French Liberty

When first the great Senate of Frenchmen agreed, From corruption and bondage, to die or be freed. By troops all surrounded—defenceless—unarm'd, Compos'd and collected, they sat unalarm'd!

Such was their love of liberty, their ardor to be free. And with the gallic heroes, let, surrounding pow'rs agree. The tidings roll, From pole to pole, 'Till freedom crowns the day: And round the globe to all the race, Her banners display.

Undaunted and firm as the Senate of Rome, Unappall'd in their councils—before them their doom— "We'll die or be free!" To the people they cry! "We'll die or be free!" Hark the people reply! Chorus.

Majestic they rose in a warlike array, And drove from their stations, the tyrants away; The heads of the nation, confounded to see— Surrender'd, and glad to surrender or flee. Chorus.

In vain all the crowns 'gainst the people combine, The whole human race are now forming the line, While Frenchmen the first in the field lead the way, And call to the nations around, "Come away!" Chorus.

In battle triumphant see freedom appear! Over heaps of the dead—rushing on with the spear! Inspir'd with ambition a country to save, And give the invaders a part for their grave. Chorus.

Exulting the news! let the trumpet of fame, Aloud to the slave, and the despot proclaim; They boasted to slaughter, to waste, and reduce; But soon gallic power made them sue for a truce. Chorus.

Unshaken and firm—let the despots unite, Let the statesmen and placemen get hirelings to write, While armies from conquest to conquest pursue, The cause of the people shall flourish anew. Chorus.

Great heroes of freedom, when ages are gone, When Kings are forgotten, and tyrants unknown, Your fame will be echo'd from shore unto shore, 'Till nations, and people, and time is no more.

Such is our love of liberty—our ardor to be free, And with the gallic heroes, let, surrounding pow'rs agree. The tidings roll, From pole to pole, 'Till freedom crowns the day: And round the globe to all the race, Her banners display.