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 |  |
But diff'rent ages diff'rent joys inspire,
Where friendly circles crowd the social fire:
For there the neighbours, gath'ring round the hearth,
Indulge in tales, news, politics, and mirth;
Nor need we fear th' exhausted fund should fail,
While garrulous old age prolongs the tale,
There some old warrior, grown a village sage,
Whose locks are whiten'd with the frosts of age,
While life's low burning lamp renews its light,
With tales heroic shall beguile the night;
Shall tell of battles fought, of feats achiev'd,
And suff'rings ne'er by human heart conceiv'd;
Shall tell th' adventures of his early life,
And bring to view the fields of mortal strife;
What time the matin trump to battle sings,
And on his steed the horseman swiftly springs,
While down the line the drum, with thund'ring sound,
Wakes the bold soldier, slumb'ring on the ground;
Alarm'd he starts; then sudden joins his band,
Who, rang'd beneath the well-known banner, stand:
Then ensigns wave, and signal flags unfurl'd,
Bid one great soul pervade a moving world;
Then martial music's all-inspiring breath,
With dulcet symphonies, leads on to death;
Lights in each breast the living beam of fame,
Kindles the spark, and fans the kindled flame:
Then meets the stedfast eye, the splendid charms
Of prancing steeds, of plumed troops and arms:
Reflected sun-beams, dazzling, gild afar
The pride, the pomp, and circumstance of war;
Then thick as hail-stones, from an angry sky,
In vollied show'rs, the bolts of vengeance fly;
Unnumber'd deaths, promiscuous, ride the air,
While, swift descending, with a frightful glare,
The big bomb bursts; the fragments scatter'd round,
Beat down whole bands, and pulverize the ground.
Then joins the closer fight on Hudson's banks;
Troops strive with troops; ranks, bending, press on ranks;
O'er slipp'ry plains the struggling legions reel;
Then livid lead and Bayonne's glittering steel,
With dark-red wounds their mangled bosoms bore;
While furious coursers, snorting foam and gore,
Bear wild their riders o'er the carnag'd plain,
And, falling, roll them headlong on the slain.
To ranks consum'd, another rank succeeds;
Fresh victims fall; afresh the battle bleeds;
And nought of blood can staunch the open'd sluice,
Till night, o'ershad'wing, brings a grateful truce.
Thus will the vet'ran tell the tale of wars,
Disclose his breast, to count his glorious scars;
In mute amazement hold the list'ning swains;
Make freezing horror creep through all their veins;
Or oft, at freedom's name, their souls inspire
With patriot ardour and heroic fire.
Where friendly circles crowd the social fire:
For there the neighbours, gath'ring round the hearth,
Indulge in tales, news, politics, and mirth;
Nor need we fear th' exhausted fund should fail,
While garrulous old age prolongs the tale,
33
Whose locks are whiten'd with the frosts of age,
While life's low burning lamp renews its light,
With tales heroic shall beguile the night;
Shall tell of battles fought, of feats achiev'd,
And suff'rings ne'er by human heart conceiv'd;
Shall tell th' adventures of his early life,
And bring to view the fields of mortal strife;
What time the matin trump to battle sings,
And on his steed the horseman swiftly springs,
While down the line the drum, with thund'ring sound,
Wakes the bold soldier, slumb'ring on the ground;
Alarm'd he starts; then sudden joins his band,
Who, rang'd beneath the well-known banner, stand:
Then ensigns wave, and signal flags unfurl'd,
Bid one great soul pervade a moving world;
Then martial music's all-inspiring breath,
With dulcet symphonies, leads on to death;
Lights in each breast the living beam of fame,
Kindles the spark, and fans the kindled flame:
Then meets the stedfast eye, the splendid charms
Of prancing steeds, of plumed troops and arms:
Reflected sun-beams, dazzling, gild afar
The pride, the pomp, and circumstance of war;
Then thick as hail-stones, from an angry sky,
In vollied show'rs, the bolts of vengeance fly;
Unnumber'd deaths, promiscuous, ride the air,
While, swift descending, with a frightful glare,
The big bomb bursts; the fragments scatter'd round,
Beat down whole bands, and pulverize the ground.
Then joins the closer fight on Hudson's banks;
Troops strive with troops; ranks, bending, press on ranks;
O'er slipp'ry plains the struggling legions reel;
Then livid lead and Bayonne's glittering steel,
With dark-red wounds their mangled bosoms bore;
While furious coursers, snorting foam and gore,
Bear wild their riders o'er the carnag'd plain,
And, falling, roll them headlong on the slain.
To ranks consum'd, another rank succeeds;
Fresh victims fall; afresh the battle bleeds;
And nought of blood can staunch the open'd sluice,
Till night, o'ershad'wing, brings a grateful truce.
Thus will the vet'ran tell the tale of wars,
Disclose his breast, to count his glorious scars;
34
Make freezing horror creep through all their veins;
Or oft, at freedom's name, their souls inspire
With patriot ardour and heroic fire.
| The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys | |