Svatopluk Čech

Name: Songs of the Slav
Author: Svatopluk Čech

Songs of the Slav (1918)

Summary

“Songs of the Slav”, published in 1918, is a work by Svatopluk Čech. It explores elements such as rumble, Slaves and whip.

Quotes from Songs of the Slav (Svatopluk Čech)

Svatopluk Čech, Songs of the Slav (1918)

“ Where'er one's gaze doth fall, 'tis writ in fire there,
And round about eternally it peals;
Each morn we breathe a sigh for this our first care,
At night our final prayer with it deals.
Whene'er the boundless sea draws us from afar,
And free the wind doth toss our locks apart;
Whene'er the steeds that roam the plain, know no bar,
With flowing mane on the horizon start;
Whene'er before our gaze proud soars the eagle
And flaps his wings in bluey heights above:
The fettered hand the while then shakes its shackle,
And quivering the lips with "Freedom" move. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Svatopluk Čech, Songs of the Slav (1918)

“ But no! 'Twas not a mere illusion of my o'eryearning dream.
I know that the morning star of those better days will yet gleam;
That the greater part of that vision’s splendor will be fulfilled,
Though from my aged neck to shake the yoke, I shall not be willed.
My silvery gray head will bow unto the dust of a slave;
Slaves too will cast the handful of earth to my fetters in my grave.
But, you, O younger comrades, ere your course shall know time no more,
You shall ascend with happy tread upon freedom's sunny shore.
Then may the rude fist with whip around about in darkness reign. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Svatopluk Čech, Songs of the Slav (1918)

“ Morn till nightfall along
Life's deserted main.
Scarce felt my nape at length
Youthful power and strength,
Yoke of steel was firmly
Bound about my neck:
Taught to bow my head low,
Kisses did I bestow
On the lash that smote me:
Brow beat earth at heck.
I, a weakly slave, grew
'Mongst my brother serfs true;
Chains for jewels clinked just
At each sister's side;
And where'er my gaze dwelt
Anger, shame, pain I felt,
As with heads bowed to dust
Slaves dwelt nation wide. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Svatopluk Čech, Songs of the Slav (1918)

“ Gone are the wretched huts, tidy homes though plain are everywhere;
And where a stately palace proudly towers to the skies, not there
Is a haughty egoist's abode, opens wide its gates to all;
The people's parliament deliberates free their rise and fall ”

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Source: Wikisource

Svatopluk Čech, Songs of the Slav (1918)

“ The sun's golden shield, peeping from the rosy vapors, increases.
Victorious day tends the clouds and mists in flowing tatters,
Just as in flying fringe are tom the battle-worn banners.
The scattered hosts of darkness flee; silent grows the stormy scene ”

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Source: Wikisource

Svatopluk Čech, Songs of the Slav (1918)

“ Nowhere custodian with whip, nor sleek the slaveholder now;
Nowhere glistens the savage soldier's lance and spear, nor appear
The white folds of the Brahman's robe hypocritically near;
Nowhere is writ in colors diverse the mark of caste,
'Tis the happy native land of brothers equal and free at last.
Peacefully in those throngs are mingled diverse speech and color,
The beggar does not wind in rags, nor wastes his wealth the idler ”

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Source: Wikisource

Svatopluk Čech, Songs of the Slav (1918)

“ An Old Man.—Disclose the deeds of ages long gone by.
The Bard.—Other themes by far to-day resound through my unhappy soul,
Like the roar and rumble of the storms that o'er the heavens roll.
Far from these are flowery adornment, girlish grace, and heroes' pride:
Sighs, groans, gnash of teeth and clash of chains now in my themes abide.
Slaves.—Clash of chains is but a common strain to us, yet play and sing;
Subdue thy voice, lest our sleeping lords and guard the whip to you bring. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Svatopluk Čech, Songs of the Slav (1918)

“ And till time bids thee to action, gather your forces together;
All peoples free shall fraternize, the bonds of slaves will fall,
And our flag too, O brothers, will wave in the clear heights o'er all. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Svatopluk Čech, Songs of the Slav (1918)

“ I stand at dusk upon a cliff, 'gainst which mid rumble of rain
And smoke is dashed in roaring spray the water's vast hurricane.
Just as a bird that seeks in vain for rest the isle's seclusion,
My gaze dips gloomin in mists, of clouds and waves confusion
Which dark extends ahead into unbounded space and which teems
Belike a witches' caldron with waterspouts and seething streams.
As here I stand and backward gaze, in slav'ry groans the land there;
l gaze ahead, there the threatening elements mad strife prepare.
A tempest wild draws nigh ”

Svatopluk Čech

Summary

Quotes from Songs of the Slav (Svatopluk Čech)

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