924 ORATIONS AND IMPASSIONED PIECES. 



bed, nor even reposed my head upon my pillow, without 

 giving vent to my eternal abhorrence of such ENORMOUS 

 and PREPOSTEROUS principles. 



TELL IN PRISON. 



Think ye, vile chains ! to curb the soul 



Dungeons can never daunt the PATRIOT'S spirit ! 



I'd sooner be within these four damp walls, 



With three-fold fetters on me, with the worm, 



That leaves its slimy trace of wretchedness, 



For my companion, than the pampered wretch 



Who, in his gorgeous tyranny above, 



Tramples upon a people's RIGHTS, and earns 



A people's CURSES for his nightly blessing ! 



fMy BODY is thy prisoner, Gesler ! Chains 



May gall my FLESH may manacle my LIMBS, 



And for a time may make me blush to mark 



The stains they've left upon them ; but my MIND- 



Can ne'er be soil'd.by things like THESE ! 



The coward crouches if the treacherous pard 



Doth look on him. My spirit will not crouch 



Nor quail before the spotted beast. I feel 



There's that within me which doth hold me up, 



And prompt me with a mighty unseen power 



To deeds of unseen glory. I am FREE 



Free in this prison-house ! I range at will 



The mighty bulwarks of our mountain worlds. 



Over beloved Switzerland I go 



With my mind's energy ! 



Think J ye the spirit requires corporeal form 



To converse with the spirit ? Are there not hours, 



Hours of pale solitude, when the outer world 



* Strong expression of disdain with the most undaunted, courageous 

 manner. 



f The manner continues most undaunted, with the highest degree 

 of enthusiasm. 



% Relaxing into a solemn, contemplating, reflecting manner, requiring 

 a slow utterance. 



