The Embargo
by William Cullen Bryant
13889The EmbargoWilliam Cullen Bryant

When private faith and public trust are sold,
And traitors barter liberty for gold;
When fell corruption, dark, and deep, like fate,
Saps the foundation of a sinking state;
Then warmer numbers glow through satire's page,
And all her smiles are darken'd into rage;
Then keener indignation fires her eye,
Then flash her lightnings, and her thunders fly!

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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