Unfold, Father TIME, thy long Records unfold,
Of noble Atchievements accomplish’d of old,
When MEN, by the Spirit of LIBERTY led,
Undauntedly conquer’d, or chearfully bled;
But now ’midst the Triumphs these Moments reveal,
Their Glory all fades, and their Lustre turns pale,
While FRANCE rises up, and proclaims the Decree,
That tears off our Chains, and bids MILLIONS BE FREE!

As Spring to the Fields, or as Dew to the Flow’rs,
To Earth parch’d with Heat, as the soft drizzling Showers,
As Health to the Wretch, that lies languid and wan,
As Rest to the Weary, is FREEDOM to Man;
Where FREEDOM the Light of her Countenance gives,
There only he triumphs, there only he lives;
Then seize the glad Moment, and hail the Decree,
That tears off our Chains, and bids MILLIONS BE FREE!

Too long has Oppression and Terror entwin’d
The Tyrant-form’d Chains, which enslave the free Mind;
While dark Superstition, with Nature at Strife.
For Ages has lock’d up the Fountain of Life;
But the Demon is fled, Delusion is past,
And REASON and VIRTUE will triumph at last.
Then seize the glad Moment and hail the Decree
That tears off our Chains, and bids MILLIONS BE FREE!

Oh! FRANCE, what’s the Rapture, thy bosom that fills,
While the Genius of LIBERTY bounds o’er thine Hills!
Redundant, henceforth, may thy purple Juice flow!
Proudly wave thy green Woods, and thine Olive Trees grow!
While the Hand of PHILOSOPHY long shall entwine,
Bless’d Emblems! the Laurel, the Myrtle, and Vine;
And Heav’n through all Ages confirm the Decree
That tears off thy Chains and bids MILLIONS BE FREE.