Yet for Sarmatia’s tears of blood atone,
And make her arm puissant as your own!
Oh! once again to Freedom’s cause return
The patriot Tell—the Bruce of Bannockburn!
Yes! thy proud lords, unpitied land I shall see
That man hath yet a soul—and dare be free!
A little while, along thy saddening plains,
The starless night of Desolation reigns;
Truth shall restore the light by Nature given,
And, like Prometheus, bring the fire of Heaven!