[Editor: This poem by William Blocksidge (also known as William Baylebridge) was published in Songs o’ the South (1908).]
A Nation’s Strength
Attend, O Muse! In language fair premise
What forms the greatest power of all that lies
Within the grasp of nations, young and old!
Sweet Liberty it is — more strong than gold;
A greater force than blood, or laurelled arms,
Or art that bends our being to its charms;
The nurse of knowledge — knowledge true to name;
The death of arrogance; the friend of fame;
The scourge of license, bearing baleful lust,
Though oft with it confounded by th’ unjust —
Proud Liberty, the greatest far on earth,
Whence every noble thought and deed has birth!
Source:
William Blocksidge, Songs o’ the South, London: Watts, 1908, pp. 75-76
Editor’s notes:
baleful = expressing destructive or harmful intentions; displaying a menacing or threatening visage; manifesting an intent of destruction, harm, menace; having a dangerous, destructive, or harmful effect; (archaic) miserable, unhappy, wretched
muse = a source of artistic inspiration; a person, especially a woman, or a force personified as a woman, who is the source of inspiration for an artist (derived from the Muses of Greek and Roman mythology, who were said to provide inspiration for artists and writers)
oft = (archaic) often
th’ = (vernacular) the
Leave a Reply