35

The Marseilles Hymn.

YE sons of France awake to glory,
Hark! hark! what myriads bid you rise!
Your children, wives, and grandsires hoary:
Behold their tears and hear their cries,
Behold their tears and hear their cries!
Shall hateful tyrants mischief breeding,
With hireling hosts a ruffian band,
Affright and desolate the land,
While peace and liberty lie bleeding!

To arms, to arms ye braves!
Th' avenging sword unsheath!
March on, march on, all hearts resolved
On victory or Death!

36

To arms, to arms, ye braves!
To arms, to arms, ye braves!
Th' avenging sword unsheath!
Th' avenging sword unsheath!
March on, march on, all hearts resolved,
March on, march on, all hearts resolved
On victory or Death,
On victory or Death.

Now, now the dangerous storm is rolling,
Which treacherous kings confederate raise;
The dogs of war, let loose, are howling,
And lo! our walls and cities blaze!
And shall we basely view the ruin,
While lawless force, with guilty stride,
Spreads desolation far and wide,
With crimes and blood his hands embruing?

Chorus — To arms, etc.

With luxury and pride surrounded,
The vile, insatiate despots dare,
Their thirst of gold and power unbounded,
To mete and vend the light and air.
Like beasts of burden, would they load us —
Like gods, would bid their slaves adore —
But man is man — and who is more?
Then shall they longer lash and goad us?

Chorus — To arms, etc.

Oh! liberty! can man resign thee,
Once having felt thy generous flame?
Can dungeons, bolts and bars confine thee?
Or whips they noble spirit tame?
Too long the world has wept, bewailing
That falsehood's dagger tyrants wield;
But freedom is our sword and shield,
And all their arts are unavailing.

Chorus — To arms, etc.