Is 't well on such a question to arise And pinch the Eagle? Nay, let's economize his breath to scold And terrify the alien Who tackles him, as Hercules of old The bird Stymphalian. Among the rebels when we made a breach Was it to get their banners? That was but incidental—'t was to teach Them better manners. They know the lesson well enough to-day; Now, let us try to show them That we 're not only stronger far than they. (How we did mow them!) But more magnanimous. You see, my lads, 'T was an uncommon riot; The warlike tribes of Europe fight for 'fads,' We fought for quiet. If we were victors, then we all must live With the same flag above us; 'Twas all in vain unless we now forgive And make them love us. Let kings keep trophies to display above Their doors like any savage; The freeman's trophy is the foeman's love, Despite war's ravage. 'Make treason odious?' My friends, you'll find You can't, in right and reason, While 'Washington' and 'treason' are combined— 'Hugo' and 'treason.' All human governments must take the chance And hazard of sedition. O, wretch! to pledge your manhood in advance To blind submission. It may be wrong, it may be right, to rise In warlike insurrection: The loyalty that fools so dearly prize May mean subjection. Be loyal to your country, yes—but how If tyrants hold dominion? The South believed they did; can't you allow For that opinion? He who will never rise though rulers plods His liberties despising How is he manlier than the sans culottes Who's always rising? Give back the foolish flags whose bearers fell Too valiant to forsake them. Is it presumptuous, this counsel? Well, I helped to take them.
HAEC FABULA DOCET.
A rat who'd gorged a box of bane And suffered an internal pain, Came from his hole to die (the label Required it if the rat were able) And found outside his habitat A limpid stream. Of bane and rat 'T was all unconscious; in the sun It ran and prattled just for fun. Keen to allay his inward throes, The beast immersed his filthy nose And drank—then, bloated by the stream, And filled with superheated steam, Exploded with a rascal smell, Remarking, as his fragments fell Astonished in the brook: 'I'm thinking This water's damned unwholesome drinking!'
EXONERATION.
When men at candidacy don't connive, From that suspicion if their friends would free 'em, The teeth and nails with which they did not strive Should be exhibited in a museum.
AZRAEL.
The moon in the field of the keel-plowed main Was watching the growing tide:
