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 had the hero gain'd life's fairest prime,
What time the fathers of the western clime
In congress first assembled—there his name
Stood midst the foremost on the list of fame.
Nor since this sublunary scene began,
Have names more glorious grac'd the race of man.
At first they hop'd redress, their wrongs made known
In mild remonstrance with a manly tone:
In vain they hop'd the parent pow'r would hear;—
On them she scornful turn'd a deafen'd ear.
When reason fail'd, they bade for war prepare,
And in our country's cause all dangers dare.
Then Britain's legions (in whose van he strove
In former fight, and seiz'd amid the grove
That fort where fair Ohio takes its name)
In hostile terrors, like a torrent came.
To us how strange that hateful strife appear'd,
To meet as foes whom kindred names endear'd!
No more in woods and swamps the war was wag'd,
As when our sires the native race engag'd;
When painted savages from mountains far
Made vallies howl with hollow whoops of war;
Or when, in ambush hid, the bow they drew,
And arrowy deaths on silent pinions flew;
Or when from captive heads the scalps they tore,
And wav'd the trophies reeking warm with gore.
But now on broader plains, with banners gay,
And burnish'd steel that flashes back the day,
In fiercer hosting meet, with mutual fires,
Two armies sprung from the same warlike sires.
What though nor ancient arms or armour shed
A floating splendour round each hero's head;
What though our eyes no single chief behold,
Come tow'ring arm'd in panoply of gold;
What though no beamy mail, no sun-bright shields
Shoot their long lightnings o'er th' astonish'd fields;
Nor flies the twink'ling steel nor thund'ring car,
Its wheels whirl redd'ning o'er the ranks of war;—
New arms more fatal give man's rage new force,
Where modern tactics turn the battle's course;
Where discipline through thousands breathes one soul,
Combines their strength and animates the whole;
A moving world obeys the leader's nod,
In pomp and prowess likest to a god!
One spark of martial fire an army warms,
One breath inspires it and one soul informs.
As wing'd by wintry winds the horsemen move,
A running flame that wastes the crackling grove:
The phalanx firm in uniform attire,
Indissolubly stands a wall of fire:
While flames and thunders from the cannon hurl'd,
Singe the red air and rock the solid world.
What time the fathers of the western clime
In congress first assembled—there his name
Stood midst the foremost on the list of fame.
Nor since this sublunary scene began,
Have names more glorious grac'd the race of man.
At first they hop'd redress, their wrongs made known
In mild remonstrance with a manly tone:
In vain they hop'd the parent pow'r would hear;—
On them she scornful turn'd a deafen'd ear.
169
And in our country's cause all dangers dare.
Then Britain's legions (in whose van he strove
In former fight, and seiz'd amid the grove
That fort where fair Ohio takes its name)
In hostile terrors, like a torrent came.
To us how strange that hateful strife appear'd,
To meet as foes whom kindred names endear'd!
No more in woods and swamps the war was wag'd,
As when our sires the native race engag'd;
When painted savages from mountains far
Made vallies howl with hollow whoops of war;
Or when, in ambush hid, the bow they drew,
And arrowy deaths on silent pinions flew;
Or when from captive heads the scalps they tore,
And wav'd the trophies reeking warm with gore.
But now on broader plains, with banners gay,
And burnish'd steel that flashes back the day,
In fiercer hosting meet, with mutual fires,
Two armies sprung from the same warlike sires.
What though nor ancient arms or armour shed
A floating splendour round each hero's head;
What though our eyes no single chief behold,
Come tow'ring arm'd in panoply of gold;
What though no beamy mail, no sun-bright shields
Shoot their long lightnings o'er th' astonish'd fields;
Nor flies the twink'ling steel nor thund'ring car,
Its wheels whirl redd'ning o'er the ranks of war;—
New arms more fatal give man's rage new force,
Where modern tactics turn the battle's course;
Where discipline through thousands breathes one soul,
Combines their strength and animates the whole;
A moving world obeys the leader's nod,
In pomp and prowess likest to a god!
One spark of martial fire an army warms,
One breath inspires it and one soul informs.
As wing'd by wintry winds the horsemen move,
A running flame that wastes the crackling grove:
The phalanx firm in uniform attire,
Indissolubly stands a wall of fire:
170
Singe the red air and rock the solid world.
| The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys | |