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To ages yet unborn shall show
The priest's pure zeal, the patriot's glow.
Through me the high behest ye share,
That bids frail man his fellow spare;
And still the heav'nly thunders roll
"Commit no murder" on the soul!
The priest's pure zeal, the patriot's glow.
Through me the high behest ye share,
That bids frail man his fellow spare;
And still the heav'nly thunders roll
"Commit no murder" on the soul!
Thou dwell'st among the mountain rocks,
Haunt of the chamois, and the fox,
Thou sleep'st upon the rugged bed,
Where foaming torrents erst have spread;
Thou roam'st along the blasted heath,
Or shades of plunder and of death,
Where murd'rers ply their dreadful trade,
And bathe in blood thy reeking blade.
Such is thy fate! and dar'st thou then
Compare thee with the blameless pen?
Scourge of the weak, but wisdom's slave,
Dar'st thou to threat an early grave?
Haunt of the chamois, and the fox,
Thou sleep'st upon the rugged bed,
Where foaming torrents erst have spread;
Thou roam'st along the blasted heath,
Or shades of plunder and of death,
Where murd'rers ply their dreadful trade,
And bathe in blood thy reeking blade.
Such is thy fate! and dar'st thou then
Compare thee with the blameless pen?
Scourge of the weak, but wisdom's slave,
Dar'st thou to threat an early grave?
