Of old sat Freedom on the heights

by Alfred Tennyson

Of old sat Freedom on the heights,
    The thunders breaking at her feet;
Above her shook the starry lights;
    She heard the torrent meet.

There in her place she did rejoice,
    Self-gather’d in her prophet-mind,
But fragments of her mighty voice
    Came rolling on the wind.

Then stepped she down thro’ town and field
    To mingle with the human race,
And part by part to men reveal’d
    The fullness of her face –

Grave mother of majestic works,
    From her isle-altar gazing down,
Who, Godlike, grasps the triple forks,
    And, king-like, wears the crown,

Her open eyes desire the truth.
    The wisdom of a thousand years
Is in them. May perpetual youth
    Keep dry their light from tears;

That her fair form may stand and shine,
    Make bright our days and light our dreams,
Turning to scorn with lips divine
    To falsehood of extremes.