 | Verses of a life time |  |
96
THE WARRIOR.
O, welcome the Warrior, who proudly advances,
Victorious from battle, a lord o'er the foe!
As the sun o'er a darken'd creation he glances,
For the strong and the valiant his arm has laid low.
Victorious from battle, a lord o'er the foe!
As the sun o'er a darken'd creation he glances,
For the strong and the valiant his arm has laid low.
O! haste to the Warrior, with a bright laurel grace him,
For the mighty are vanquished—the timid have fled;
As a chief of the earth, as a saviour, address him,
And let halos of honor encircle his head.
For the mighty are vanquished—the timid have fled;
As a chief of the earth, as a saviour, address him,
And let halos of honor encircle his head.
He has braved as a rock the wild force of the battle,
And foes from his side fell like showery foam;
Around him has sounded war's deafening rattle,
But he stood in the storm like the sky threatening dome.
And foes from his side fell like showery foam;
Around him has sounded war's deafening rattle,
But he stood in the storm like the sky threatening dome.
Men, raise your deep voices in praise of his glory!
And women, in reverence bow at his name;
Infants in lispings reëcho the story,
And matrons, swell loudly the trump of his fame!
And women, in reverence bow at his name;
Infants in lispings reëcho the story,
And matrons, swell loudly the trump of his fame!
97
His praise shall extend over land and wide ocean,
Where princes will listen in wonder and joy;
'T will float to far ages and kindle devotion,
And children—like men—seize the sword to destroy.
Where princes will listen in wonder and joy;
'T will float to far ages and kindle devotion,
And children—like men—seize the sword to destroy.
Already your shout heaven's concave is rending,
And the Hero's great name is repeated around;
But hark! as I listen, a wild shriek is blending!
Another, another, increases the sound.
And the Hero's great name is repeated around;
But hark! as I listen, a wild shriek is blending!
Another, another, increases the sound.
Oh, Heaven! the moans of the wounded and dying
Are blent with the plaudits that swell in the air;
Wife, children, and friends, mid the tumult are crying,
“Death, death to the conqueror who gives us despair!”
Are blent with the plaudits that swell in the air;
Wife, children, and friends, mid the tumult are crying,
“Death, death to the conqueror who gives us despair!”
I listen, and fancy assists the faint mourning,
Of an infant, whose parents are torn from the world;
Again, but now hoarser the sound is returning,
A sinner's dark soul from its mansion is hurl'd!
Of an infant, whose parents are torn from the world;
Again, but now hoarser the sound is returning,
A sinner's dark soul from its mansion is hurl'd!
And is it for this, that the laurel is given,
When man turns a murderer and foe to his kind?
For this does the shout of applause assail Heaven
From creatures for rational virtue designed?
When man turns a murderer and foe to his kind?
For this does the shout of applause assail Heaven
From creatures for rational virtue designed?
98
Blush, Warrior, blush! while thou fanciest before thee
The beings whose happiness thou hast o'erthrown;—
Who, frantic with want and affliction, implore thee
To soothe the crushèd hearts left to perish alone.
The beings whose happiness thou hast o'erthrown;—
Who, frantic with want and affliction, implore thee
To soothe the crushèd hearts left to perish alone.
Hear fatherless infants with feeble wail crying,
While mothers stand shuddering and pale at thy name!
See groups from that red field in misery flying,
Who curse at thy praises, or weep at thy fame!
While mothers stand shuddering and pale at thy name!
See groups from that red field in misery flying,
Who curse at thy praises, or weep at thy fame!
And what is the glory resplendent around thee?
A glittering meteor that fades in its blaze,—
Light perishing foam, whose bright sparkles surround thee,
Then dash on the shore, and disperse at thy gaze!
A glittering meteor that fades in its blaze,—
Light perishing foam, whose bright sparkles surround thee,
Then dash on the shore, and disperse at thy gaze!
Cambridge, Mass. 1812.
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