SELECT POETRY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 149, 15 December 1870, Page 7

SELECT POETRY.

THE MARSEILLAISE.

This famous song, so long proscribed as revolutionary, seems to have been recognised and adopted by Napoleon 111. on commencing the war with Germany. The French military bands played the long-forbidden air on the route to the frontier, to stimulate the enthusiasm of the soldiers. The following is a "fail- rendering" from the original French :—: — Come, children of your country, come, New glory dawns upon the world : Our tyrants, rushing to their doom, Their bloody standard have unfurled ; Already on our plains we hear The murmurs of a savage horde ; They threaten with the murderous sword Your comrades and your children dear. Then up, and form your ranks, the hireling foe withstand ; March on— his craven blood must fertilise the land.

Those banded serfs —what would they have, By tyrant kings together brought ? Whom are those fettered to enslave Which long ago their hands have wrought ? You, Frenchmen, you, they would enchain, Doth not the thought your bosoms fire ? The ancieut bondage they desire To force upon your necks again. Then up, and form your ranks, the hireling foe withstand ; March on— his craven blood must fertilise the land.

Those marshalled foreigners, shall they Make laws to reach the Frenchman's hearth ? Shall hireling troops who fight for pay Strike clown our warriors to the earth ? God ! shall we bow beneath the weight Of hands that slavish fetters wear ? Shall ruthless despots once more dare To be the masters of our fate ? Then up, and form your ranks, the hireling foe ■withstand ; March on— his craven blood must fertilise the land. Then tremble, tyrants— traitors all Ye, whom both friends and foes despise ; On you shall retribution fall, Your crimes shall gain a worthy prize. • Each man opposes might to might ; And when our youthful heroes die, Our France can well their place supply ! "We're soldiers all with you to fight. Then up, ana form your ranks, the hireling foe withstand ; March on- his craven blood must fertilise the land. Yet, generous wairiors, still forbear To deal on all your vengeful blows ; The train of hapless victims spare— Against their will they are our foes. But oh, those despots stained with blood, Those traitors leagued with base Bouille, Who make their native land their prey ; Death to the savage tiger-blood ! Then up, and form your ranks, the hireling foe •withstand ; March on — his craven blood must fertilise the land. And when our glorious sires are dead, Their virtues we shall surely find "When, on the self -same path we tread, And track the fame they leave behind. Less to suivive them we desire Than to partake their noble grave ; The proud ambition we shall have To live for vengeance or expire. Then up, and form your ranks, the hireling foe withstand ; March on - his craven blood must fertilise the land. Come, love of country, guide us now. Endow our vengeful arms with might ; And, dearest Liberty, do thou Aid thy defenders in the fight. Unto our flags let Victory, Called by thy stirring accents, haste ; And make thy dying foes nt last Thy triumph and our gloi-y see. Then up, and form thy ranks, the hireling foe withstand ; March on— his craven blood shall fertilise the • land.