[Poems by Bryant in] A biography of William Cullen Bryant with Extracts from his Private Correspondence |
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THE GENIUS OF COLUMBIA. |
 | [Poems by Bryant in] A biography of William Cullen Bryant |  |
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THE GENIUS OF COLUMBIA.
Far in the regions of the west,
On throne of adamant upraised,
Bright on whose polished sides impressed,
The Sun's meridian splendors blazed,
On throne of adamant upraised,
Bright on whose polished sides impressed,
The Sun's meridian splendors blazed,
Columbia's Genius sat and eyed
The eastern despot's dire career;
And thus with independent pride,
She spoke and bade the nations hear.
The eastern despot's dire career;
And thus with independent pride,
She spoke and bade the nations hear.
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“Go, favored son of glory, go!
Thy dark aspiring aims pursue!
The blast of domination blow,
Earth's wide extended regions through!
Thy dark aspiring aims pursue!
The blast of domination blow,
Earth's wide extended regions through!
“Though Austria, twice subjected, own
The thunders of thy conquering hand,
And Tyranny erect his throne,
In hapless Sweden's fallen land!
The thunders of thy conquering hand,
And Tyranny erect his throne,
In hapless Sweden's fallen land!
“Yet know, a nation lives, whose soul
Regards thee with disdainful eye;
Undaunted scorns thy proud control,
And dares thy swarming hordes defy;
Regards thee with disdainful eye;
Undaunted scorns thy proud control,
And dares thy swarming hordes defy;
“Unshaken as their native rocks,
Its hardy sons heroic rise;
Prepared to meet thy fiercest shocks,
Protected by the favoring skies.
Its hardy sons heroic rise;
Prepared to meet thy fiercest shocks,
Protected by the favoring skies.
“Their fertile plains and woody hills,
Are fanned by Freedom's purest gales!
And her celestial presence fills
The deepening glens and spacious vales.”
Are fanned by Freedom's purest gales!
And her celestial presence fills
The deepening glens and spacious vales.”
She speaks; through all her listening bands
A loud applauding murmur flies;
Fresh valor nerves their willing hands,
And lights with joy their glowing eyes!
A loud applauding murmur flies;
Fresh valor nerves their willing hands,
And lights with joy their glowing eyes!
Then should Napoleon's haughty pride
Wake on our shores the fierce affray;
Grim Terror lowering at his side,
Attendant on his furious way!
Wake on our shores the fierce affray;
Grim Terror lowering at his side,
Attendant on his furious way!
With quick repulse, his baffled band
Would seek the friendly shore in vain,
Bright Justice lift her red right hand,
And crush them on the fatal plain.
Would seek the friendly shore in vain,
Bright Justice lift her red right hand,
And crush them on the fatal plain.
W. C. B.
Cummington, January 8, 1810.
| [Poems by Bryant in] A biography of William Cullen Bryant | |