EARLY AND OCCASIONAL POEMS (1829-1852) I "WHAT TIME I WASTED YOUTHFUL HOURS" WHAT time I wasted youthful hours, As towards that gracious light I bow'd, II HANDS ALL ROUND FIRST drink a health, this solemn night, God the tyrant's hope confound! To this great cause of freedom drink, my friends, A health to Europe's honest men ! Heaven guard them from her tyrants' jails! The Russian whips and Austrian rods-- c We, likewise, have our evil things; Too much we make our Ledgers, Gods. God the tyrant's cause confound! To Europe's better health we drink, my friends, What health to France, if France be she, Than vanquish all the world in arms. But fire, to blast, the hopes of men. Why change the titles of your streets? You fools, you'll want them all again. Yet hands all round! God their tyrant's cause confound! To France, the wiser France, we drink, my friends, And the great name of England round and round. Gigantic daughter of the West, We drink to thee across the flood, But let thy broadsides roar with ours. God the tyrant's cause confound! To our great kinsmen of the West, my friends, O rise, our strong Atlantic sons, When war against our freedom springs! O speak to Europe thro' your guns! You must not mix our Queen with those God the tyrant's cause confound! And the great cause of freedom round and round. Examiner, Feb. 7, 1852. |