Â鶹Éç

By Samuel Thomson

But ‘Freedom’ gives the word; and lo, he braves

The furge and tempest, lighted by her ray.
And to a happier land wafts merrily away.
Beattie

I  FAREWELL! My dear, my much-lov’d native land!
For ether scenes on a far distant shore,
Where kind Columbian callies wide expand,
I now will dare the boist'rous ocean’s roar!

II  Accept dear isle! this last, my farewell song –
Full oft your Iowly glens have heard my lay:
But now oppression, with her cruel thong,
Relentless drives me from my home away!

III  Farewell! thou dear, thou kind paternal place,
Where I, an infant, first beheld the light!
Within whose doubly grateful, warm embrace,
I shelter’d joyous many a happy night.

IV   Adieu, ye oft frequented groves and hills!
Ye fertile fields, and flow’ry meadows gay!
Ye rivers ample, and ye wand’ring rills,
That lonely tuneful thro’ your pebbles play!

V   How oft, at noon, on yonder dazied lea,
Would I, delighted, count the sunny hours,
List’ning attentive to the busy bee,
Humming amusive, thro’ the wanton flowers!

VI  No more the swains shall mark me musing stray,
These homely braes and vernal haunts among;
No more at dewy morn, or evening grey,
Contented listen to my artless song.

VII   Alas! my country! by insulting power,
It stings my soul to see you brought so low!
While * and your all devour, * 
your children – dare not tell each other so!!!

* - In allusion to a late bill brought into Parliament, too well known to need any description here.

VIII   Adown your streets, erewhile the paths of peace,
The noxious gales of despotism rife!
Inflaming ignorance, in many a place,
To trample knowledge, and insult the wife!

IX   Ye free-born souls! who feel, - and feel aright,
Come, cross with me, the wide, Atlantic main:
With Heaven’s aid, we’ll to the land of light,
And leave these ravagers the unpeopl’d plain!

X   There, far - extending, boundless prospects lie –
Sweet peace and liberty await us there;
Then why, my friends! my dear companions, why
Remain in voluntary fetters here?

XI   Ye yellow braes, and winding vallies low,
(From which, I one day ** thought I’d never stray)
And few remaining friends, that cannot go,
Shall have my prayer, when I am far away.

XII   When fell corruption quits the field to right,
And vi!e ‘Ascendancy’' foregoes its aim:
When lawless power, and discord take their flight
To shades infernal, whence at first they came.

XIII  What time Industry's gay rural train,
With rosy face unaw'd, their tasks resume,
And unmolested, o'er your jocund plain
Extend the tabors of the busy loom.

** See the contented Shepherd.

XIV   When wreath'd in Shamrock o’er your mountains green,
Majestic liberty is seen to smile:
When peace and joy inspire each village scene,
And songs of freedom chear my native Isle.

XV   Then, and then only, if the Fates agree,
Will I return to Erin's dear-lov'd shore:
Then glorious FREEDOM! Will I sing of thee
‘Mong native shades – nor wander any more.