Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONG; WRITTEN FOR PARTING DINNER GIVEN TO LAFAYETTE, by CHARLES SPRAGUE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONG; WRITTEN FOR PARTING DINNER GIVEN TO LAFAYETTE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Wake a deed of other days
Last Line: Pledge your fathers' friend!
Subject(s): Lafayette, Marie Joseph, Marquis De


WAKE a deed of other days;
Swell the song of lofty praise;
Gratitude's bright goblet raise, —
Pledge to LAFAYETTE! —
Him, who left his own fair land,
By your fathers' sides to stand,
When Oppression's guilty brand
In their blood was wet: —

Him, who shared their hour of woe;
Him, who dealt with them each blow,
Till young Freedom's beaten foe
Turned his back and fled.
Lo! again behold him here!
He, who came the sires to cheer,
Joins their sons the pile to rear
O'er the mighty dead.

That gray pile shall melt away,
Tomb and tablet shall decay,
Yet shall glory's deed and day
Never set in night.
Where your martyred heroes sleep,
Children's children long shall weep;
There shall pilgrim warriors keep
Vigils, ever bright.

Sons of Art! the table throng; —
Swell your glad and grateful song;
Let its echoes, loud and long,
Up to Heaven ascend!
Never may your hearts forget
Freeman's duty — freeman's debt:
Fill the cup to LAFAYETTE; —
Pledge your fathers' friend!





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