By The Rivers Of Babylon We Sat Down And Wept

George Gordon Lord Byron

We sat down and wept by the waters 
    Of Babel, and thought of the day 
When our foe, in the hue of his slaughters, 
    Made Salem's high places his prey; 
And ye, oh her desolate daughters! 
    Were scattered all weeping away. 
                 
While sadly we gazed on the river 
    Which rolled on in freedom below, 
They demanded the song; but, oh never 
    That triumph the stranger shall know! 
May this right hand be withered for ever, 
    Ere it string our high harp for the foe! 
                 
On the willow that harp is suspended, 
    Oh Salem!  its sound should be free; 
And the hour when thy glories were 
       ended 
    But left me that token of thee: 
And ne'er shall its soft tones be blended 
    With the voice of the spoiler by me!

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