Written in His Album When He Was the Author's Teacher in Modern Languages Yale College, 1827

I would not leave that land, if I were thou —
That glorious land of mountain and of flood,
Whereon is graven God .
As if its hills were chosen for Earth's brow,
And its loud torrents gave the words he spoke,
Leaping from rock to rock.

I would not leave it — for its children gave
Their blood like water, for a word, " be FREE ! "
Their last breath, " L IBERTY ! "
Till Switzerland was made a mighty grave —
A land where heroes like a harvest fell —
The land of W ILLIAM Tell .

I would not leave it: — yet the holy wing
Of Freedom shadoweth this land, as thine!
And when I call it " mine, "
I make myself a greater than a king.
We welcome freemen — and we welcome thee —
Dwell with us, and BE FREE !