The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys Late Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the Court of Madrid |
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 | The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys |  |
Now should our youths, the renovating age,
Hear from their fathers, ere we quit this stage,
Our feats in war—what chiefs, as pillars, stood
For freedom firm, and built their fame in blood!—
Then learn, blest youths!—to independence born!—
What gloomy prospects usher'd in our morn!
To Britain long attach'd, from whence we sprung,
Whose praises dwelt on every infant tongue—
Sons of her sons, and sharers in their fame—
Our laws, religion, language, rights the same!
At last a right she claim'd, new, unconfin'd,
“In every case the colonists to bind.”
Thence rose resistance. Rebels then proclaim'd—
For weakness, discord, cowardice, defam'd—
Of preparation void—mid first alarms,
No ships, tow'rs, treasures, arsenals or arms,
To us belong'd. No league, nor army ours,
Till common danger call'd forth common pow'rs.
In vain the foe from states so feebly join'd,
With hopes of mean submission sooth'd his mind;
Proud stood the states by threat'nings undismay'd,
And with retorted scorn his threats repaid.
And didst thou hope, beyond th' Atlantic waves,
To bend unyielding freemen into slaves?
To make a continent that knows no end,
For ever on thy little isle depend?
Didst thou, presumptuous! dream the conquest won?
Did we, though weak, th' unequal combat shun?
And ye who witness'd sad, when, round our shore,
We heard from sea th' approaching cannon roar,
Skirting th' horizon saw (without one friend)
From dim-roll'd decks a redd'ning host impend,
A magazine of war each pregnant sail,
Say, what knee trembled or what face turn'd pale?
Nor sooner we beheld, in vengeance dire,
The shells high bursting cleave the clouds with fire,
Than union grew as danger came more near—
To daring deeds we rose!—while all that's dear,
While all that makes ev'n frozen bosoms melt,
Infus'd the feelings cowards never felt.
Haste forg'd us arms—th' ignoble rustic steel
A glorious weapon gleam'd—while our appeal
To heav'n's high throne we made, what crowds repair
To temples of the Lord in fervent pray'r?
Their fathers' God Omnipotent they nam'd,
While the great Congress solemn fasts proclaim'd.
No tongue with lies, no face in falsehood drest,
Mock'd the heart-searcher in his holy rest:
But strong devotions, undispers'd in air,
Rose prevalent in agony of pray'r.
“From Britain's vet'ran bands, from hireling hosts,
From thund'ring ships that darken all our coasts,
From fire and sword save us, oh Lord!” they cried—
“Save us, oh Lord!” th' echoing aisles replied—
“Oh, grant success may crown a cause so good,
Or let us seal our principles in blood:
Before our leader's breast thy buckler spread,
In days of battle cover thou his head:
To conquest guide him, and, when war shall cease,
Make him thy delegate of good in peace.”
Hear from their fathers, ere we quit this stage,
137
For freedom firm, and built their fame in blood!—
Then learn, blest youths!—to independence born!—
What gloomy prospects usher'd in our morn!
To Britain long attach'd, from whence we sprung,
Whose praises dwelt on every infant tongue—
Sons of her sons, and sharers in their fame—
Our laws, religion, language, rights the same!
At last a right she claim'd, new, unconfin'd,
“In every case the colonists to bind.”
Thence rose resistance. Rebels then proclaim'd—
For weakness, discord, cowardice, defam'd—
Of preparation void—mid first alarms,
No ships, tow'rs, treasures, arsenals or arms,
To us belong'd. No league, nor army ours,
Till common danger call'd forth common pow'rs.
In vain the foe from states so feebly join'd,
With hopes of mean submission sooth'd his mind;
Proud stood the states by threat'nings undismay'd,
And with retorted scorn his threats repaid.
And didst thou hope, beyond th' Atlantic waves,
To bend unyielding freemen into slaves?
To make a continent that knows no end,
For ever on thy little isle depend?
Didst thou, presumptuous! dream the conquest won?
Did we, though weak, th' unequal combat shun?
And ye who witness'd sad, when, round our shore,
We heard from sea th' approaching cannon roar,
Skirting th' horizon saw (without one friend)
From dim-roll'd decks a redd'ning host impend,
A magazine of war each pregnant sail,
Say, what knee trembled or what face turn'd pale?
Nor sooner we beheld, in vengeance dire,
The shells high bursting cleave the clouds with fire,
Than union grew as danger came more near—
To daring deeds we rose!—while all that's dear,
While all that makes ev'n frozen bosoms melt,
Infus'd the feelings cowards never felt.
Haste forg'd us arms—th' ignoble rustic steel
A glorious weapon gleam'd—while our appeal
To heav'n's high throne we made, what crowds repair
To temples of the Lord in fervent pray'r?
Their fathers' God Omnipotent they nam'd,
While the great Congress solemn fasts proclaim'd.
138
Mock'd the heart-searcher in his holy rest:
But strong devotions, undispers'd in air,
Rose prevalent in agony of pray'r.
“From Britain's vet'ran bands, from hireling hosts,
From thund'ring ships that darken all our coasts,
From fire and sword save us, oh Lord!” they cried—
“Save us, oh Lord!” th' echoing aisles replied—
“Oh, grant success may crown a cause so good,
Or let us seal our principles in blood:
Before our leader's breast thy buckler spread,
In days of battle cover thou his head:
To conquest guide him, and, when war shall cease,
Make him thy delegate of good in peace.”
| The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys | |