LAUS DEO.

103

LAUS DEO.

ON HEARING THE BELLS RING FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ABOLISHING SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES.

Did we dare,

In our agony of prayer,

Ask for more than he has done?

When was ever his right hand .
Over any time or land

Stretched as now beneath the sun!

How they pale,

Ancient myth, and song, and tale,
In this wonder of our days,

When the cruel rod of war

Blossoms white with righteous law,
And the wrath of man is praise.

Blotted out!

All within and all about
Shall a fresher life begin;

Freer breathe the universe
As it rolls its heavy curse
On the dead and buried sin.

It is done!

In the circuit of the sun
Shall the sound thereof go forth.
It shall bid the sad rejoice,
It shall give the dumb a voice,
It shall belt with joy the earth!

Ring and swing

Bells of joy! on morning's wing
Send the song of praise abroad;
With a sound of broken chains,
Tell the nations that He reigns,
Who alone is Lord and God!

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