Fraternity-Testvériség, 1941 (19. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1941-05-01 / 5. szám

16

TESTVÉRISÉG

For there he sees the pillaged town

Where many a home at midnight blazes; On blood-red fields looks wildly down,

On ghastly Golgothas he gazes,

O’er desperate battles, fought in vain,

His eyes with bitter tears are filling, With wail of widows o’er the slain,

With orphan-cries his heart is thrilling.

He sees full many a sword swung high,

And hears the distant armor ringing,

And heroes sworn to do and die,

With warrior’s joy to saddle springing;

And then — and then — dark treachery!

And midnight’s gloomy hush descending;

And his dear Hungary, once free,

Her neck of Austrian fetters bending!

Then wildly throbs his woe-sick heart,

And all his limbs convulsive quiver;

He feels a sudden, piercing smart,

And tears course down — a briny river.

He quaffs the brimming cup, and cries:

“Let all thy foes, just cause! take warning;

Thou from thy grave one day shalt rise —

Hope! hope! there comes a judgment morning!”

Poor, harassed, hunted exile, thou

May’st well thy wine with tears be drinking;

But should I once, as thou dost now,

See, in far lands, mine own wine blinking,

Say! could I e’er, in gladsome mood,

Quaff mine own Rhineland’s generous liquor?

Would not a tear-drop ’mid the flood,

Still glisten in the bubbling beaker!

C. T. B.

Prom: “The Literary World.” November 15, 1851.

*

ENGLAND TO KOSSUTH

Ivossuth! the hopes of Europe follow thee O’er the wide waters of the western sea,

Luther of struggling nations — thy swift barque Across the Atlantic speeds like Freedom’s Ark. God-missioned leader in that truceless war That trampled millions wage against the Czar! Impassioned Prophet of the New Crusade!

Whose earnest votaries, calm and undismayed,

Strong in the strength of Reason and of Truth,

Fresh with the glow of Freedom’s deathless youth, Hplift the flag that floats upon the van Of the last battle for the Rights of Man.

The last — yes! all proclaims it — the wide earth

Heaves in the throes of a diviner birth

Than Time has ever teemed with — Heaven is bright

With the far flashings of Auroral light

Bursting the gloom of ages! What though Power