19 



OUR COUNTRY AND HER CLAIMS. 



(From the Mines of Wielitezka.^-A Tragedy.) 



BY DR. BUCHANAN. 



As the Poles are securing the Austrian soldiers — enter Miners 

 armedf who engage the prisoners, Crasoski throws himself 

 between the Combatants. 



Crasoski. Art thou of Poland ? 



Miner. Yes. 



Crasoski. Then wherefore stand 



You thus in anns anayed, — against our Poland ? 



The miners lower their arms. 



The mountain stream — the plains — the desert wild. 



Or cultured soil — or sterile rock, — all that 



To Poland did pertain — is thy Country ! 



Nor tyrants sceptered, nor their numerous hosts. 



Can e'er her sacred, immutable claims efface. 



Thy country claims of thee — of all her sons 



She claims, their riches — lands — whate'er of life's 



Choice blessings they possess — nay, more; their lives ! 



Their toil, in strife — of battled fields — or blood — 



Or treasures of the mind — by night — by day — 



Bleak storms or sunshine — still, their sole delight 



To guard the freedom of their native land ! 



And shall our Poland be thus trode ! — despoiled ! 



Of all her beauty — strength : her daughters — sons — 



Her fair possessions — held in servile chains ! 



And we be men ! whose blood beats high on sound 



Of Liberty ! Shall we endure this weight 



Of slavery's vile doom ? NO. Rouse, Sarmatians ! 



Our Poland shall be FREE ! To arms '.—awake ! 



Freedom calls ! and Victory, leads the van ! 



The miners join the prisoners mth repeated huzzas. 



