Juvenilia or, A collection of poems. Written between the ages of twelve and seventeen, by J. H. L. Hunt ... Fourth Edition |
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FOR 1799.
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 | Juvenilia |  |
112
FOR 1799.
WRITTEN AT THE TIME OF THE WAR IN SWITZERLAND.
Swiftly o'er the barren heath,
Flies the distant echoing blast;
Burning War and thirsty Death,
Gloomy horrors round them cast!
Flies the distant echoing blast;
Burning War and thirsty Death,
Gloomy horrors round them cast!
“What bring ye, wide rushing storms?”
Cries the mountain Swiss afar!
“Whence are these terrific forms,
“Thirsty Death and burning War?”
Cries the mountain Swiss afar!
“Whence are these terrific forms,
“Thirsty Death and burning War?”
Stern he said;—In wild reply
Howl'd the dæmon of the wind:
“Wretch, thy patriot friends must die,
“Gaul and Vengeance frown behind!
Howl'd the dæmon of the wind:
“Wretch, thy patriot friends must die,
“Gaul and Vengeance frown behind!
Loud he cried;—the warrior frown'd,
Rushing down the craggy steep;
Soon the chief his brethren found,
Yielding indolent to sleep.
Rushing down the craggy steep;
Soon the chief his brethren found,
Yielding indolent to sleep.
113
Like the waking thunder, rose
Heroes at his loud alarms;
Starting quickly from repose,
Onward rush'd the bold to arms!
Heroes at his loud alarms;
Starting quickly from repose,
Onward rush'd the bold to arms!
Slow advancing from the west,
Rose the battle's iron storm;
Pierc'd was ev'ry warrior's breast,
Pale was Freedom's drooping form!
Rose the battle's iron storm;
Pierc'd was ev'ry warrior's breast,
Pale was Freedom's drooping form!
O'er the widely-wasted heath,
Hollow was the voice of woe!
Scatter'd lay the swords of Death,
Scatter'd lay the chieftains low!
Hollow was the voice of woe!
Scatter'd lay the swords of Death,
Scatter'd lay the chieftains low!
Oft before the dewy Spring
Sadly smiles, is Freedom seen
Weeping, fresh blown flow'rs to bring,
And deck each corse with honours green!
Sadly smiles, is Freedom seen
Weeping, fresh blown flow'rs to bring,
And deck each corse with honours green!
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