Ode for the Fourth of July

A glorious vision burst
On Europe’s dazzled sight,
Upon that day when first
Columbia sprang to light;—
When our New World, till then concealed,
In virgin beauty stood revealed.

But more sublime that day
When the young nation rose,
And cast her chains away,
And dared her tyrant foes:
Thrones quaked, and despots trembled then,
For bonds were rent and slayes were men.

The torch of Liberty,
Relighted on that day,
Streamed over land and sea
With brighter, holier ray.
Hail to our Country! hail to thee,
Auspicious day that saw her free!

Let the star-spangled flag
Upon the free air float;
Let hill, and vale, and crag,
Prolong the cannon’s note:
“Live the Republic!” let this be
The watch-word of our liberty.