The Poems of St. George Tucker of Williamsburg, Virginia 1752-1827 | ||
The Progress of Cornwallis An Irregular Ode
I
Bellona's thunder rends the western skies,The din of battle shakes the troubled air;
Sounds of frantic horror rise,
Shrieks of woe, and wild despair;
Through Carolina's laurel groves,
Secure, the prowling Briton roves,
And mocks the foe, and fate defies;
Since, prostrate on the ground,
O'erwhelmed with many a wound,
In agonizing pangs Rebellion gasping lies.
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II
See Terror stalking through th' affrighted land!Grim Rage, and fell Revenge his steps pursue,
Rapine, and harpy Famine join the band,
The wretched victim's dying groans
The widowed matron's tender moans,
The virgin's plaints, the orphan's cries,
Ascend, in concert, to the skies:
There hollow Want in secret anguish pines,
No more relieved from Plenty's cheering hoard;
Here pale disease the parting breath resigns,
And Desolation waves around her flaming sword!
III
See the gorgon foe advance!
See him couch his quivering lance!
Thine, Virginia: next to feel
The fatal vengeance of his steel:
See him couch his quivering lance!
Thine, Virginia: next to feel
The fatal vengeance of his steel:
Thine, with terror to survey,
His splendid host in dread array:
Thine, beneath is power to languish,
Torn with rage, despair, and anguish!
His splendid host in dread array:
Thine, beneath is power to languish,
Torn with rage, despair, and anguish!
IV
In her car triumphant riding,
'Midst ten thousand glittering spears,
Through the liquid azure gliding,
Bright-eyed Liberty appears.
'Midst ten thousand glittering spears,
Through the liquid azure gliding,
Bright-eyed Liberty appears.
Far renowned in martial story
See a chief her faulchion wield!
Beaming with celestial glory,
Lo! a monarch bears her shield!
See a chief her faulchion wield!
Beaming with celestial glory,
Lo! a monarch bears her shield!
Britain! thy short triumphal course is run!
Thy flitting glories vanish from the sight;
Lost in the radiance of a brighter sun,
Like falling stars they're seen, 'midst darkness, only, bright.
Thy flitting glories vanish from the sight;
Lost in the radiance of a brighter sun,
Like falling stars they're seen, 'midst darkness, only, bright.
June, 1782
The Poems of St. George Tucker of Williamsburg, Virginia 1752-1827 | ||