Now like smiths at their forges Worked the red St. George's Cannoneers, And the villainous saltpetre Rung a fierce, discordant meter Round their ears; As the swift Storm drift, With hot sweeping anger, came the horseguards' clangor On our flanks; Then higher, higher, higher, burned the old-fashioned fire Through the ranks!
Then the bareheaded colonel Galloped through the white infernal Powder cloud; And his broadsword was swinging, And his brazen throat was ringing Trumpet-loud; Then the blue Bullets flew, And the trooper jackets redden at the touch of the leaden Rifle breath; And rounder, rounder, rounder, roared the iron six-pounder, Hurling death!
He lay upon his dying bed; His eye was growing dim, When with a feeble voice he called His weeping son to him: "Weep not, my boy!" the vet'ran said, "I bow to Heaven's high will-- But quickly from yon antlers bring The sword of Bunker Hill."
The sword was brought, the soldier's eye Lit with a sudden flame; And as he grasped the ancient blade, He murmured Warren's name; Then said, "My boy, I leave you gold-- But what is richer still, I leave you, mark me, mark me now-- The sword of Bunker Hill.
"'Twas on that dread, immortal day, I dared the Briton's band, A captain raised this blade on me-- I tore it from his hand: And while the glorious battle raged, It lightened freedom's will-- For, boy, the God of freedom blessed The sword of Bunker Hill.
"Oh, keep the sword!"--his accents broke-- A smile--and he was dead-- But his wrinkled hand still grasped the blade Upon that dying bed. The son remains; the sword remains-- Its glory growing still-- And twenty millions bless the sire, And sword of Bunker Hill.
In a chariot of light from the regions of day, The Goddess of Liberty came; Ten thousand celestials directed the way, And hither conducted the dame. A fair budding branch from the gardens above, Where millions with millions agree, She brought in her hand as a pledge of her love, And the plant she named _Liberty Tree_.
The celestial exotic struck deep in the ground, Like a native it flourished and bore; The fame of its fruit drew the nation's around, To seek out this peaceable shore. Unmindful of names or distinctions they came, For freemen like brothers agree; With one spirit endued, they one friendship pursued, And their temple was _Liberty Tree_.