Stedman and Hutchinson, comps. A Library of American Literature:
An Anthology in Eleven Volumes. 1891.
Vols. IX–XI: Literature of the Republic, Part IV., 1861–1889
The Ballad of Nathan Hale
By Revolutionary Songs and BalladsT
A-saying “oh! hu-ush!” a-saying “oh! hu-ush!”
As stilly stole by a bold legion of horse,
For Hale in the bush, for Hale in the bush.
In a nest by the road; in a nest by the road.
“For the tyrants are near, and with them appear
What bodes us no good, what bodes us no good.”
In a cot by the brook; in a cot by the brook.
With mother and sister and memories dear,
He so gayly forsook; he so gayly forsook.
The tattoo had beat; the tattoo had beat.
The noble one sprang from his dark lurking-place,
To make his retreat; to make his retreat.
As he passed through the wood; as he passed through the wood;
And silently gained his rude launch on the shore,
As she played with the flood; as she played with the flood.
Had a murderous will; had a murderous will.
They took him and bore him afar from the shore,
To a hut on the hill; to a hut on the hill.
In that little stone cell; in that little stone cell.
But he trusted in love, from his Father above.
In his heart, all was well; in his heart, all was well.
Sat moaning hard by; sat moaning hard by:
“The tyrant’s proud minions most gladly rejoice,
For he must soon die; for he must soon die.”
The cruel general! the cruel general!—
His errand from camp, of the ends to be gained,
And said that was all; and said that was all.
Down the hill’s grassy side; down the hill’s grassy side.
’Twas there the base hirelings, in royal array,
His cause did deride; his cause did deride.
For him to repent; for him to repent.
He prayed for his mother, he asked not another,
To Heaven he went; to Heaven he went.
As he trod the last stage; as he trod the last stage.
And Britons will shudder at gallant Hale’s blood,
As his words do presage, as his words do presage.
Go frighten the slave, go frighten the slave;
Tell tyrants, to you their allegiance they owe.
No fears for the brave; no fears for the brave.”