'Every woman in the land
Will point at them as they stand--
They will hardly dare to greet
Their acquaintance in the street.
Will point at them as they stand--
They will hardly dare to greet
Their acquaintance in the street.
Shelley
79.
'Stand ye calm and resolute,
Like a forest close and mute, _320
With folded arms and looks which are
Weapons of unvanquished war,
80.
'And let Panic, who outspeeds
The career of armed steeds
Pass, a disregarded shade _325
Through your phalanx undismayed.
81.
'Let the laws of your own land,
Good or ill, between ye stand
Hand to hand, and foot to foot,
Arbiters of the dispute, _330
82.
'The old laws of England--they
Whose reverend heads with age are gray,
Children of a wiser day;
And whose solemn voice must be
Thine own echo--Liberty! _335
83.
'On those who first should violate
Such sacred heralds in their state
Rest the blood that must ensue,
And it will not rest on you.
84.
'And if then the tyrants dare _340
Let them ride among you there,
Slash, and stab, and maim, and hew,--
What they like, that let them do.
85.
'With folded arms and steady eyes,
And little fear, and less surprise, _345
Look upon them as they slay
Till their rage has died away.
86.
Then they will return with shame
To the place from which they came,
And the blood thus shed will speak _350
In hot blushes on their cheek.
87.
'Every woman in the land
Will point at them as they stand--
They will hardly dare to greet
Their acquaintance in the street. _355
88.
'And the bold, true warriors
Who have hugged Danger in wars
Will turn to those who would be free,
Ashamed of such base company.
89.
'And that slaughter to the Nation _360
Shall steam up like inspiration,
Eloquent, oracular;
A volcano heard afar.
90.
'And these words shall then become
Like Oppression's thundered doom _365
Ringing through each heart and brain,
Heard again--again--again--
91.
'Rise like Lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number--
Shake your chains to earth like dew _370
Which in sleep had fallen on you--
Ye are many--they are few. '
NOTES:
_15. Like Eldon Hunt manuscript; Like Lord Eldon Wise manuscript.
_15. ermined Hunt manuscript, Wise manuscript edition 1832;
ermine editions 1839.
_23 shadows]shadow editions 1839 only.
_29 or]and Wise manuscript only.
_35 And in his grasp Hunt manuscript, edition 1882;
In his hand Wise manuscript,
Hunt manuscript cancelled, edition 1839.
_36 On his]And on his edition 1832 only.
