Classic Poem

Sung at the Anniversary of Mr. Fox's Birth,

The rising Sun of Freedom, with radiant justice crown'd,
Now, bursts in bright effulgence, and spreads its blessings round;
Creation's sons rejoicing, receive the welcome light,
While God unchains the fettered World, and Nature claims her right.

CHORUS.

Then, hail celestial Liberty! fly round this mortal sphere,
And, in thy blest redeeming course, unchain thy children here .
Soon, o'er this suff'ring Island, in Freedom once so blest,
This vital beam returning, shall cheer the Briton's breast;
Vain is the impious arm of pow'r, or craft of tott'ring pride,
To stop the heav'n-directed ray, or turn its course aside.
Then hail, &c.

Tho' soul corruption's baseness hath sold our isle to woe ,
Tho' deeds of dire destruction a while have laid us low;
The hour comes on, when Britain's sons their blessings shall regain,
And hard oppression's iron rod, be broken here again.
Then hail, &c.

Through each eventful aera, that sounds in British song,
To Roman, Saxon, Norman, Dane, whoe'er the sway belong,
Still struggling Freedom restless burn'd, unconquered by controul,
And while the body bent to fate, more firmly rose the soul .
Then hail, &c.

It matters not what safeguard the tools of pow'r devise,
Swords, edicts, chains, or bribes, on which still tyrant sway relies;
They feel their coming fate, and know, tho' force upholds their guilt,
One British moment strikes to dust the works that fears have built.
Then hail, &c.

E'en in this deadly moment, when force and fraud combin'd,
Have stopp'd the breath of Freedom , and — broke the British mind ;
The buried spark, retouch'd by heav'n, and piercing thro' the strife,
Shall from the grave of Freedom burst, and — light us back to life!
Then hail, &c.

'Tis thus the God of Britain, in danger ever saves,
Still fate renews our Freedom, when tyrants doom us slaves;
They crush her in our vices down, but when our virtues join,
John serves her cause on Runnymede, and James upon the Boyne.
Then hail, &c.

Oh! give me life ye powers, that happy hour to meet,
When strangled Freedom breathes again in this her ancient seat;
When, 'stead of tame degen'rate sloth, the patriot flame inspires,
And British bosoms glow again, with all their father's fires.
Then hail, &c.

Ofttimes I view in fancy, the bursting blaze expand,
And see th' electric spirit fly, like light'ning o'er the land;
See all the jealous fervour rage; the virtuous tumule roar,
And hear th' avenging phalanx say — Thus stood our sires before .
Then hail, &c.

Then cheer'd by British story, let's meet the coming day,
When heav'n's correcting mercy, shall scourge the fiends away;
A breath can blast their tyranny, a touch unloose the chain,
And when they fall, as fall they must, we live redeem'd again .
Then hail, &c.

Oh Liberty! from traitors, avert our country's death!
Watch o'er this natal moment that gave thy Champion breath .
Preserve through England's dangers, this great , this British mind,
And, midst the dismal wreck of State, leave Fox to save mankind .