  There is a cry throughout the land, The needy loudly ask for bread; Craving and unappeased they stand, They cannot all be duly fed. The rich in vain large alms bestow— They fail to stem the rising tide Of want, and beggary, and woe, That hems them in on every side. Lo! from the stream that overflows, Fresh gushing rivulets roll wide, And far from where their source arose, They bless the land through which they glide. Shall Britain let such lesson fail? Shall not her overburthen'd soil Afar, where skill and strength avail, Send forth the hardy sons of toil? Arise, ye peasants, bold and strong! Courage! relieve your burthen'd land, Toward a gracious country throng That needs the willing heart and hand: There with a cheerful vigour strive For the reward denied ye here, Through wholesome industry to thrive, With lessening labour, year by year. Your many children, that ye feel Here as a burthen on your hands, There shall enrich ye through their zeal, And tend your flocks, and till your lands. No cry for bread shall pierce your ear, Full harvests shall requite your toil, And, bounteously your age to cheer, Shall yield ye corn, and wine, and oil. Behold the paupers of our land, By want made dissolute and rude, With sullen heart and wasted hand Asking an alms of broken food! Behold, and snatch them from despair— Give them for effort a fair field, With labour their free limbs may bear— And toil from vice shall be their shield. And ye whose lot is cast above Want's perilous and grievous woes! Be yours a full free work of love, The debt that man his brother owes. Bestow not that ye prize the least— Give knowledge, valour, skill, and worth. Statesman and soldier, lawyer, priest, Physician, merchant, go ye forth. And, Britain's daughters! give your aid, Arise, make ready, cross the wave! Ye, for meet help and solace made, Go forth to cheer, to bless, to save! Let not the exiles vainly ask For home and sweet domestic cares; Fulfil your high and gracious task— Go forth, join heart and hand with theirs. And ask ye all, as forth ye go, The guidance of a light divine, That through the darkest hours shall glow, And steadfast in all peril shine. Go forth with a believing heart, Your Guard is sure by night and day; Forth through the wilderness depart— Ye shall find manna on your way. Julia |
|
