The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys Late Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the Court of Madrid |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 10. |
| 11. |
| 12. |
FAREWELL, FROM THE ABBE O'MOORE, ADDRESSED TO THE HONOURABLE DAVID HUMPHREYS,
|
 | The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys |  |
FAREWELL, FROM THE ABBE O'MOORE, ADDRESSED TO THE HONOURABLE DAVID HUMPHREYS,
Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, at the Court of Madrid.
Thee, Humphreys! I address, since ev'n thy name
Can in cold bosoms light a poet's flame;
And well it suits an humble muse like mine,
Prostrate to own the dignity of thine.
This day each maid that haunts the sacred spring,
Salutes the infant year from every string;
Save mine, who lonely vales and woods among,
Her hair dishevell'd and her harp unstrung,
Weeps that, like Philomel, thou soon wilt fly
To distant groves, beneath another sky.
Can in cold bosoms light a poet's flame;
And well it suits an humble muse like mine,
Prostrate to own the dignity of thine.
This day each maid that haunts the sacred spring,
Salutes the infant year from every string;
Save mine, who lonely vales and woods among,
Her hair dishevell'd and her harp unstrung,
Weeps that, like Philomel, thou soon wilt fly
To distant groves, beneath another sky.
Oh, how unlike the proud when rais'd to rank,
Too swol'n to move within their nat'ral bank,
Who, soon o'erflowing, with resistless force,
Break down each bridge of social intercourse!
Humphreys has strength of character to bear,
Unmov'd, all fortunes in a lofty sphere;
Beneath his feet repulsive pride to throw,
And stoop with dignity to those below.
But if his country bids, in arduous hour,
He, bold, asserts his ministerial power;
And mildly stubborn, ev'n before a throne,
Supports his nation's honour and his own.
Too swol'n to move within their nat'ral bank,
Who, soon o'erflowing, with resistless force,
Break down each bridge of social intercourse!
339
Unmov'd, all fortunes in a lofty sphere;
Beneath his feet repulsive pride to throw,
And stoop with dignity to those below.
But if his country bids, in arduous hour,
He, bold, asserts his ministerial power;
And mildly stubborn, ev'n before a throne,
Supports his nation's honour and his own.
So of himself an emblem is his muse,
Both ever quick the proper tone to choose;—
From her how unaffected flows the strain,
Whene'er she treads the woodland and the plain;
But when her trumpet sounds the rough alarms,
And calls Columbia's patriot sons to arms;
Then fierce and spirited the note she pours,
And hosts rise thund'ring, “Freedom shall be ours!”
Both ever quick the proper tone to choose;—
From her how unaffected flows the strain,
Whene'er she treads the woodland and the plain;
But when her trumpet sounds the rough alarms,
And calls Columbia's patriot sons to arms;
Then fierce and spirited the note she pours,
And hosts rise thund'ring, “Freedom shall be ours!”
Blest Poet, Patriot, Warrior, oh, that long
Thy life may charm with virtue and with song!
Farewell! and gentle as thy partner's mind,
May'st thou thy passage to thy country find:
Charm'd Ocean emulate her placid soul,
Nor storms arise, nor angry billows roll;
But waft both swiftly o'er his rude domains,
To those, by Humphreys made, immortal plains;
Where first by Freedom and by genius taught,
Alike he sweetly sung and bravely fought.
Thy life may charm with virtue and with song!
Farewell! and gentle as thy partner's mind,
May'st thou thy passage to thy country find:
Charm'd Ocean emulate her placid soul,
Nor storms arise, nor angry billows roll;
But waft both swiftly o'er his rude domains,
To those, by Humphreys made, immortal plains;
Where first by Freedom and by genius taught,
Alike he sweetly sung and bravely fought.
WILLIAM O'MOORE,
Chaplain to his Catholic Majesty's Foot Walloon Guards.
Madrid, Jan. 1, 1802.
| The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys | |