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

1941-01-01 / 1. szám

TESTVÉRISÉG

17

VIII

The government that thou art now extolling,

As well-deserving measureless applause,

By its strong arm these millions are enthralling,

And persecuting those who plead their cause:

O, rank hypocrisy, and guilt appalling!

Like Draco’s code, in blood are writ its laws.

IX

For ’tis by law the father, son, and brother,

Know nought of filial or parental ties;

By law the sister, daughter, wife, and mother,

Must claim no kindred here beneath the skies;

All, at the fiendish bidding of another,

Their God-given rights must basely sacrifice.

X

By law the fugitives from stripes and fetters,

Who seek, like thee, a refuge safe and sure From murderous tyrants and their vile abetters,

Are hunted over mountain, plain and moor;

Dragged back to Slavery, as absconding debtors.

To toil, like brutes, while life and strength endure.

XI

By law ’tis criminal a Slave to pity,

To give him food and shelter from his foes;

For him no hiding-place in town or city;

He must be hunted whereso’er he goes;

And they are branded as a vile banditti,

Who for his freedom nobly interpose!

XII

Behold what scenes are in our courts transpiring!

Behold on trial placed the good and brave,

For disobedience to the law requiring

That he whom God made free should be a Slave! Arraigned as traitors with a zeal untiring,

And, if convicted, hurried to the grave!

XIII

Thou hast proclaimed, in tones like ringing clarion, That freedom is the gift of God to all;

That as a man, not as a mere Hungarian,

In its defense thou’lt bravely stand or fall;

For Jew and Greek, for Scythian and Barbarian,

Alike are summoned by its trumpet-call.

XIV

I take thee at thy word, out-spoken hero!

Forget not those who are in bondage here;

For our humanity now stands at zero,

And threatens utterly to disappear;

Rebuke each merciless plantation Nero;

Reprove our land in accents loud and clear!