Ode[68]

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 almighty 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 valour's flame Devoted to a name, Taught to adore-- Soldiers of Liberty Disdain to bow the knee, But teach 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!

This ode was sung at the Civic Feast given to Genet in Philadelphia by the French and Citizens, June 1, 1793. The affair is described in detail in Bache's Aurora of June 4th. After three of the toasts the artillery fired salutes with two twelve pounders, fifteen rounds each. Freneau's ode was sung after the seventh toast, "with great effect." As to the date of composition of the ode I can find no reliable evidence. Conway, in his life of Paine, mentions that it was sung in 1791 at the November Festival of the London Revolution Society. It was published in the edition of 1795, but was not reproduced in 1809.