Poems on Several Occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

O Spartan Youths! what fascinating Charms
Have froze your Blood? Why rust your idle Arms?
When with awaken'd Courage will you go,
And Minds resolv'd, to meet the threatning Foe?
What! shall our vile Lethargick Sloth betray
To greedy Neighbours an unguarded Prey?
Or can you see their Armies rush from far,
And sit Secure amidst the Rage of War?
Ye Gods! how Great, how Glorious 'tis to see
The Warrior-Heroe fight for Liberty,

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For his dear Children, for his tender Wife,
For all the valu'd Joys, and soft Supports of Life?
Then let him draw his Sword, and take the Field,
And fortify his Breast behind the spacious Shield.
Nor fear to die; in vain you shun your Fate,
Nor can you shorten, nor prolong its Date;
For Life's a measur'd Race, and he that flies
From Darts and fighting Foes, at home Inglorious dies;
No grieving Crowds his Obsequies attend;
But all applaud and weep the Soldier's End,
Who, desperately brave, in Fight sustains
Inflicted Wounds, and honourable Stains,
And falls a Sacrifice to Glory's Charms:
But if a just Success shall crown his Arms,
For his Return the rescu'd People wait,
To see the Guardian Genius of the State;
With Rapture viewing his Majestick Face,
His dauntless Mien, and ev'ry Martial Grace,
They'll bless the Toils he for their Safety bore,
Admire him living, and when dead adore.

Tyrtæus was General of the Spartans, in their Wars with the Messenians, and is said by his Martial Songs to have animated the Soldiers, and by those, as well as by his Conduct and Courage, to have led them on to Victory. He is mention'd by Sir William Temple and Lord Roscommon, as an Example of the wonderful Force of the ancient Poetry. He liv'd in the 35th Olympiad, about 640 Years before Christ, and is supposed to have been Contemporary with the Prophet Jeremiah.