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For scorned and broken laws—
For honor and the right—
For staked and periled cause
Of liberty and light.
For holy eyes above
On a world of evil cast—
For the children of our love—
For the mothers of the past!
Worthy of them are ye—
The Pilgrim wives who dared
The waste and unknown sea,
And the hunter's perils shared.
Worthy of her,[1] whose mind
Triumphant over all,
Ruler nor priest could bind,
Nor banishment appal.
Worthy of her[2] who died
Martyr of Freedom, where
Your 'Common's' verdant pride
Opens to sun and air:
Upheld at that dread hour
By strength which could not fail;
Before whose holy power,
Bigot and priest turned pale.
