When Wisdom, Humanity, Justice implore,
You would have our proud eagle to feed on the eyes
Of those who have taught him so grandly to soar;
If there be to your malice no limit imposed,
And you purpose hereafter to rule with the rod
The men upon whom you have already closed
Our goodly domain, and the temples of God;--
To the breeze, then, your banner dishonored unfold,
And at once let the tocsin be sounded afar;
We greet you, as greeted the Swiss, Charles the Bold,
With a farewell to peace and a welcome to war!
For the courage that clings to our soil, ever bright,
Shall catch inspirations from turf and from tide;
Our sons unappalled shall go forth to the fight,
With the smile of the fair, the pure kiss of the bride;
And the bugle its echoes shall send through the past,
In the trenches of Yorktown to waken the slain;
While the sods of King's Mountain shall heave at the blast,
And give up its heroes to glory again.
