Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/158

 142 WILLIAM D. GALLAGHER. [lf^30-40. TRUTH AND FREEDOM. On the page that is Immortal, We tlie brilliant promise see : " Ye sliall know the Truth, my people. And its might shall make you free ! " For the Truth, then, let us battle, Whatsoever fate betide ! Long the boast that we are Freemen, We have made, and published wide. He who has the Truth, and keeps it, Keeps what not to him belongs ; But performs a selfish action. That his fellow mortal wrongs. He who seeks the Truth, and trembles At the dangers he must brave. Is not fit to be a Freeman : He, at best, is but a slave. He who hears the Truth, and places Its high promptings under ban, Loud may boast of all that's manly. But can never be a Man Friend, this simple lay who readest. Be not thou like either them, — But to Truth give utmost freedom, And the tide it raises, stem. Bold in speech, and bold in action. Be forever ! — Time will test. Of the free-souled and the slavish, Which fulfills life's mission best. Be thou like the noble Ancient — Scorn the threat that bids thee fear ; Speak ! — no matter what betide thee ; Let them strike, but make them hear ! Be thou like the first Apostles — Be thou like heroic Paul ; If a free thought seek expression, Speak it boldly ! speak it all ! Face thine enemies — accusers ; Scorn the prison, rack, or rod ! And, if thou hast Truth to utter. Speak ! and leave the rest to God. THE LABORER. Stand up — erect ! Thou hast the form. And likeness of thy God ! — who more ? A soul as dauntless mid the storm Of daily life, a heart as warm And pure, as breast e'er bore. What then ? — Thou art as true a Man As moves the human mass among ; As much a part of the Great Plan That with creation's dawn began, As any of the throng. Who is thine enemy ? — the high In station, or in wealth the chief? The great, who coldly pass thee by. With proud step and averted eye ? Xay ! nurse not such beUef. If true unto thyself thou wast. What were the proud one's scorn to thee? A feather, which thou mightest cast Aside, as idly as the blast The light leaf from the tree. No : — uncurb'd passions — low desires — Absence of noble self-respect — Death, in the breast's consuming fires, To that high nature which aspires Forever, till thus check'd : These are thine enemies — thy worst : They chain thee to thy lowly lot — Thy labor and thy life accurst Oh, stand erect ! and from them burst ! And lon2;er suffer not !