Page:Poems, Household Edition, Emerson, 1904.djvu/251

Rh Not so,' said Boston, 'good my lord,

We pay your governors here

Abundant for their bed and board,

Six thousand pounds a year.

(Your Highness knows our homely word)

Millions for self-government,

But for tribute never a cent.'

The cargo came! and who could blame

If Indians seized the tea,

And, chest by chest, let down the same,

Into the laughing sea?

For what avail the plough or sail,

Or land or life, if freedom fail?

The townsmen braved the English king,

Found friendship in the French,

And honor joined the patriot ring

Low on their wooden bench.

O bounteous seas that never fail!

O day remembered yet!

O happy port that spied the sail

Which wafted Lafayette!

Pole-star of light in Europe's night,

That never faltered from the right.