Page:An appeal to England against the execution of the condemned Fenians - Swinburne (1867).djvu/17

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AN APPEAL.
9

VIII.

Was it not said of thee too,

Now, but now, by thy foes,
By the slaves that had slain their France,
And thee would slay as they slew—
"Down with her walls that enclose
Freemen that eye us askance,
Fugitives, men that are true?"

IX.

This was thy praise or thy blame

From bondsman or freeman—to be
Pure from pollution of slaves,
Clean of their sins, and thy name
Bloodless, innocent, free;
Now if thou be not, thy waves
Wash not from off thee thy shame.