"Not Yet"

Oh country, marvel of the earth!
Oh realm to sudden greatness grown!
The age that gloried in thy birth,
Shall it behold the overthrown?
Shall traitors lay that greatness low?
No, land of Hope and Blessing, No!

---

And they who founded, in our land,
The power that rules from sea to sea,
Bled they in vain, or vainly planned
To leave their country great and free?
Their sleeping ashes, from below,
Send up the thrilling murmur, No!

--William Cullen Bryant, "Not Yet", st. 1,3 (1861)

Thanks to Leigh Powers for posting a Jane Austen quote inspiring this tribute.

I'm heading North for the weekend...more to come when I return.