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 |  |
There, free from envy, cank'ring care and strife,
Flow the calm pleasures of domestic life:
There mutual friendship soothes each placid breast,
Blest in themselves, and in each other blest.
From house to house the social glee extends,
For friends in war, in piece are doubly friends:
Their children taught to emulate their sires,
Catch the warm glow, and feel the kindred fires,
Till by degrees the mingling joys improve,
Grow with their years, and ripen into love:
Nor long the blushing pair in secret sigh,
And drink sweet poison from the love-sick eye;
Blest be their lot, when in his eager arms
Th' enamour'd youth folds the fair virgin's charms;
On her ripe lip imprints the burning kiss,
And seals with hallow'd rites the nuptial bliss.
Then festal sports the ev'ning hours prolong,
The mazy dance, and the sweet warbling song:
Then each endearment wakes the ravish'd sense
To pure delights, and raptures most intense:
And the pleas'd parent tells his list'ning son,
What wond'rous deeds, by him, in youth, were done.
No sights of woe, no tort'ring fears annoy
The sweet sensations of the heart-felt joy:
Nor shall the savages of murd'rous soul,
In painted bands dark to the combat roll,
With midnight orgies, by the gloomy shade,
On the pale victim point the reeking blade;
Or cause the hamlet, lull'd in deep repose,
No more to wake, or wake to ceaseless woes:
For your strong arm the guarded land secures,
And freedom, glory, happiness, are yours!
Flow the calm pleasures of domestic life:
There mutual friendship soothes each placid breast,
Blest in themselves, and in each other blest.
From house to house the social glee extends,
For friends in war, in piece are doubly friends:
Their children taught to emulate their sires,
Catch the warm glow, and feel the kindred fires,
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Grow with their years, and ripen into love:
Nor long the blushing pair in secret sigh,
And drink sweet poison from the love-sick eye;
Blest be their lot, when in his eager arms
Th' enamour'd youth folds the fair virgin's charms;
On her ripe lip imprints the burning kiss,
And seals with hallow'd rites the nuptial bliss.
Then festal sports the ev'ning hours prolong,
The mazy dance, and the sweet warbling song:
Then each endearment wakes the ravish'd sense
To pure delights, and raptures most intense:
And the pleas'd parent tells his list'ning son,
What wond'rous deeds, by him, in youth, were done.
No sights of woe, no tort'ring fears annoy
The sweet sensations of the heart-felt joy:
Nor shall the savages of murd'rous soul,
In painted bands dark to the combat roll,
With midnight orgies, by the gloomy shade,
On the pale victim point the reeking blade;
Or cause the hamlet, lull'd in deep repose,
No more to wake, or wake to ceaseless woes:
For your strong arm the guarded land secures,
And freedom, glory, happiness, are yours!
| The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys | |