The Voice of Praise ‎#799

799. Men! whose boast it is, that ye

Men! whose boast it is, that ye
Come of fathers brave and free,
If there breathe on earth a slave,
Are ye truly free and brave?
If ye do not feel the chain,
When it works a brother's pain,
Are ye not base slaves, indeed--
Slaves unworthy to be freed?

2 Is true freedom but to break
Fetters for our own dear sake,
And with leathern hearts forget
That we owe mankind a debt?
No! true freedom is to share
All the chains our brothers wear,
And with heart and hand to be
Earnest to make others free!

3 They are slaves, who fear to speak
For the fallen and the weak;
They are slaves, who will not choose
Hatred, scoffing, and abuse,
Rather than in silence shrink
From the truth they needs must think;
They are slaves, who dare not be
In the right with two or three.

Text Information

• First Line: Men! whose boast it is, that ye
• Author: Lowell
• Meter: 7s (Double)
• Publication Date: 1873
• Topic: The Christian Nation: Freedom; True Liberty

Tune Information

(No tune information)