Page:A history of Hungarian literature.djvu/213

Rh Alas! till now we were but slaves; Our fathers resting in their graves Sleep not in freedom's soil. In vain They fought and died free homes to gain But by the Magyar's God above, etc.

A miserable wretch is he Who fears to die, my land, for thee! His worthless life who thinks to be Worth mare than thou, sweet liberty! Now by the Magyar's God above, etc.

The sword is brighter than the chain, Men cannot nobler gems attain; And yet the chain we wore, Oh, shame! Unsheath the sword of ancient fame! For by the Magyar's God above, etc.

The Magyar's name will soon once more Be honoured as it was before! The shame and dust of ages past Our valor shall wipe out at last, For by the Magyar's God above, etc.

And where our graves in verdure rise Our children's children to the skies Shall speak the grateful joy they feel, And bless our names the while they kneel. For by the Magyar's God above, We truly swear We truly swear the tyrant's yoke No more to bear.

Petőfi served the cause of freedom as a revolutionary poet, as an orator, and as a journalist. His soul was burning with enthusiasm, and its flame was always pure. "No sound of my lyre, no stroke of my pen, has ever served a mercenary purpose. I sang and wrote as inspired by the