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THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER.

and I will burn, till the white man or the Indian perish from the land. Go thy way for this time in safety,—but remember, stranger, there is eternal war between me and thee."

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THE AMERICAN FLAG.

467

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,

Between their loved homes and the war's And this be our motto, "In God is our

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Unfurled her standard to the air, She tore the azure robe of night, And set the stars of glory there! She mingled with its gorgeous dyes The milky baldric of the skies, And striped its pure celestial white With streakings of the morning light, Then, from his mansion in the sun, She called her eagle bearer down, And gave into his mighty hand The symbol of her chosen land!

Majestic monarch of the cloud!

Who rear'st aloft thy regal form, To hear the tempest-trumpings loud, And see the lightning lances driven,

When strive the warriors of the storm,
And rolls the thunder-drum of heaven,-
Child of the sun! to thee 'tis given

To guard the banner of the free,
To hover in the sulphur smoke,
To ward away the battle stroke,

And bid its blendings shine afar,
Like rainbows on the cloud of war,
The harbingers of victory!

Flag of the brave! thy folds shall fly, The sign of hope and triumph high! When speaks the signal-trumpet tone, And the long line comes gleaming on, Ere yet the life-blood, warm and wet Has dimmed the glistening bayonet.

Each soldier's eye shall brightly turn,
To where thy sky-born glories burn,
And as his springing steps advance,
Catch war and vengeance from the glance
And when the cannon-mouthings loud
Heave in wild wreaths the battle shroud.
And gory sabres rise and fall
Like shoots of flame on midnight's pall,
Then shall thy meteor glances glow,

And cowering foes shall shrink beneath Each gallant arm that strikes below

That lovely messenger of death.

Flag of the seas! on ocean wave
Thy stars shall glitter o'er the brave;
When death, careering on the gale,
Sweeps darkly round the bellied sail,
And frighted waves rush wildly back
Before the broadside's reeling rack,
Each dying wanderer of the sea
Shall look at once to heaven and thee,
And smile to see thy splendors fly
In triumph o'er his closing eye.

Flag of the free heart's hope and home.
By angel hands to valor given,
Thy stars have lit the welkin dome,

And all thy hues were born in heaven!
Forever float that standard sheet,
Where breathes the foe but falls before

us,

With Freedom's soil beneath our feet,

And Freedom's banner streaming c'er

us !

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T

OWN, tower,
Shore, deep,
Where lower
Clouds steep;
Waves gray
Where play
Winds gay-
All asleep.
Hark a sound,
Far and slight,
Breathes around
On the night-
High and higher,
Nigh and nigher,
Like a fire
Roaring bright.
New on it is sweeping
With rattling beat

Like dwarf imp leaping

In gallop fleet;

He flies, he prances,
In frolic fancies-

On wave crest dances
With pattering feet.
Hark, the rising swell,
With each nearer burst!

Like the toll of bell
Of a convent cursed;
Like the billowy roar
On a storm-lashed shore-
Now hushed, now once more
Maddening to its worst,

Oh God! the deadly sound
Of the djinns' fearful cry!

Quick, 'neath the spiral round
Of the deep staircase, fly!
See, our lamplight fade!
And of the balustrade

Mounts, mounts the circling shade
Up to the ceiling high !
"Tis the djinus' wild streaming swarm
Whistling in their tempest flight;
Snap the tall yews 'neath the storm,
Like a pine-flame crackling bright;
Swift and heavy, low, their crowd
Through the heavens rushing loud!—
Like a lurid thunder cloud

With its hold of fiery night!
Ha! they are on us, close without!
Shut tight the shelter where we lie!
With hideous din the monster rout,
Dragon and vampire, fill the sky!
The loosened rafter overhead

VICTOR HUGO.

Trembles and bends like quivering reed;
Shakes the old door with shuddering dread,

As from its rusty hinge 'twould fly!

Wild cries of hell! voices that howl and shriek!

The horrid swarm before the tempest tossed
O heaven!-descends my lonely roof to seek;
Bends the strong wall beneath the furious host;-

Totters the house, as though, like dry leaf sborn
From autumn bough and on mad blast borne!

Up from its deep foundations it were torn
To join the stormy whirl. Ah! all is lost!
Oh prophet! if thy hand but now
Save from these foul and hellish things,

A pilgrim at thy shrine I'll bow,
Laden with pious offerings.

Bid their hot breath its fiery rain
Stream on my faithful door in vain,
Vainly upon my blackened pane

Grate the fierce claws of their dark wings!
They have passed!-and their wild legion
Cease to thunder at my door;

Fleeting through night's rayless region,
Hither they return no more.
Clanking chains and sounds of woe

Fill the forests as they go;
And the tall oaks cower low,
Bent their flaming flight before.

On! on the storm of wings
Bears far the fiery fear,
Till scarce the breeze now brings
Dim murmurings to the ear;
Like locusts humming hail,

Or thrash of tiny flail
Plied by the pattering hail
On some old roof-tree near.
Fainter now are borne
Fitful murmurings still
As, when Arab horn
Swells its magic peal,
Shoreward o'er the deep
Fairy voices sweep,
And the infant's sleep
Golden visions fill.

Each deadly djinn,
Dark child of fright,
Of death and sin,
Speeds the wild flight.
Hark, the dull moan!
Like the deep tone
Of Ocean's groan,
Afar by night!

More and more
Fades it now,
As on shore
Ripples flow-
As the plaint,
Far and faint,
Of a saint,
Murmured low.
Hark! hist!
Around

I list!

The bounds

Of space
All trace

Efface

Of sound.

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