O Star of France.

1 O STAR of France! The brightness of thy hope and strength and fame, Like some proud ship that led the fleet so long, Beseems to-day a wreck, driven by the gale—a mastless hulk; And ’mid its teeming, madden’d, half-drown’d crowds, Nor helm nor helmsman. 2 Dim, smitten star! Orb not of France alone—pale symbol of my soul, its dearest hopes, The struggle and the daring—rage divine for liberty, Of aspirations toward the far ideal—enthusiast’s dreams of brotherhood, Of terror to the tyrant and the priest.…