 | The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth |  |
167
PERRY AND M'DONOUGH:
OR, ERIE AND CHAMPLAIN
Hail to the day which arises in splendor,
Shedding the lustre of victory far!
Long shall its glory illume September,
Which twice beheld freemen the victors in war.
Roused by the spirit of heaven-born Freedom,
Perry her lightning pours over the lake;
His falchion a meteor glitters to lead them,
And swift on the foemen in thunders they break.
Loud swells the cannon's roar,
Round Erie's sounding shore,
Answered in volleys by musketry's voice;
Till Britain's cross descends,
And the haughty foe bends—
Victory! glory! Columbians, rejoice!
Shedding the lustre of victory far!
Long shall its glory illume September,
Which twice beheld freemen the victors in war.
Roused by the spirit of heaven-born Freedom,
Perry her lightning pours over the lake;
His falchion a meteor glitters to lead them,
And swift on the foemen in thunders they break.
Loud swells the cannon's roar,
Round Erie's sounding shore,
Answered in volleys by musketry's voice;
Till Britain's cross descends,
And the haughty foe bends—
Victory! glory! Columbians, rejoice!
Hail to the day which in splendor returning,
Lights us to conquest and glory again;
Time told a year—still the war-torch was burning,
And threw its red ray on the waves of Champlain;
Roused by the spirit that conquered for Perry,
Dauntless M'Donough advanced to the fray;
Instant the glory that brightened Lake Erie,
Burst on Champlain with the splendor of day
Loud swells the cannon's roar
On Plattsburgh's bloody shore,
Britons retreat from the tempest of war;
Prevost deserts the field,
While the gallant ships yield—
Victory! glory! Columbians, huzza!
Lights us to conquest and glory again;
Time told a year—still the war-torch was burning,
And threw its red ray on the waves of Champlain;
168
Dauntless M'Donough advanced to the fray;
Instant the glory that brightened Lake Erie,
Burst on Champlain with the splendor of day
Loud swells the cannon's roar
On Plattsburgh's bloody shore,
Britons retreat from the tempest of war;
Prevost deserts the field,
While the gallant ships yield—
Victory! glory! Columbians, huzza!
Hail to the day which, recorded in story,
Lives the bright record of unfading fame!
Long shall Columbians, inspired by its glory,
Hail its returning with joyous acclaim.
Victory scattered profusely the laurel,
Over our heroes, on land and on flood;
Britain, astonished, relinquished the quarrel,
Peace saw her olive arise from the blood.
Now cannons cease to roar,
Round Freedom's peaceful shore,
Silent and hushed is the war-bugle's voice;
Let festive joys increase
In the sunshine of peace,
Peace gained by victory! Freemen, rejoice!
Lives the bright record of unfading fame!
Long shall Columbians, inspired by its glory,
Hail its returning with joyous acclaim.
Victory scattered profusely the laurel,
Over our heroes, on land and on flood;
Britain, astonished, relinquished the quarrel,
Peace saw her olive arise from the blood.
Now cannons cease to roar,
Round Freedom's peaceful shore,
Silent and hushed is the war-bugle's voice;
Let festive joys increase
In the sunshine of peace,
Peace gained by victory! Freemen, rejoice!
| The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth | |