The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-02
asrnIng Star and Catholic Messenger.
ODE TO LIBERTY.
BY THOMAS A BADEAUX.

Mid crumbling thrones and shattered crowns,
The mourniui wrecks Of mighty States.
Sits Father Time, whose biighting frowns
Are certain as he unyielding Fates.
What is that flame, whose radiance bright
The cheerIess clouds of woe has driven
As Darkness shadnvy veil Is riven
By Mornings golden orb of light
'Tis Libtrtys.
Hers was the torch that lorg had burned
Mid classic shades Of Greece or Home.
But when she saw ito rad:ancepaie.
Their 0nce proud patriot ardor iall,
Degenerate sink till 10 their minds
Her voice no answering impulse hnds;;
In grief ehe siezed the torch and turned
To seek moro congen1al home
The despot's he Ell had sore opprest
Til Vengeance nerved each valiant breast
Their home and country's rights to save.
Then Bruce. the flower Of chivalry,
" Inspired by radiant Liberty,
swore, as he waved his sword on high,
To free his country. or to die.
Hail. glorious day of Pannock burn.
That welcomed Freedoms glad return!
Helvetia next received the flame,
And on her glowing shrine il blazed;
While va ors manly voice was raised
To break the tyrants bonds Of shame.
Mid rocky peigbts and hill AID dale,
The welcome clarion notes resound,
And speeding swift along the vale.
Intrepid hearts responsive bound.
Thine was the arm, immu rtal Tell,
That rang oppret sion's faneral knsll
Heroic Poland rushed to arms.
Ailured by Hopes delusive charms
Beams on this neither world,
Sweet Liberty smiled on the Right.
Hovring awhi with wings nnturled,
But Victory's waning star grew pale
Meath hostile CLEANS of Cossack steel,
And thund ring caunons awful peal
SmotheIed the patriots mournful wall.
Ye King Of earth of Fl ee IONS name
The boasted friends oh blush for shame!
One voice alone was raised to save
Sarmatia from her destined grave.
That Voice whose accents sweet put firm,
Are heard above the raging storm,
thine. HOly POQtln
OF wrong, and virtues friend in WOO.
Then fair Columbia. radiant qleen
Enthroned upon the Wes e. wave,
Received the ch that Freedom gave
Which wrapped her fame in glorious sheen
And If, In other lands. Its glenn
Was as the last piring ray
Sent by the sun at ose of day,
1t here shone with Q steadier beam.
AT Dut, 3 call the patriot hosts
Were marshaled by her bravest son,
And liberty no champion boasts
Nobler than peerless Washington.
By murm'ring streams and woodland grove
Where dwelt the Muses. tuneful choir,
And Pf 1bus swePt her golden Tyre,
Once more the fern of freedom moves.
Yes, Greece has risen in her power
To free her fair but fettered arm;
And Islam feels that now the hour ~
Has come, yet sounds its vain alarm:
For hearken to that piercing CRY
That rends tn affriehted midnight sky!
'Tis from the tented Turkish foe
Falling beneath the freeman's blow.
That noble and majestic form,
That voice heard loud above the storm,
1s Bozarris', who in Victory
Expired, the friend of Liberty.
And may not Memory q wand recall
The tttugge of q sunny land
In which a brave. Eeroic band
For Liberty were doomed to fAlli
Where wave the fields of golden grain,
Where bloom the violet and the roe,
Where mockipg birds heir witehiDg strain
Pour forth, they peacefully lepose.
o Liberty, who didst inspire
Our heroes With thy sacred fire:
Thou whose name will Der be sung
Nv poets harp and patriots tongue,
Whose home 10 Ger among the brave
Do thou our country bless and save