text:  Before the blast as flakes of snow Drive blindly reeling to and fro Or down the river black and deep Melt--so the mighty sink to sleep! Like Asshur never more to boast! Or Pharaoh sunk with all his host! So perish who would trample down The rights of freedom for renown! So fall who born and nurtured free Adore the proud on bended knee! Roll Beresina 'neath the bridge Of death! rise Belgium's fatal ridge! Rise lonely rock in a wide ocean To curb each haughty mad emotion! To prove while force and genius fail That truth is great and will prevail! The hour is coming--seize the hour! Divide the spoil the prey devour! Howl o'er the dead and dying cry All ye that raven earth and sky! With beak and talon rend the prey Track carnage on her gory way To chide o'er many a gleamy bone The moon or with the wind to moan! Benumb'd with cold by torture wrung To winter leave the famine-clung O thou for whom they toil and bleed Deserted in their utmost need! Hear hear them faithful unto death Invoke thee with the fleeting breath And feel (for human still thou art) Ruth touch that adamantine heart! Survive the storm and battle-shock To linger on th' Atlantic rock! From ghastly dream from death-like trance Awake to woe devoted France! To care and trouble toil and pain Till glory be acknowledged vain And martial pomp a mere parade And war the bravo's bloody trade! A beacon o'er the tide of time Be thou to point the wreck of crime! The spoiler spoil'd from empire hurl'd The dread and pity of the world! O then by tribulation tried Abjuring envy hate and pride Warn'd of the dying hour foretold Of earth and heaven together roll'd Revering each prophetic sign Of judgment and of love divine Bow down and hide thee in the dust And own the retribution just; So may contrition prayer and praise Preserve thee in the latter days! E