Poetry in 19th century newspapers (5)

Brighton Patriot and Lewes Free Press etc (Brighton, England), Tuesday, April 7, 1835; Issue 7.

REMONSTRANCE
Addressed to a young Lady at Lewes, for wearing Tory colours on the 9th March, 1835.

The Sullen purple's used to hide
The gloomy tyrants savage pride;
A veil to cover Royal Shame,
And deck full many a hated name.
O pluck the servile badge away,
'Tis neither lovely, glad, nor gay.

Leave stern rough man to war and strife;
Woman, the softening diadem of life,
Why should she seek to show a zeal
That man, and only man, can feel.
Love love the calm; away he flies
When Discord's ugly storma arise.

But if the wish inspires thy heart
In politics to take a part,
Chose virtue's* side, - nor e'er be found
On tryanny's+ accursed ground.
Side not with those who made thee slave,
But those who generous freedom gave.

O pluck that servile badge away,
'Tis neither innocent nor gay;
Britannia treads it in the dust,
With hate as deep as it is just.
Then give me leave to deck thy hair
With something worthy to be there.

Nor earth the color can supply
Soft as thine onw mild gentle eye.
The wreath my hand would twine for you
Should be of Heven's unfading blue./
It has endured, and shall endure,
Fit emblem for the brave and pure.

OTHEGREEN.

* Radicals + Tories / Kemp