 | Poems on several occasions |  |
43
An ODE,
On the Surrender of Edinburgh.
I
While on Edina's fate intent,In sighs my joyless soul I sent,
In tears my melting heart;
The weeping streams gave tear for tear,
And echo'd ev'ry sigh sincere,
With sympathetic smart.
II
Along the lilly'd bank reclin'd,My Being all to grief resign'd,
Which ev'n my groans restrain'd;
While ev'ry trembling sallow bough,
That on the verdant margent grew,
A silent harp sustain'd.
III
For, like his kindred fiends below,Pleas'd to insult our hopeless woe,
44
Resume the lyre, and strike the string,
Edina's new deliv'rance sing,
The Tyrant Victor cry'd.
IV
What mighty pow'r, what pleasing theme,Can bid the long extinguish'd flame,
Rekindling warm my veins?
Not he who leads th' eternal choir,
Though all in heav'n the song admire,
While Scotia mourns in chains.
V
When I Edina not deplore,Thy freedom, wealth, and peace, no more,
And ev'ry grief of thine;
On me, Oh fate! thy quiver show'r,
Let all thy rage, with all thy pow'r,
To wreck my joys combine.
VI
If, while beneath this life I groan,Beyond thy good a bliss I own,
45
Perish the muse, and all her fire,
Be dead my hand, and curst my lyre,
My portion deep despair.
VII
Thus oft provok'd, remember still,Eternal judge of good and ill,
When our remorseless foes,
Arm'd in a base-born Coward's cause,
To blast our freedom, peace, and laws,
Durst thee and George oppose.
VIII
As they, with boundless fury fraught,To blast our laws, and freedom sought,
And all thy vengeance dar'd:
Thy strong vindictive arm extend,
On them let all those plagues descend,
Which they for us prepar'd.
IX
And thou, with hell and mischief join'd,Thou curse and stain of human kind,
46
See, see the angel of thy fate,
Whom panting hours pursue too late,
Wave high the sword of flame.
X
Why then, my soul, so low depress'd?Ah! why those tumults in my breast?
In God thy hope still place:
In God, whose goodness warms my lays
With all th' inraptur'd soul of praise,
With smiles adorns thy face.
| Poems on several occasions | |