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."
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
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
With Freedom's soil beneath our feet,
And Freedom's banner streaming c'er
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
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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