William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
Address to Britain and AmericaW
Great in power, in glory great,
Fill the world with war’s alarms,
And breathe a temporary hate—
And the dire contest ends.
But, ah! how hard to reconcile
The foes who once were friends!
Each distant hint, that seems to mean
A something lurking in the mind,
That almost longs to lurk unseen—
Each shadow of a shade offends
The imbittered foes who once were friends.
And bade the springs of passion play,
Can all their jarring strings control,
And form on discord concord’s sway.
Did o’er the world of waters move,
Whose touch the mountain bends,
Whose voice from darkness call’d forth light,
’Tis He, alone, can reunite
The foes who once were friends.
His awful, his august decree,
Columbia’s sons adore;
Forgive at once, and be forgiven,
Ope in each breast a little heaven,
And discord is no more.