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 |  |
Then as a comet through the hazy air,
O'er earth, portentous, waves his fiery hair;
The blazing beacons seen from mountains far,
Portended the dire plagues of rushing war.
Then but one passion fill'd each throbbing breast,
Combin'd, attracted, or absorb'd the rest—
Collected in ourselves we stood, nor thought
That LIBERTY too dearly could be bought.
Inestimable prize! for that alone
Life was not counted dear, or ev'n our own.
O'er earth, portentous, waves his fiery hair;
The blazing beacons seen from mountains far,
Portended the dire plagues of rushing war.
Then but one passion fill'd each throbbing breast,
Combin'd, attracted, or absorb'd the rest—
Collected in ourselves we stood, nor thought
That LIBERTY too dearly could be bought.
Inestimable prize! for that alone
Life was not counted dear, or ev'n our own.
| The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys | |