Page:The Spirit of the Nation.djvu/83

Rh I saw the nobles of that land

In pride and pomp roll by;

And I read contempt for the poor man's lot,

In every haughty eye.

II.

I heard the infant's cry for bread—

The mother's piercing shriek;

And I marked the trace of famine in

The father's sunken cheek.

I saw him cast his eye to heaven

With a stern and sad appeal;

And I knew he felt that anguish deep

Which the hopeless only feel.

Yet still the nobles of that land

In pride and pomp rolled by;

Nor less contempt for the poor man's lot

Marked every haughty eye!

III.

The People humbly sued for bread,

But their rulers "gave a stone:"

And they steeled their sordid hearts and mocked

The peasant's dying groan!

"Low rents, cheap bread," the people cried—

"Untrammel labour's hands!"

"Taxed corn, high rents, low wages," sneered

The callous ruling bands!

And the manlords of that land rolled by

To church in pomp and pride!

And the people's dying wail despised,

And the people's power defied!

IV.

Then madness came upon the land,

'Twas the madness of despair,

Unarmed crowds went forth—to beg!

With shouts that rent the air!