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 | The lay of the Scottish fiddle : a tale of Havre de Grace |  |
121
XVIII.
With ardent zeal O'Neale essay'd,To stimulate this moral blade,
And strike a spark of patriot ire,
To light his paltry kitchen fire;
But the asbestos of his soul,
Nor brimstone match, nor burning coal,
Lightning, nor Archimedes' rays,
Could kindle into one poor blaze.
“In sooth his country well he lov'd,
“And if good Caleb Strong approv'd,
“Or 'Siah Quiney thought it right—
“Gramercy! then you'd see him fight.”
No man if you would take his word,
More readily would draw his sword,
Or fight with more determin'd glee,
In a just cause forsooth than he;
But he must see occasion good,
Before he shed one drop of blood
122
“Must have the law, fast on my side.”
Sad recreant wight! contempt and scorn,
Shall wring thy bosom all forlorn,
If such a leaden heart can feel,
What's sharper than the temper'd steel.
| The lay of the Scottish fiddle : a tale of Havre de Grace | |