Who cometh over the hills,
Her garment with morning sweet,
The dance of a thousand rills
Making music before her feet?
Her presence freshens the air,
Sunshine steals light from her face.
The leaden footstep of Care
Leaps to the tune of her pace,
Fairness of all that is fair,
Grace at the heart of all grace!
Sweetener of hut and of hall,
Bringer of life put of naught,
Freedom, O, fairest of all
The daughters of Time and Thought!
Ode to Freedom: Centennial Anniversary of the Battle of
Concord, April 19, 1875. J.R. LOWELL.
Of old sat Freedom on the heights,
The thunders breaking at her feet:
Above her shook the starry lights:
She heard the torrents meet.
* * * * *
Her open eyes desire the truth.
The wisdom of a thousand years
Is in them. May perpetual youth
Keep dry their light from tears.
Of old sat Freedom on the heights. A. TENNYSON.
No. Freedom has a thousand charms to show,
That slaves, howe'er contented, never know.
* * * * *
Religion, virtue, truth, whate'er we call
A blessing—Freedom is the pledge of all.
Table Talk. W. COWPER.
A day, an hour, of virtuous liberty
Is worth a whole eternity in bondage.
Cato, Act ii. Sc. 1. J. ADDISON.
The love of liberty with life is given,
And life itself the inferior gift of Heaven.
Polamon and Arcite, Bk. II. J. DRYDEN.
'Tis liberty alone that gives the flower
Of fleeting life its lustre and perfume;
And we are weeds without it.
The Task, Bk. V. W. COWPER.