(FROM THE FRENCH OF PIERRE DUPONT).
When on the stream’s deserted bank
No busy mill shall fan the air,
And, idling on the pasture dank,
The lazy mules no burden bear,-
Then, as a wolf at noontide roams,
While gathering tempests load the sky
Hunger shall break into men’s homes,
And deeply roll the rising cry:
Ye tyrants! ye shall hush in vain
A hungering people’s clamour dread;
For nature bids us cry amain-
Bread! bread! we must-we will have
bread!
Grim hunger from the village comes-
He enters through the city arch:
Go meet him with your pikes and drums!
Repel him with your iron march!
Despite your cannon’s hottest shower,
He mocks you with his eagle flight,
And, on your rampart’s highest tower,
His sable banner clouds the light,
Ye despots! Ye shall hush in vain
A hungering people’s clamour dread;
For nature bids us cry amain-
Bread! bread! we must-we will have
bread!
Array your hireling legions all,
With equal pace, and arm, and boast-
But from our rustic arsenal
We too have armed grim hunger’s post.
From forth the sod we’ve torn the spade;
The sickle from the waiting corn,
Nay, e’en the soft breast of the maid
Against the sword beats full and warm.
Ye despots! ye shall hush in vain
A hungering people’s clamour dread;
For nature bids us cry amain-
Bread! bread! we must-we will have
bread!
Up! swell the people’s fearless flood,
Whoever bears a scythe or pike!
Let thirsty tyrants threaten blood!
Let scaffolds rise and axes strike!
But when the axe has flickered fast
Above the gloomy circling crowd,
And life’s last throb of pride has passed,
Our blood itself shall cry aloud-
Ye despots! ye shall hush in vain
A hungering people’s clamour dread;
For nature bids us cry amain-
Bread! bread! we must-we will have
bread!
Bread! bread’s our right!-Bread! Bread’s our
need!
Like air and water,-(ours as yet!)
We are the ravens God must feed-
He owed us bread-his mighty debt!
But lo! he paid the debt he owed;
He gave the land to grow the corn,
And suns have o’er his harvests glowed,
For all that live of woman born !
Ye despots! ye shall hush in vain
A hungering people’s clamour drea :
For nature bids us cry amain-
Bread! bread! we must-we will have
bread!
(Ernest Jones)
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