their godly fear
Rely upon His aid? And why hath He
Prepared this pain and agony for me?

VII.

Be still my soul; it is not thine to take
Thy God to task. Canst thou forget the pain
And agony He suffered for thy sake?
Or canst remember these and not restrain
Thyself from challenging thy God? Be still,
And bow submissive to thy Father's will.

VIII.

'Twas man condemned me to a life of woe,
And 'twas not God. The pride of man hath said
That I must suffer thus. It must be so
Because the baronet was nobler bred.
Oh, cruel, cruel wrong! Oh mockery!
That bluer blood should sever her from me!

IX.

Give thanks to God, Canadians, that ye
Have not been cursed with nobility.
And, as you love your country, keep it free
From those whose utter inutility
For any good is proven by their pride
Of blood; they have not aught to boast beside.

X.

A noble land is yours, and ye may well
Be proud of her. And here before me lies
Your greatest city. Would that I could tell
One-half the tales of brave self-sacrifice
Which those who founded Montreal had shown,
Ere yet the name of Canada was known.

XI.

But, should I strive to speak of every deed
Of sacrifice and brave endurance borne
By all your heroes, I should feel the need
Of greater time, and heart less sorrow-worn;
Nor have the Muses so inspired my pen
That I can fitly praise those noble men.

XII.

Yet would I strive to sing as best I may
Of him who landed first upon this shore;
I fain would speak of hardy Cartier:
His ship the first St. Lawrence ever bore;
His face the first pale-face the Indians
Had seen; his deeds well merit utterance.

XIII.

Three centuries and half a century
Have sped their course since Cartier set sail
From France, intent upon discovery.
He oft had heard the wonder-stirring tale
Of distant lands possessed of mighty wealth;
These now he would discover for himself.

XIV.

And westward sailing on his unknown way,
In course of time he met his due reward;
And sailed this noble river on the day
Made holy to St. Lawrence. He implored
The blessing of the Saint upon his aim,
And called the gulf and river by his name.

XV.

Then, landing on the wooded shore, he knelt
Before his God, and offered up a prayer
To Him, to show the gratitude he felt
Towards the God whose hand had brought him there
In safety. And he asked for further aid
And guidance in the land where now he stayed