"Can it be?" the spectre muttered. "Can it be?" those pale lips uttered;

"Is the blood Columbia treasures spilt upon its native shore?

Is there in the land so cherished, land for whom the great have perished,

Men to shed a brother's blood as tyrant's blood was shed before?

Where are they who murder Peace before the breaking out of war?"

Croaked the Eagle—"Baltimore."

At the word, of sound so mournful, came a frown, half sad, half scornful,

O'er the grand, majestic face where frown had never been before;

And the hands to Heaven uplifted, with an awful pow'r seemed gifted

To plant curses on a head, and hold them there forevermore—