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A Curse for a Nation: The Curse Lyrics by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Vol. IV

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I.
Because ye have broken your own chain
       &nbspWith the strain
Of brave men climbing a Nation’s height,
Yet thence bear down with brand and thong
On souls of others,—for this wrong
       &nbspThis is the curse. Write.
Because yourselves are standing straight
       &nbspIn the state
Of Freedom’s foremost acolyte,
Yet keep calm footing all the time
On writhing bond-slaves,—for this crime
       &nbspThis is the curse. Write.
Because ye prosper in God’s name,
       &nbspWith a claim
To honour in the old world’s sight,
Yet do the fiend’s work perfectly
In strangling martyrs,—for this lie
       &nbspThis is the curse. Write.
II.
Ye shall watch while kings conspire
Round the people’s smouldering fire,
       &nbspAnd, warm for your part,
Shall never dare—O shame!
To utter the thought into flame
       &nbspWhich burns at your heart.
       &nbsp       &nbspThis is the curse. Write.
Ye shall watch while nations strive
With the bloodhounds, die or survive,
       &nbspDrop faint from their jaws,
Or throttle them backward to death;
And only under your breath
       &nbspShall favour the cause.
       &nbsp       &nbspThis is the curse. Write.
Ye shall watch while strong men draw
The nets of feudal law
       &nbspTo strangle the weak;
And, counting the sin for a sin,
Your soul shall be sadder within
       &nbspThan the word ye shall speak.
       &nbsp       &nbspThis is the curse. Write.
When good men are praying erect
That Christ may avenge his elect
       &nbspAnd deliver the earth,
The prayer in your ears, said low,
Shall sound like the tramp of a foe
       &nbspThat’s driving you forth.
       &nbsp       &nbspThis is the curse. Write.
When wise men give you their praise,
They shall pause in the heat of the phrase,
       &nbspAs if carried too far.
When ye boast your own charters kept true
Ye shall blush; for the thing which ye do
       &nbspDerides what ye are.
       &nbsp       &nbspThis is the curse. Write.
When fools cast taunts at your gate,
Your scorn ye shall somewhat abate
       &nbspAs ye look o’er the wall;
For your conscience, tradition, and name
Explode with a deadlier blame
       &nbspThan the worst of them all.
       &nbsp       &nbspThis is the curse. Write.
Go, wherever ill deeds shall be done,
Go, plant your flag in the sun
       &nbspBeside the ill-doers!
And recoil from clenching the curse
Of God’s witnessing Universe
       &nbspWith a curse of yours.
       &nbsp       &nbspThis is the curse. Write.
Credits
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

About “A Curse for a Nation: The Curse” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Read the complete lyrics to "A Curse for a Nation: The Curse" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning from the album "The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Vol. IV". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Literature.

"A Curse for a Nation: The Curse" is performed by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. from the album "The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Vol. IV" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "A Curse for a Nation: The Curse", explore more songs by Elizabeth Barrett Browning using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"A Curse for a Nation: The Curse" is credited to Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"A Curse for a Nation: The Curse" appears on "The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Vol. IV".

Visit the Elizabeth Barrett Browning artist page at /artist/elizabeth-barrett-browning for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.