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 |  |
Why, Britain, in thine arrogance and pride,
Didst thou heav'n's violated laws deride,
Mock human mis'ry with contemptuous sneers,
And fill thy cup of guilt with orphans' tears?
The widow's wailing, and the wretch's groan,
Rise in remembrance to th' eternal throne,
While the red flame, through the broad concave driv'n,
Calls down the vengeance of insulted heav'n.
And didst thou think, by cruelty refin'd,
To damp the ardour of the heav'n-born mind,
With haughty threats to force the daring train
To bow, unnerv'd, in slav'ry's galling chain;
Make countless freemen—then no longer free,
Shrink at thy frown, and bend the servile knee?
And couldst thou dream? then wake, dissolve thy charms,
Rous'd by their wrongs, see desp'rate hosts in arms!
No fear dismays, nor danger's voice appals,
While kindred blood for sacred vengeance calls:
Their swords shall triumph o'er thy vaunted force,
And curb the conqu'ror in his headlong course.
Didst thou heav'n's violated laws deride,
Mock human mis'ry with contemptuous sneers,
And fill thy cup of guilt with orphans' tears?
The widow's wailing, and the wretch's groan,
Rise in remembrance to th' eternal throne,
While the red flame, through the broad concave driv'n,
Calls down the vengeance of insulted heav'n.
And didst thou think, by cruelty refin'd,
To damp the ardour of the heav'n-born mind,
With haughty threats to force the daring train
To bow, unnerv'd, in slav'ry's galling chain;
Make countless freemen—then no longer free,
Shrink at thy frown, and bend the servile knee?
And couldst thou dream? then wake, dissolve thy charms,
Rous'd by their wrongs, see desp'rate hosts in arms!
No fear dismays, nor danger's voice appals,
While kindred blood for sacred vengeance calls:
Their swords shall triumph o'er thy vaunted force,
And curb the conqu'ror in his headlong course.
| The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys | |