The poetical works of John Nicholson ... Carefully edited from the original editions, with additional notes and a sketch of his life and writings. By W. G. Hird |
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 | The poetical works of John Nicholson |  |
15
How you were stained—and how your crystal rills
Ran crimsoned with your native warriors' blood,
When on the heights the Roman eagles stood,
Where Olicano's rocky station rose,
And Briton bowed, reluctant, to her foes!
But now, could Greece her ancient grandeur gain,
Could Roman chiefs once more resume their reign;
Could Cæsar leap on shore to invade our land,
And all his legions pour upon the strand;
Should Alexander, with his mighty host,
With Xerxes in the rear—all threat'ning boast
To bring the myriads of their warriors here,
The troops of Waterloo would never fear,
For one dread day like that at Trafalgar,
Had brought to peace the ten years' Trojan war!
| The poetical works of John Nicholson | |