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HYMN TO THE NATION.
When Science, trembling in the lengthened shade Of monster superstitions, and menaced By raving Bigotry, a dream embraced Of prosperous worlds by mortal unsurveyed, Genoa's seaman and a daring few; Wide Ocean's stormy perils rent and brought her bounds to view.
Who then had thought that with the Eternal mind, That in vast Future's covered bosom bound— Shut up—by these sea-roamers to be found, Was this green home of poor, abused mankind, This land of exiles, and the peaceful borne, Where Babel's scattered tongues shall yet to one great speech return.
Fair Freedom travailed 'neath an unknown sky, And tho' the tyrant shook his envious chain, And tho' the bigot reared a gloomy fane, She bore our darling of the azure eye; Baptized its childhood in brave blood and tears, But trumpted her independence in Great Britian's ears.
Astonished kingdoms heard of the new birth, And royal vengeance drew her warring blade, And bloody strokes upon Columbia laid,