The Harp of Erin :: :: University of Virginia Library

Let no unmanly plaint presume
To vex the manes of the brave,
No fond tear taint the laureat bloom
That waves upon the warrior's grave.
The softness of a sighing verse
May breathe o'er some inglorious hearse
Plum'd with the idle pomp of pride;
But Fame herself anneals in blood
The records of the great and good
Who boldly for a nation died.

Hush'd be each weaker voice of woe;
The hoarse drum's military sound;
The solemn ordnance, pealing slow.—
The martial horse, with trophies crown'd,
And marching in sad state along,
With downcast look the soldier-throng,
Shall more the hero's worth declare
Than aught the weeping muse could bring;
Though Rapture, soothing cold Despair,
Should smite the animated string.

Oh! as the mourning car triumphant moves
To lodge thy chieftain with the mighty dead,
Britannia, whom th' unwilling world approves,
Yet, yet sublimer lift thine aweful head.
Let no dim cloud obscure thy radiant brow:
For still unnumber'd godlike sons remain,
To bid each foreign host before thee bow,
And scatter to the winds their tinsel train;
To sweep the envious spoiler far away
From thy imperial breast, and vindicate thy sway.

Blest isle! the forest oak is thine,
And thine the iron-hearted steed:
Still foremost in th' embattled line,
Thy dauntless offspring dare to bleed;
Of hardy frame, and generous soul,
Whom no degrading fears control,
Nor less for milder graces known;
The liberal thought, the melting mind,
By sweet humanity refin'd,
And beauteous arts, are all thy own.
While at the helm an Addington presides,
Protects thy commerce, and to glory guides.

When fiercest the hot contest glows,
What alien courage shall oppose

The bulwark of a British breast?
The steady fires that flash around,
And yon deep groan's expiring sound,
Its genuine fortitude attest.
Behold th' intrepid column charge the foe!
Hark the harsh closure of the strident steel!
Exanimate they fly the furious blow;
Before its ruthless shock their forces reel;
'Till from thick mists emerging to the sight,
Gigantic Slaughter glares, then faints amid the fight.

O thou for whom the song I raise,
Ambitious to bestow my praise!
What ardours warm'd thy vet'ran-frame,
Though pierc'd with many a wound severe,
When, cloth'd in wide-consuming flame,
Thy little wond'rous band pursued
The gallic vultures by their track of blood,
And thunder'd desolation on their rear!

Then far was every selfish thought
Of life with loss of honour bought;
Then every tie that holds the heart,
For ever doom'd from home to part,
Was lost to thy collected breast,
By patriot-zeal alone possest.

Caution, determinately cool,
Maintain'd her calm unalter'd rule,
And taught the conflict where to rage;
While bright Victoria, hov'ring nigh,
Her keen glance fix'd upon thy bleeding thigh,
Scarce more admir'd the soldier than the sage.

Though now, ev'n now, illustrious shade,
Yet recent from the memorable fray,
In blissful bow'rs, unconscious of decay,
Thy wearied limbs at length are laid;
And thronging round, an airy swarm,
Heroic spectres eye thy form;
Proud names, of history the splendid boast,
Solicitous who shall applaud thee most;
Oh! see the gallant youth thy genius led
O'er Flandria's well disputed plain,
See princely Frederick droop the head
With all a pupil's tender pain;
Oh! yet, great soul, deliberately wise,
Temper his daring heat, and fit him for the skies.

Meanwhile, each meed thy country can bestow,
Dissolv'd in universal woe,
Shall flourish o'er thy sacred dust;
The pile sepulchral, and the votive bust:

But most a pious monarch's grateful tear
Proclaim thy fortunate rememb'rance dear,
Dear to himself and to his people too;
For ev'ry pompous rite of rev'rence past,
That tribute to long faithful service due,
In other chiefs thy virtue shall renew,
And still in emulous succession last.

So the poetic branch, renown'd of old
For glitt'ring leaves, and balls of blooming gold,
Though torn, appear'd before the Trojan's eyes
Still fresh with shining foliage to arise;
Unchang'd the value of its precious frame,
Its radiant hue unchang'd, another and the same.

Uno avulso non deficit alter.

Virgil.