The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-10-06

press of foreign news. We make this remork
because perfectly literal translation of the
Hymn which is the subject thereof has since
appeared in the Boston Courier, and, withou,
this explanation our correspondent might, be
subjected to the imputation of plagiarism.
FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
THE -MARSElLLES HYMN.
Inc authorship of this celebrated Ode has been
heretofore ascrbed to Chenier, a well known
french poet, and conspicuous actor in the scenes
Oh the Revolution. Scott. in the Life of Napoleon
repeatedly speaks of him its author. Chenier
died In 1911. 1t now appears that the merit of
having composed these Revolutionary stanzas il
claimed by DE Isle, who is still living at the age
OF seventy. The new king, according to late ac-
counts, has, in consequence, bestowed on him n
pension OF 1900 francs-a handsome compensation
truly, Tor dozen couplets, written about FORTY
years ago. and together with the air. the result Of
only few hours labor! 1t should be remembered,
however, that De Lis.e a fellow soldier of the
king, then Duke of Chartres, at Jemappe. Meth.
@erlands.) in 1872, under the republican general
Dumourez, in which battle the Austrians met
with so signal defeat to this association the
poet is, perhaps, in part indebted for his experi
ence OF the munlfcent character of the new sove-
reign.
When it is considered to what scenes of unex-
ampled barbarity the Marseilles Hymn was a COM
mon prelude and accompaniment in the days of the
made to flow while the welkin rung with the harsh
accents Of the demoniac Jacobins, yelling to the
air of this their favorte songit would be difficult
TO account for its present popularity the sem
hments and the spirit it breathes, of a character
with the deeds which it thus seems to have melted
and were those the only recollections connected
with it, But, the truth is the Marseilles Hymn
was composed at an early period of the Revolution
a considerable time previous to the reign of terror
and continued to be sung during the latter period
re Of1a
the internal excuses committed by the terrorists
The ode bears close resemblance, both in spirit
and sentiment, to Bruce's Address, in the words of
Burns, and is not in any degree more savage than
that popular song. Unless we have mistaken the
force of the original, the Hymn is much the less
spirit-stirriDg of the two.
The stanzas going the rounds of the papers, |
purporting to be translation of the Marseilles
Hymn are only an imitation though beautiful one,
and convey no more correct idea of the original
than any ode in praise of liberty and denouncng
tyrants. In proof of this statement plain and lit
eral version is attempted below, in which some
ines are translated word for word or nearly So as
they stand in the original. Such translation will
probably give the reader who is unacquainted with
the French language, a better idea of this cele- |
brared production than he would otherwise have. |
1t should be remembered that this ode (called
LHymne MGrseLlGiSe, from its having been first
brought into notice by the Marselles Confederates,
on their march to Paris in the summer of 1922 is
Olutions in France-a circumstance which gives it |
a deserved importance.
LYNNE MARsELLAIsE.
Allons enfans de la Patr:e
LIE jour de Gloire est arrive.
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L'Etendard sanglant est leve.
EntendcZ vous dams les campagneS
Mugir ces feroces soldats
lis vennent iusques dams vos bras,
Egorger vos fills, vos compagnes-
Aux Armes Citoyens,
Former vos batailons
Marchez, marchez, qa'un sang mpur
Abreuve sillons.
Que veut cette horde d'escIaves,
De tratres de rois conJures,
Pom qui ces ignobles entraves
Ces fers des long-tems prepares
Francais, pour nous, ah! quel outraged
Quels transports il doit EXETER;
C'est nous qu'on ose mediter
De rendre lantiquc esclavage.
Aux Armes Citoyens, &c.
Tremblez tyrants, ct vous perides,
Lopprobre de tous les parts,
Trembiez! vos projects PARTICLES
Won't enfin receyor leur prlx:
Tous sont soldats pour vous combattre5
S'ils tombent leuDes heros,
la terre produit de nouveaux,
Contre vous tous prets a Sc battre.
Aux Armes Citoyens, &c.
TRANSLATION.
Rise, children of common soili
A day of glory greets the light
sIer standard tyranny unfurls
Crimson with blood, against our right
Hear We from yonder outstretched plains
The fierce soldiers deafening cry?
They come to doom to death your sons,
Your wives tho in your arms they lie.
To arms, Citizens!
In thick battalions pour
March, march, to the field,
And ell the burrows with their gore.
What means this herd of supple slaves,
These royal traitors, leagued in power
For whom are forged the gnoble chains,
The bolts and bars, so long in store
Frenchmen for u.s. for us, alas
oh outrage! how should madness swell
Our souls! us would they doom again
To slavery, that ancient spell
To arms, Citizens &c.
Tremble tyrants and ye base tools,
Ofevery rank the foulest stain,
Tremble! your parricidal aims
Ere long their Just reward will gain
All are in arms for fight prepaid;
And should our youthful heroes fall,
Fresh sons the land will yet supply,
For battle with you-eager all.
To arms, Citizens! &c.
The following is the English version of the
Marseillcs Hymn, spoken of by our corrcsPon-
dent-two stanzas of which, it will be seen,
have before been published in this paper.
We sons of France awake to glory,
Hark bark what myriads bid you rise,
Your children, wives, and grandsires hoary,
Behold their tears and hear their cries
Shall hateful tyrants, mischief breeding,
With hireling hosts a rufhan band,
Alright and desolate the land,
While liberty and peace lie bleeding!
To arms, to arms, ye brave,
The avengng sword unsheath,
March on, march on, all heart resolv'd
On victory or death.
Now, now, the dangerous storm is rolling.
which treach'rous Kings confederate raise;
The dogs of war let loose are bowling,
And 10 our fields and cities blaze
And shall we basely view the ruin,
While lawess force with guilty stride,
Spreads desolation far and wide,
With crime and blood his hands irubruing7
To arms, to arms, ye brave, &c.