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

1941-08-01 / 8. szám

TESTVÉRISÉG

17

But written on quick-moving shoals of sand.

For more than once, with patriotic joy,

Forgetting hate and former feud’s alloy,

With noble-mindedness and courage great,

(Well worthy to have met a better fate)

Unmatched since time began to this our age By any records on th’ historic page:

The gallant brethren, freedom’s bravest son,

Like water spilled their precious blood, and won In stout defence of Hapsburg’s awful race On battlefield immortal glory’s grace;

Their country’s wealth and treasures ’midst abuse Lavished and sacraficed with hand profuse,

The tott’ring dynasty to prop, and save Their trembling kingdoms hov’ring o’er the grave. Such deeds, tho’ tow’ring high in marvel’s shape, With ease from facitious memories escape,

Which wrapped in prejudice, to merit blind,

Can grandeur neither see in them nor find;

But will applaud with rapturous delight,

A deed of dread, dark as the blackest night,

Which blotted from the map of Europe fair A noble kingdom, freedom’s oldest heir,

Committed by a perjured tyrant’s pen,

Conceived and hatched in demon’s hellish den.

In vain a glance on past events I cast,

On history, embracing ages vast,

In superstition’s thraldom doomed to cower,

Or blind barbarity’s debasing power,

Abbounding in atrocious deeds and crime,

To match this act, the monster of our time:

Vile offspring of a viler mother still,

The measure of iniquity to fill,

Thine only feature, that redeems the blast Thine authors o’er a happy region cast;

Where valour’s monument still proudly stands, Disfigured tho’ by hordes from savage lands;

Lent by a trembling despot’s secret fear,

The shouts of freedom’s gallant sons to hear Resounding o’er his bounderies, and see The glorious flame of youthful liberty,

Which Phoenix-like from deepest darkness rose, And threatened thraldom’s dreadful reign to close; Which shone once more a beacon thro’ the night, And shed on tyrants’ deeds its glaring light, Spreading across his frontiers in its blaze,

And put an end to his despotic days; —

Lent by the Russian Autocrat t’ efface A hubled brother despot’s deep disgrace;

The firm support of tyranny to save,

Prevent its falling into th’ open grave;

From which he augured his would follow soon,

To Austria, who had humbly sought this boon, When struck by Hung’ry’s gallant sons she lay At freedom’s feet, a helpless shatter’d prey.

The bargain struck, the price in blood was paid, And Austria saved by his untimely aid: