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1793.4
Sonnet to Rational Liberty
"Dr. Mavor"
[William Fordyce Mavor][1]
The Gentleman's Magazine, LXIII (March 1793), p. 263
On reading the horrid acts of the Paris Mob.
By Dr. Mavor.
Dearer than life, than love more sweet,
Of every joy the source, the zest!
Thee, LIBERTY! I fondly greet,
Thy genuine spirit fires my breast.
No tyrant's frown, no traitor's harlot smile,
My free born soul shall awe, my sense
shall ne'er beguile.
Rais'd on the throne of LAW and RIGHT,
O ever shield thy favourite land!
While Anarchy, with wild affright,
Flies to GALLIA's frantic strand.
O check these scenes of dire uproar—
Revenge thy prostituted name!
And far, O far, from BRITAIN'S shore
Drive the foul deeds that clothe thy charms
with shame.