The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley Part 60

60.

'What if English toil and blood Was poured forth, even as a flood?

It availed, Oh, Liberty, To dim, but not extinguish thee. _245

61.

'Thou art Love--the rich have kissed Thy feet, and like him following Christ, Give their substance to the free And through the rough world follow thee,

62.

'Or turn their wealth to arms, and make _250 War for thy beloved sake On wealth, and war, and fraud--whence they Drew the power which is their prey.

63.

'Science, Poetry, and Thought Are thy lamps; they make the lot _255 Of the dwellers in a cot So serene, they curse it not.

64.

'Spirit, Patience, Gentleness, All that can adorn and bless Art thou--let deeds, not words, express _260 Thine exceeding loveliness.

65.

'Let a great a.s.sembly be Of the fearless and the free On some spot of English ground Where the plains stretch wide around. _265

66.

'Let the blue sky overhead, The green earth on which ye tread, All that must eternal be Witness the solemnity.

67.

'From the corners uttermost _270 Of the bounds of English coast; From every hut, village, and town Where those who live and suffer moan For others' misery or their own,

68.

'From the workhouse and the prison Where pale as corpses newly risen, Women, children, young and old _277 Groan for pain, and weep for cold--

69.

'From the haunts of daily life Where is waged the daily strife _280 With common wants and common cares Which sows the human heart with tares--

70.

'Lastly from the palaces Where the murmur of distress Echoes, like the distant sound _285 Of a wind alive around

71.

'Those prison halls of wealth and fashion, Where some few feel such compa.s.sion For those who groan, and toil, and wail As must make their brethren pale--

72.

'Ye who suffer woes untold, _291 Or to feel, or to behold Your lost country bought and sold With a price of blood and gold--

73.

'Let a vast a.s.sembly be, _295 And with great solemnity Declare with measured words that ye Are, as G.o.d has made ye, free--

74.

'Be your strong and simple words Keen to wound as sharpened swords, _300 And wide as targes let them be, With their shade to cover ye.

75.

'Let the tyrants pour around With a quick and startling sound, Like the loosening of a sea, _305 Troops of armed emblazonry.

76.

'Let the charged artillery drive Till the dead air seems alive With the clash of clanging wheels, And the tramp of horses' heels. _310

77.

'Let the fixed bayonet Gleam with sharp desire to wet Its bright point in English blood Looking keen as one for food.

78.

Let the hors.e.m.e.n's scimitars _315 Wheel and flash, like sphereless stars Thirsting to eclipse their burning In a sea of death and mourning.

79.

'Stand ye calm and resolute, Like a forest close and mute, _320 With folded arms and looks which are Weapons of unvanquished war,

80.

'And let Panic, who outspeeds The career of armed steeds Pa.s.s, a disregarded shade _325 Through your phalanx undismayed.

81.

'Let the laws of your own land, Good or ill, between ye stand Hand to hand, and foot to foot, Arbiters of the dispute, _330

82.

'The old laws of England--they Whose reverend heads with age are gray, Children of a wiser day; And whose solemn voice must be Thine own echo--Liberty! _335

83.

'On those who first should violate Such sacred heralds in their state Rest the blood that must ensue, And it will not rest on you.

84.

'And if then the tyrants dare _340 Let them ride among you there, Slash, and stab, and maim, and hew,-- What they like, that let them do.

85.

'With folded arms and steady eyes, And little fear, and less surprise, _345 Look upon them as they slay Till their rage has died away.

86.

Then they will return with shame To the place from which they came, And the blood thus shed will speak _350 In hot blushes on their cheek.

87.

'Every woman in the land Will point at them as they stand-- They will hardly dare to greet Their acquaintance in the street. _355

88.

'And the bold, true warriors Who have hugged Danger in wars Will turn to those who would be free, Ashamed of such base company.

89.

'And that slaughter to the Nation _360 Shall steam up like inspiration, Eloquent, oracular; A volcano heard afar.

90.

'And these words shall then become Like Oppression's thundered doom _365 Ringing through each heart and brain, Heard again--again--again--

91.

'Rise like Lions after slumber In unvanquishable number-- Shake your chains to earth like dew _370 Which in sleep had fallen on you-- Ye are many--they are few.'

NOTES: _15. Like Eldon Hunt ma.n.u.script; Like Lord Eldon Wise ma.n.u.script.

_15. ermined Hunt ma.n.u.script, Wise ma.n.u.script edition 1832; ermine editions 1839.

_23 shadows]shadow editions 1839 only.