Ode

God save the Rights of Man!

Give us a heart to scan

Blessings so dear:

Let them be spread around

Wherever man is found,

And with the welcome sound

Ravish his ear.

Let us with France agree,

And bid the world be free,

While tyrants fall!

Let the rude savage host

Of their vast numbers boast—

Freedom's almight trust

Laughs at them all!

Though hosts of slaves conspire

To quench fair Gallia's fire,

Still shall they fail:

Though traitors round her rise,

Leagu'd with her enemies,

To war each patriot flies,

And will prevail.

No more is valor's flame

Devoted to a name,

Taught to adore—

Soldiers of Liberty

Disdain to bow the knee,

But ateach Equality

To every shore.

The world at last will join

To aid thy grand design,

Dear Liberty!

To Russia's frozen lands

The generous flame expands:

On Afric's burning sands

Shall man be free!

In this our western world

Be Freedom's flag unfurl'd

Through all its shores!

May no destructive blast

Our heaven of joy o'ercast,

May Freedom's fabric last

While time endures.

If e'er her cause require!—

Should tyrants e'er aspire

To aim their stroke,

May no proud despot daunt—

Should he his standard plant,

Freedom will never want

Her hearts of oak!