Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895.

James Clarence Mangan 1803–49

Soul and Country

Mangan-J

ARISE, my slumbering soul! arise,

And learn what yet remains for thee

To dree or do!

The signs are flaming in the skies;

A struggling world would yet be free,

And live anew.

The earthquake hath not yet been born

That soon shall rock the lands around,

Beneath their base;

Immortal Freedom’s thunder horn

As yet yields but a doleful sound

To Europe’s race.

Look round, my soul! and see, and say

If those about thee understand

Their mission here:

The will to smite, the power to slay,

Abound in every heart and hand

Afar, anear;

But, God! must yet the conqueror’s sword

Pierce mind, as heart, in this proud year?

O, dream it not!

It sounds a false, blaspheming word,

Begot and born of moral fear,

And ill-begot.

To leave the world a name is nought:

To leave a name for glorious deeds

And works of love,

A name to waken lightning thought

And fire the soul of him who reads,

This tells above.

Napoleon sinks to-day before

The ungilded shrine, the single soul

Of Washington:

Truth’s name alone shall man adore

Long as the waves of Time shall roll

Henceforward on.

My countrymen! my words are weak:

My health is gone, my soul is dark,

My heart is chill;

Yet would I fain and fondly seek

To see you borne in freedom’s bark

O’er ocean still.

Beseech your God! and bide your hour!

He cannot, will not long be dumb:

Even now his tread

Is heard o’er earth with coming power;

And coming, trust me, it will come,—

Else were He dead.