and by his actions fir'd; What pity, heaven!--but you who yet remain Affect his spirit as you lov'd the man: Once more, and yet once more for freedom strive, To be a slave what wretch would dare to live? We too to the last drop our blood will drain, And not till then shall hated slavery reign, When every effort, every hope is o'er, And lost Columbia swells our breasts no more. O if that day, which heaven avert, must come, And fathers, husbands, children, meet their doom, Let one brave onset yet that doom precede, To shew the world America can bleed, One thund'ring raise the midnight cry, And one last flame send Boston to the sky. But cease, foreboding Muse, not strive to see Dark times deriv'd by fatal destiny; If ever heaven befriended the distrest, If ever valour succour'd those opprest, Let America rejoice, thy standard rear, Let the loud trumpet animate to war: Thy guardian Genius, haste thee on thy way, To strike whole hosts with terror and dismay. Happy some land, which all for freedom gave, Happier the men whom their own virtues save; Thrice happy we who long attacks have stood, And swam to Liberty thro' seas of blood; The time shall come when strangers rule no more, Nor cruel mandates vex from Britain's shore; When Commerce shall extend her short'ned wing, And her free freights from every climate bring; When mighty towns shall flourish free and great, Vast their dominion, opulent their state; When one vast cultivated region teems, From ocean's edge to Mississippi's streams; While each enjoys his vineyard's peaceful shade, And even the meanest has no cause to dread; Such is the life our foes with envy see, Such is the godlike glory to be free. [A] Columbia, America sometimes so called from Columbus, the first discoverer.--_Freneau's note._ [B] New Albion, properly New England, but is often applied to all British America.--_Freneau's note._