This poem celebrating the 1830 Revolution in France was written by Victor Hugo and translated by George W.M. Reynolds (1814–79), writing under the pseudonym of “Parisianus.” It was then published in the Monthly Magazine in September 1838. It has been transcribed by Stephen Basdeo.

And France has awaken’d from stupor profound,

And the watchword has roused all her champions around:

And the din of their weapons struck loud on the ear,

As it hearken’d the tread of the cavalry near.

But the tyrant has marshall’d his warriors in vain,

And his culverins thunder’d again and again,

For the stones, that the citizens tore from the street,

Laid the cohorts of royalty dead at their feet:—

And their numbers increased—for they fought to be free—

And they poured on the foe like the waves of the sea:

While the din of the tocsin, that echoed on high,

Was drowned in the fervour of liberty’s cry!