Freedom the Goddess

Where through entangling bays
Wanders the Southern Sea
The Goddess stayed to gaze,
Her eyes a mystery.
With toil of hands unfree
She saw the land astir :
The mockers laughed at her.

' What does fair Freedom here ?
Is it the chain,' they said,
' Whose clank can please her ear ?
Where the swung lash drips red,
Hopes she unstained to tread
Among these wretched ones ? '
She said : ' I seek my sons.

' Even of these stones I raise
Children to liberty.
Yea, after many days
These that are bond shall be
Freer than you, the free.
Their blood, their sin, their groans
Are but mine altar stones.'

' Can aught of good,' they said,
' Come out of Nazareth ? '
Answered the goddess dread,
' While any man draws breath
His free soul knows not death ;
Through all disgrace and shame
His heart repeats my name.

' Because they have known no good —
Because they have said : " We die
Unloved, a multitude
Forespent with misery,
As beasts die " — therefore I,
Freedom, that am divine,
Will take their land for mine :

' Because they are cast aside,
Despised, and desolate,
Their labours shall abide,
Their sons shall make a State :
I, that take toll of Fate,
Among their later race
Will set my dwelling-place.

' Mine is this continent,
Wherethrough my sons shall go.
Your world, by factions rent,
Shall watch this new world grow
From palms to southern snow,
From east to western sea,
One nation — mine for me ! '