194
NIGHTFALL IN HUNGARY.
What though the apostate wields the sword
With fratricidal hand,
And the last Romans wander forth
In exile o’er the land:—
With fratricidal hand,
And the last Romans wander forth
In exile o’er the land:—
What though suspended o’er thee hangs
The Austrian’s glittering steel;
What though thy heart is crushed beneath
The imperial Cossack’s heel:—
The Austrian’s glittering steel;
What though thy heart is crushed beneath
The imperial Cossack’s heel:—
Not to the swift is given the race,
The battle to the strong;
Up to the listening ear of God
Is borne the mighty wrong.
The battle to the strong;
Up to the listening ear of God
Is borne the mighty wrong.
From Him the mandate has gone forth,
The giant Power must fall;
Oh Prophet! read’st thou not the doom,
The writing on the wall?
The giant Power must fall;
Oh Prophet! read’st thou not the doom,
The writing on the wall?
The slaves of Power, the sword, the scourge,
The scaffold and the chain,
Awhile may claim their hecatombs
Of hero martyrs slain.
The scaffold and the chain,
Awhile may claim their hecatombs
Of hero martyrs slain.
