"O freedom..."

[Cartoon by George Cruikshank (1792 – 1878)]

A Clare poem for The General Election
'plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose'

O freedom freedom sacred name
Thy lands a land of slaves
Tho many a town thy right proclames
But trust me they are knaves
Theres many a slave shows in his notes
In freedoms intrest bawling
Woud sell his consciense for a groat
O freedom thou art fallen

Pet MS A1 p54

EP I 366

(From 'The Fallen Elm')

Such was thy ruin music making elm
The rights of freedom was to injure thine
As thou wert served so would they overwhelm
In freedoms name the little that is mine
& there are knaves that brawl for better laws
& cant of tyranny in stronger powers
Who glut their vile unsatiated maws
& freedoms birthright from the weak devours

(Lines 67-74)

Pet MS A54 p 180-181

MP III 440