Page:Selections from the American poets (IA selectamerpoet00bryarich).pdf/193

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GEORGE W. DOANE.
189
When, lifting high each sword of flame,They call'd on ev'ry sacred name,And swore, beside those dashing waves,They never, never would be slaves!
And oh! that oath was nobly kept, From morn to setting sun,Did desperation urge the fight Which valour had begun;Till, torrent-like, the stream of bloodRan down and mingled with the flood,And all, from mountain cliff to wave,Was Freedom's, Valour's, Glory's grave.
Oh, yes, that oath was nobly kept, Which nobly had been sworn,And proudly did each gallant heart The foeman's fetters spurn;And firmly was the fight maintain'd,And amply was the triumph gain'd;They fought, fair Liberty, for thee:They fell—TO DIE IS TO BE FREE.

THE WATERS OF MARAH.

"And Moses cried unto the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree, which, when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet."

By Marah's stream of bitterness, When Moses stood and cried,Jehovah heard his fervent pray'r, And instant help supplied:The Prophet sought the precious tree With prompt, obedient feet;'Twas cast into the fount, and made The bitter waters sweet.
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