Classic Poem

ON THE EMANCIPATION OF SOUTH AMERICA .

Star of the Southern pole,
That from the Atlantic deep
Rose, and on Andes' steep
Shone with a beacon-light,
And woke from moral night
The Spaniard's haughty soul!
They started from their sleep, and tore
The chains that bound them to their tyrant's throne:
Uncheered, unaided, they alone
Their banner reared on Plata's shore,
And in the dawning light of Liberty
Swore they would live and die united, firm, and free.
Where, rising o'er the silver tide,
That rolls its host of waters wide,
Resistless as a sea,
Fair shine their city's happy walls,
Convened within the sacred halls
Of infant Liberty,
They banded round their flag, and gave
Redemption to the fettered slave,
And o'er those plains like ocean spread,
And o'er their mountains' icy head,
And o'er their full, majestic river,
And through their halls, their fanes, their towers,
They lit a flame, shall burn for ever;
Nor Tyranny with all her powers,
Though battled in her holy league , shall dare
The statue they have reared from its high column tear.

Sister in freedom! o'er the main
We send our hearts to thee;
O, ne'er may kings and priests again
Stain with their steps thy flowery plain,
Nor vex the brave and free.
When earth beside was wrapped in night,
Here Freedom lit her quenchless light,
And hence its rays shall always beam,
And Europe yet shall hear the voice,
And wake from her inglorious dream,
And in her new-found strength rejoice.
In one fraternal band, let all
The nations, who would spurn the chains
That tyrants forge, would burst their thrall,
And wash away their servile stains,
And, proud of independent worth,
In honest dignity go forth, —
Let all who will not bow the knee,
Nor humbly kiss the trampling heel,
Who swear to perish or be free,
Unite, and draw their flashing steel,
And proud and daring in their second birth
Purge from its crowns and thrones the renovated earth.