 | The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth |  |
108
EDWIN DELISLE.
The battle was ended, whose direful commotion
Gave tyrants the victims unclaimed by the wave,
And the last ray of Phœbus illumined the ocean,
As it shot o'er the land of the ill-fated brave.
The western breeze wafted the ship o'er the main,
Far, far from their country and liberty's smile;
Each captive enshackled with tyranny's chain,
The noblest of whom was young Edwin Delisle.
Gave tyrants the victims unclaimed by the wave,
And the last ray of Phœbus illumined the ocean,
As it shot o'er the land of the ill-fated brave.
The western breeze wafted the ship o'er the main,
Far, far from their country and liberty's smile;
Each captive enshackled with tyranny's chain,
The noblest of whom was young Edwin Delisle.
Apart from his comrades, his manly breast bleeding
With anguish too piercing for nature to bear,
Distracted he viewed his dear country receding,
And bade it adieu in a tone of despair:
“Oh region of happiness, freedom, and peace!
Columbia, adieu! not for Edwin you smile,
For soon, with his sorrows, existence must cease,
For rent is the heart of poor Edwin Delisle.
With anguish too piercing for nature to bear,
Distracted he viewed his dear country receding,
And bade it adieu in a tone of despair:
“Oh region of happiness, freedom, and peace!
Columbia, adieu! not for Edwin you smile,
For soon, with his sorrows, existence must cease,
For rent is the heart of poor Edwin Delisle.
“Eliza! my angel! fate dooms us to sever,
Though brought to the climate that fosters thy charms;
In sight of my country, I lose it for ever,
In view of my love, I am torn from her arms!
Three times have the seasons their circle fulfilled,
Since Edwin was blest with affection's sweet smile,
Since, pressed to his bosom, Eliza be held,
As she sighed a farewell to her Edwin Delisle.
Though brought to the climate that fosters thy charms;
109
In view of my love, I am torn from her arms!
Three times have the seasons their circle fulfilled,
Since Edwin was blest with affection's sweet smile,
Since, pressed to his bosom, Eliza be held,
As she sighed a farewell to her Edwin Delisle.
“‘Three years shall restore me,’ I cried, as we parted;
The term has expired, and my eyes caught the shore;
Hope flatter'd, then left to despair, broken-hearted,
The wretch for whom freedom and joy are no more.
The shadows of eve shroud thy land from my view,
But ah! there 's another where joys ever smile!
God of mercy, forgive me!—Eliza, adieu!”
He plunged—and the waves covered Edwin Delisle.
The term has expired, and my eyes caught the shore;
Hope flatter'd, then left to despair, broken-hearted,
The wretch for whom freedom and joy are no more.
The shadows of eve shroud thy land from my view,
But ah! there 's another where joys ever smile!
God of mercy, forgive me!—Eliza, adieu!”
He plunged—and the waves covered Edwin Delisle.
| The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth | |