"Proud Albion! hear!---where 's slave impressment

now?

The winds refuse thy pirate-flag to show--

'Tis thus that tyranny is made to bow!"

Plantagenet to hear their voices pour,

Parted her cables short and vanish'd from the shore!

The host of heaven stood pausing with surprise,
And scarce believ'd their ever-truthful eyes.
Justice the silence breaks: "Britannia, lo!
Thy crimes have made thee an example now!
Deep is the stain infix'd upon thy brow!
Thy spirit fails---for ever gone---'tis broke---
Thou find'st it death on freedom's power to look!
Thy thousand ships no longer can prevail-
For lack of virtue, will their standards quail.
Dear is the price for slaving on the main---
Thy power is broken for this crimson stain!
The Gauls ere long redeem'd upon the tide,
With new-lit thunders will reduce thy pride,-
Above the wave, Iberia lift her head,

And Russia from the north thy naval joints unthread!
"Whom I support, opposers lap the dust---
Columbia, hail !---thy battle-cause is just!"
Raptur'd they listen'd to his language sweet,
And in full choir his closing words, repeat:
"Whom Justice aids, opposers lap the dust---
Columbia, hail !---thy battle-cause is just,---
Wide o'er the world thy flag shall wave the first!”

CANTO XXXV.

MILITARY VISION.

i

ARGUMENT.

The celestial vision passes from the ocean to the land. The

scene is laid in different parts of the United States.

The time is about six hours.

FREDONIAD.

CANTO XXXV.

WHEN the shrill echo of their voice was done, Fredonia blushing with a smile begun:

"This for the ocean. Now, ye bless'd of heaven, Exploits on land in vision will be given; There the bright radiance of your eyes extend, And see your sons their liberties defend."

Th' Immortals heard and bent their sight divine To where the streams between the mountains shine.

Near where Tecumseh in the carnage fell,
Contending warriors, other, each, repel.
Holmes in the front of the Fredonian bands,
With bayonet-weapons glittering in their hands,
Is dimly notic'd from the wall on high,
Compass'd with Britons, fighting gallantly.

Close and more close they hem the patriots round---
Warm purple streams intoxicate the ground.
In vain th' assailants struggle for the wreath
That quickens, blooms and flourishes in death.

Wasted of strength they shelter in the wood,
Leaving their footsteps sprinkled o'er with blood.

On plains of Florida is Newnan seen
In combat lock'd with savage-bosom'd men.
Soon they recede and leave their king behind-
But, lo! their second chief, unbent in mind,
His grim host congregates. With madness stung,
They drive to battle with a howling tongue,
Deafening the hills. Against the Georgians dire,
They shower the flames to melt them down with fire;
But Newnan stands unshaken with his few,
And steady wastes them of their strength like dew.
Three several times they give;-but, lo! once more
They crowd the valley with augmented power.
Their wounds they disregard-to seize their King,
Storming they come-swords, bayonets, rifles ring:
So when fierce lions had a tiger slain,

And ground him breathless on the sandy plain-
T'
I' avenge his loss, the tigers fierce unite,

And hem the lions circling them in fight.

Each grapples each-they gnash, they gash, they growl;
The mountains echo with the suffering howl.

In others' blood they bathe their foaming jaws;
Nor this will yield, nor that resign the cause.
From bristling manes electric sparkles rise,
Death's fiery arrows shooting from their eyes:

Thus they the conflict held. Their chieftain now, Seizes the king with a defying brow;