Stand! the ground's your own, my braves! <br />Will ye give it up to slaves? <br />Will ye look for greener graves? <br />Hope ye mercy still? <br />What's the mercy despots feel? <br />Hear it in that battle-peal! <br />Read it on yon bristling steel! <br />Ask it,-ye who will. <br /> <br /> <br />Fear ye foes who kill for hire? <br />Will ye to your homes retire? <br />Look behind you! they're a-fire! <br />And, before you, see <br />Who have done it!-From the vale <br />On they come!-And will ye quail?- <br />Leaden rain and iron hail <br />Let their welcome be! <br /> <br /> <br />In the God of battles trust! <br />Die we may,-and die we must;- <br />But, O, where can dust to dust <br />Be consigned so well, <br />As where Heaven its dews shall shed <br />On the martyred patriot's bed, <br />And the rocks shall raise their head, <br />Of his deeds to tell!<br /><br />John Pierpont<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/hymns-and-odes-vi/
