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diff --git a/old/8clmb10.txt b/old/8clmb10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4012380 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8clmb10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12056 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Columbiad, by Joel Barlow + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Columbiad + +Author: Joel Barlow + +Release Date: August, 2005 [EBook #8683] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on August 1, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COLUMBIAD *** + + + + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +The Columbiad + +A Poem. + +By Joel Barlow. + + + + Tu spiegherai, Colombo, a un novo polo + Lontane sì le fortunate antenne, + Ch'a pena seguirà con gli occhi il volo + La Fama, ch' hà mille occhi e mille penne. + Canti ella Alcide, e Bacco; e di te solo + Basti a i posteri tuoi, ch' alquanto accenne: + Chè quel poco darà lunga memoria + Di poema degnissima, e d'istoria. + + Gierus, Lib. Can. xv. + + + + + +1809 + + + + +Preface. + + + +In preparing this work for publication it seems proper to offer some +observations explanatory of its design. The classical reader will perceive +the obstacles which necessarily presented themselves in reconciling the +nature of the subject with such a manner of treating it as should appear +the most poetical, and at the same time the most likely to arrive at that +degree of dignity and usefulness to which it ought to aspire. + +The Columbiad is a patriotic poem; the subject is national and historical. +Thus far it must be interesting to my countrymen. But most of the events +were so recent, so important and so well known, as to render them +inflexible to the hand of fiction. The poem therefore could not with +propriety be modelled after that regular epic form which the more splendid +works of this kind have taken, and on which their success is supposed in a +great measure to depend. The attempt would have been highly injudicious; +it must have diminished and debased a series of actions which were really +great in themselves, and could not be disfigured without losing their +interest. + +I shall enter into no discussion on the nature of the epopea, nor attempt +to prove by any latitude of reasoning that I have written an Epic Poem. +The subject indeed is vast; far superior to any one of those on which the +celebrated poems of this description have been constructed; and I have no +doubt but the form I have given to the work is the best that the subject +would admit. It may be added that in no poem are the unities of time, place +and action more rigidly observed: the action, in the technical sense of +the word, consisting only of what takes place between Columbus and Hesper; +which must be supposed to occupy but few hours, and is confined to the +prison and the mount of vision. + +But these circumstances of classical regularity are of little consideration +in estimating the real merit of any work of this nature. Its merit must +depend on the importance of the action, the disposition of the parts, the +invention and application of incidents, the propriety of the illustrations, +the liveliness and chastity of the images, the suitable intervention of +machinery, the moral tendency of the manners, the strength and sublimity of +the sentiments; the whole being clothed in language whose energy, harmony +and elegance shall constitute a style every where suited to the matter they +have to treat. It is impossible for me to determine how far I may have +succeeded in any of these particulars. This must be decided by others, the +result of whose decision I shall never know. But there is one point of view +in which I wish the reader to place the character of my work, before he +pronounces on its merit: I mean its political tendency. There are two +distinct objects to be kept in view in the conduct of a narrative poem; the +_poetical_ object and the _moral_ object. The poetical is the +fictitious design of the action; the moral is the real design of the poem. + +In the Iliad of Homer the poetical object is to kindle, nourish, sustain +and allay the anger of Achilles. This end is constantly kept in view; and +the action proper to attain it is conducted with wonderful judgment thro a +long series of incidents, which elevate the mind of the reader, and excite +not only a veneration for the creative powers of the poet, but an ardent +emulation of his heroes, a desire to imitate and rival some of the great +actors in the splendid scene; perhaps to endeavor to carry into real life +the fictions with which we are so much enchanted. + +Such a high degree of interest excited by the first object above mentioned, +the fictitious design of the action, would make it extremely important that +the second object, the real design of the poem, should be beneficial to +society. But the real design in the Iliad was directly the reverse. +Its obvious tendency was to inflame the minds of young readers with an +enthusiastic ardor for military fame; to inculcate the pernicious doctrine +of the divine right of kings; to teach both prince and people that military +plunder was the most honorable mode of acquiring property; and that +conquest, violence and war were the best employment of nations, the most +glorious prerogative of bodily strength and of cultivated mind. + +How much of the fatal policy of states, and of the miseries and +degradations of social man, have been occasioned by the false notions of +honor inspired by the works of Homer, it is not easy to ascertain. The +probability is, that however astonishing they are as monuments of human +intellect, and how long soever they have been the subject of universal +praise, they have unhappily done more harm than good. My veneration for his +genius is equal to that of his most idolatrous readers; but my reflections +on the history of human errors have forced upon me the opinion that his +existence has really proved one of the signal misfortunes of mankind. + +The moral tendency of the Eneid of Virgil is nearly as pernicious as that +of the works of Homer. Its poetical or fictitious design, the settlement +of his hero in Italy, is well delineated and steadily pursued. This object +must have been far more interesting to the Romans than the anger of +Achilles could have been to the Greeks. Had Virgil written his poem one or +two centuries earlier than he did, while his countrymen felt that they had +a country and were not themselves the property of a master, they must have +glowed with enthusiasm in reciting the fabulous labors of their ancestors, +and adored the songster who could have thus elevated so endearing a +subject; who could have adorned it with such an interesting variety of +incidents, such weight of pathos, such majesty of sentiment and harmony of +verse. But Virgil wrote and felt like a subject, not like a citizen. The +real design of his poem was to increase the veneration of the people for a +master, whoever he might be, and to encourage like Homer the great system +of military depredation. + +Lucan is the only republican among the ancient epic poets. But the action +of his rambling tho majestic poem is so badly arranged as to destroy, in +a poetical sense, the life and interest of the great national subject on +which it is founded; at the same time that it abounds in the most exalted +sentiments and original views of manners, highly favorable to the love of +justice and the detestation of war. If a mind, formed like that of Lucan, +as to its moral and political cast, and endowed with the creative energy +of Homer, had sung to the early Greeks the fall of Troy or the labors +of Hercules, his work (taking the place which those of Homer have +unfortunately occupied) as a splendid model for all succeeding ages, would +have given a very different turn to the pursuits of heroes and the policy +of nations. Ambition might then have become a useful passion, instead of a +destructive disease. + +In the poem here presented to the public the objects, as in other works of +the kind, are two, the fictitious object of the action and the real object +of the poem. The first of these is to sooth and satisfy the desponding +mind of Columbus; to show him that his labors, tho ill rewarded by his +cotemporaries, had not been performed in vain; that he had opened the way +to the most extensive career of civilization and public happiness; and that +he would one day be recognised as the author of the greatest benefits to +the human race. This object is steadily kept in view; and the actions, +images and sentiments are so disposed as probably to attain the end. But +the real object of the poem embraces a larger scope; it is to inculcate the +love of rational liberty, and to discountenance the deleterious passion for +violence and war; to show that on the basis of the republican principle all +good morals, as well as good government and hopes of permanent peace, must +be founded; and to convince the student in political science, that the +theoretical question of the future advancement of human society, till +states as well as individuals arrive at universal civilization, is held in +dispute and still unsettled only because we have had too little experience +of organized liberty in the government of nations to have well considered +its effects. + +I cannot expect that every reader, nor even every republican reader, will +join me in opinion with respect to the future progress of society and the +civilization of states; but there are two sentiments in which I think +all men will agree: that the event is desirable, and that to believe it +practicable is one step towards rendering it so. This being the case, they +ought to pardon a writer, if not applaud him, for endeavoring to inculcate +this belief. + +I have taken the liberty, notwithstanding the recency of the events, +to make some changes in the order of several of the principal battles +described in this poem. I have associated the actions of Starke, Herkimer, +Brown and Francis in the battle of Saratoga, tho they happened at some +distance from that battle, both as to time and place. A like circumstance +will be noticed with respect to Sumter, Jackson of Georgia and some others +in the battle of Eutaw. I have supposed a citadel mined and blown up in +the siege of York, and two ships of war grappled and blown up in the naval +battle of Degrasse and Graves. It is presumed that these circumstances +require no apology; as in the two latter cases the events are incidental to +such situations, and they here serve the principal purpose, being meant to +increase our natural horror for the havoc and miseries of war in general. +And with regard to the two former cases we ought to consider that, in the +epic field, the interest to be excited by the action cannot be sustained +by following the gazette, as Lucan has done. The desultory parts of the +historical action must be brought together and be made to elevate and +strengthen each other, so as to press upon the mind with the full force of +their symmetry and unity. Where the events are recent and the actors known, +the only duty imposed by that circumstance on the poet is to do them +historical justice, and not ascribe to one hero the actions of another. But +the scales of justice in this case are not necessarily accompanied by the +calendar and the map. + +It will occur to most of my readers that the modern modes of fighting, as +likewise the instruments and terms now used in war, are not yet rendered +familiar in poetical language. It is doubtless from an unwarrantable +timidity, or want of confidence in their own powers of description, that +modern poets have made so little use of this kind of riches that lay before +them. I confess that I imbibed the common prejudice, and remained a long +time in the error of supposing that the ancients had a poetical advantage +over us in respect to the dignity of the names of the weapons used in war, +if not in their number and variety. And when I published a sketch of the +present poem, under the title of The Vision of Columbus, I labored under +the embarrassment of that idea. I am now convinced that the advantage, at +least as to the weapons, is on the side of the moderns. There are better +sounding names and more variety in the instruments, works, stratagems and +other artifices employed in our war system than in theirs. In short, the +modern military dictionary is more copious than the ancient, and the words +at least as poetical. + +As to the mode of fighting, we have, poetically speaking, lost something in +one respect, but we have gained much in another. Our battles indeed admit +but few single combats, or trials of individual prowess. They do admit them +however; and it is not impossible to describe them with as much detail and +interest as the nature of the action requires; as Voltaire has proved in +the single combat of Aumale and Turenne in the Henriad. Had he managed his +general descriptions and the other parts of the conduct of his poem as +well, he would have made it a far more interesting work than he has. +However, since our single combats must be insignificant in their +consequences, not deciding any thing as to the result of the battle, +it would be inconvenient and misplaced to make much use of them in our +descriptions. And here lies our disadvantage, compared with the ancients. + +But in a general engagement, the shock of modern armies is, beyond +comparison, more magnificent, more sonorous and more discoloring to the +face of nature, than the ancient could have been; and is consequently +susceptible of more pomp and variety of description. Our heaven and earth +are not only shaken and tormented with greater noise, but filled and +suffocated with fire and smoke. If Homer, with his Grecian tongue and all +its dialects, had had the battle of Blenheim to describe, the world would +have possessed a picture and a piece of music which now it will never +possess. The description would have astonished all ages, and enriched every +language into which it might have been translated. + +With regard to naval battles the moderns have altogether the advantage. But +there has been no naval battle described in modern poetry; neither is there +any remaining to us from the ancients, except that in the bay of Marseilles +by Lucan, and that near Syracuse by Silius. It would seem strange indeed +that Homer, whose wonderful powers of fiction were not embarrassed by +historical realities, and who in other respects is so insatiable of +variety, did not introduce a sea fight either in the defence of Troy, or +in the disastrous voyages of Ulysses. But the want of this in Homer's two +poems amounts almost to a proof that in his time the nations had not yet +adopted any method of fighting at sea; so that the poet could have no such +image in his mind. + +The business of war, with all its varieties, makes but a small part of the +subject of my poem; it ought therefore to occupy but a small portion of its +scenery. This is the reason why I have not been more solicitous to vary and +heighten the descriptions of battles and other military operations. I make +this observation to satisfy those readers who being accustomed to see a +long poem chiefly occupied with this sort of bustle conceive that the life +and interest of such compositions depend upon it. How far the majesty or +interest of epic song really depends upon the tumultuous conflicts of war I +will not decide; but I can assure the reader, so far as my experience goes, +that these parts of the work are not the most difficult to write. They are +scenes that exhibit those vigorous traits of human character which strike +the beholder most forcibly and leave the deepest impression. They delight +in violent attitudes; and, painting themselves in the strongest colors on +the poet's fancy, they are easy at any time to recal. He varies them at +pleasure, he adorns them readily with incidents, and imparts them with +spirit to the reader. + +My object is altogether of a moral and political nature I wish to encourage +and strengthen in the rising generation, a sense of the importance of +republican institutions; as being the great foundation of public and +private happiness, the necessary aliment of future and permanent +ameliorations in the condition of human nature. + +This is the moment in America to give such a direction to poetry, painting +and the other fine arts, that true and useful ideas of glory may be +implanted in the minds of men here, to take place of the false and +destructive ones that have degraded the species in other countries; +impressions which have become so wrought into their most sacred +institutions, that it is there thought impious to detect them and dangerous +to root them out, tho acknowledged to be false. Wo be to the republican +principle and to all the institutions it supports, when once the pernicious +doctrine of the holiness of error shall creep into the creed of our schools +and distort the intellect of our citizens! + +The Columbiad, in its present form, is such as I shall probably leave it to +its fate. Whether it be destined to survive its author, is a question that +gives me no other concern than what arises from the most pure and ardent +desire of doing good to my country. To my country therefore, with every +sentiment of veneration and affection I dedicate my labors. + + + + +Introduction. + + + +Every circumstance relating to the discovery and settlement of America +is an interesting object of inquiry, especially to the great and growing +nations of this hemisphere, who owe their existence to those arduous +labors. Yet it is presumed that many persons, who might be entertained +with a poem on this subject, are but slightly acquainted with the life and +character of the hero whose extraordinary genius led him to discover the +continent, and whose singular sufferings, arising from that service, ought +to excite the indignation of the world. + +Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa about the year 1447, when the +navigation of Europe was scarcely extended beyond the limits of the +Mediterranean and the other narrow seas that border the great ocean. The +mariner's compass had been invented and in common use for more than a +century; yet with the help of this sure guide, and prompted by a laudable +spirit of discovery, the mariners of those days rarely ventured from the +sight of land. + +They acquired wonderful applause by sailing along the coast of Africa, +and discovering some of the neighboring islands; and after pushing their +researches with great industry for half a century, the Portuguese, who were +the most fortunate and enterprising, extended their voyages southward no +farther than the equator. + +The rich commodities of the East had, for several ages, been brought into +Europe by the Red Sea and the Mediterranean; and it had now become the +object of the Portuguese to find a passage to India by sailing round the +southern extremity of Africa, and then taking an eastern course. This great +object engaged the general attention, and drew into the Portuguese service +adventurers from the other maritime nations of Europe. Every year added to +their experience in navigation, and seemed to promise some distant reward +to their industry. The prospect however of arriving at India by that route +was still by no means encouraging. Fifty years perseverance in the same +track having brought them only to the equator, it was probable that as many +more would elapse before they could accomplish their purpose. + +But Columbus, by an uncommon exertion of genius, formed a design no less +astonishing to the age in which he lived than beneficial to posterity. This +design was to sail to India by taking a western direction. By the accounts +of travellers who had visited that part of Asia, it seemed almost without +limits on the east; and by attending to the spherical figure of the earth +Columbus drew the natural conclusion, that the Atlantic ocean must be +bounded on the west either by India itself, or by some continent not far +distant from it. + +This illustrious navigator, who was then about twenty-seven years of age, +appears to have possessed every talent requisite to form and execute the +greatest enterprises. He was early educated in such of the useful sciences +as were taught in that day. He had made great proficiency in geography, +astronomy and drawing, as they were necessary to his favorite pursuit of +navigation. He had been a number of years in the service of the Portuguese, +and had acquired all the experience that their voyages and discoveries +could afford. His courage had been put to the severest test; and the +exercise of every amiable as well as heroic virtue, the kindred qualities +of a great mind, had secured him an extensive reputation. He had married a +Portuguese lady, by whom he had two sons, Diego and Ferdinand; the younger +of these is the historian of his life. + +Such was the situation of Columbus, when he formed and digested a plan, +which, in its operation and consequences, has unfolded to the view of +mankind one half of the globe, diffused wealth and industry over the other, +and is extending commerce and civilization thro the whole. To corroborate +the theory he had formed of the existence of a western continent, his +discerning mind, which knew the application of every circumstance that fell +in his way, had observed several facts which by others would have passed +unnoticed. In his voyages to the African islands he had found, floating +ashore after a long western storm, pieces of wood carved in a curious +manner, canes of a size unknown in that quarter of the world, and human +bodies with very singular features. + +The opinion being well established in his mind that a considerable portion +of the earth still remained to be discovered, his temper was too vigorous +and persevering to suffer an idea of this importance to rest merely in +speculation, as it had done with Plato and Seneca, who seem to have +entertained conjectures of a similar nature. He determined therefore to +bring his theory to the test of experiment. But an object of that magnitude +required the patronage of a prince; and a design so extraordinary met +with all the obstructions that an age of superstition could invent, and +personal jealousy enhance. + +It is happy for mankind that, in this instance, a genius capable of +devising the greatest undertakings associated in itself a degree of +patience and enterprise, modesty and confidence, which rendered him +superior to these misfortunes, and enabled him to meet with fortitude all +the future calamities of his life. Excited by an ardent enthusiasm to +become a discoverer of new countries, and fully sensible of the advantages +that would result to mankind from such discoveries, he had the cruel +mortification to wear away eighteen years of his life, after his system +was well established in his own mind, before he could obtain the means of +executing his projected voyage. The greatest part of this period was spent +in successive solicitations in Genoa, Portugal and Spain. + +As a duty to his native country he made his first proposal to the senate of +Genoa, where it was soon rejected. Conscious of the truth of his theory, +and of his own abilities to execute his plan, he retired without dejection +from a body of men who were incapable of forming any just ideas upon +the subject, and applied with fresh confidence to John Second, king of +Portugal; who had distinguished himself as the great patron of navigation, +and in whose service Columbus had acquired a reputation which entitled him +and his project to general confidence. But here he experienced a treatment +much more insulting than a direct refusal. After referring the examination +of his scheme to the council who had the direction of naval affairs, and +drawing from him his general ideas of the length of the voyage and the +course he meant to take, that splendid monarch had the meanness to conspire +with this council to rob Columbus of the glory and advantage he expected +to derive from his undertaking. While Columbus was amused with the +negotiation, in hopes of having his scheme adopted, a vessel was secretly +dispatched by order of the king to make the intended discovery. Want of +skill or courage in the pilot rendered the plot unsuccessful; and Columbus, +on discovering the treachery, retired with an ingenuous indignation from a +court which could be capable of such duplicity. + +Having now performed what was due to the country that gave him birth, and +to the one that had adopted him as a subject, he was at liberty to court +the patronage of any other which should have the wisdom to accept his +proposals. He had communicated his ideas to his brother Bartholomew, whom +he sent to England to negotiate with Henry Seventh; at the same time he +went himself into Spain to apply in person to Ferdinand and Isabella, who +governed the united kingdoms of Arragon and Castile. + +The circumstances of his brother's application in England, which appears +to have been unsuccessful, are not to my purpose to relate; and the +limits prescribed to this biographical sketch will prevent the detail of +particulars respecting his own negotiation in Spain. This occupied him +eight years; in which the various agitations of suspense, expectation and +disappointment must have borne hard upon his patience. At length his scheme +was adopted by Isabella; who undertook, as queen of Castile, to defray the +expenses of the expedition, and declared herself ever after the friend and +patron of the hero who projected it. + +Columbus, who during his ill success in the negotiation never abated any +thing of the honors and emoluments which he expected to acquire in the +expedition, obtained from Ferdinand and Isabella a stipulation of every +article contained in his first proposals. He was constituted high admiral +and viceroy of all the seas, islands and continents which he should +discover; with power to receive one tenth of the profits arising from their +productions and commerce. Which offices and emoluments were to be made +hereditary in his family. + +These articles being adjusted, the preparations for the voyage were brought +forward with rapidity; but they were by no means adequate to the importance +of the expedition. Three small vessels, scarcely sufficient in size to be +employed in the coasting business, were appointed to traverse the vast +Atlantic, and to encounter the storms and currents always to be expected in +tropical climates, uncertain seasons and unknown seas. These vessels, as we +must suppose them in the infancy of navigation, were ill constructed, in a +poor condition, and manned by seamen unaccustomed to distant voyages. But +the tedious length of time which Columbus had passed in solicitation and +suspense, and the prospect of being able soon to obtain the object of his +wishes, induced him to overlook what he could not easily remedy; and led +him to disregard those circumstances which would have intimidated any other +mind. He accordingly equipped his small squadron with as much expedition as +possible, manned with ninety men and victualled for one year. With these, +on the third of August 1492, amidst a vast crowd of spectators, he set sail +on an enterprise which, if we consider the ill condition of his ships, +the inexperience of his sailors, the length and precarious nature of his +voyage, and the consequences that flowed from it, was the most daring and +important that ever was undertaken. He touched at some of the Portuguese +settlements in the Canary Isles; where, altho he had been but a few days +at sea, he found his vessels needed refitting. He soon made the necessary +repairs, and took his departure from the westermost islands that had +hitherto been discovered. Here he left the former track of navigation, and +steered his course due west. Not many days after he laid this course he +perceived the symptoms of a new scene of difficulty. The sailors now began +to contemplate the dangers and uncertain issue of a voyage, the nature +and length of which were left entirely open to conjecture. Besides the +fickleness and timidity natural to men unaccustomed to the discipline of a +seafaring life, several circumstances contributed to inspire an obstinate +and mutinous disposition; which required the most consummate art as well as +fortitude in the admiral to control. Having been three weeks at sea, and +experienced the uniform course of the trade winds, they contended that, +should they continue the same course for a longer time, the same winds +would never permit them to return to Spain. The magnetic needle began to +vary its direction. This being the first time that this phenomenon was ever +noticed, it was viewed by the sailors with astonishment; they thought it an +indication that nature itself had changed its laws, and that Providence was +about to punish their audacity in venturing so far beyond the bounds of +man. They declared that the commands of the government had been fully +obeyed in their proceeding so many days in the same course, and so far +surpassing all former navigators in quest of discoveries. + +Every talent requisite for governing, soothing and tempering the passions +of men is conspicuous in the conduct of Columbus on this occasion. The +dignity and affability of his manners, his surprising knowledge and +experience in naval affairs, his unwearied and minute attention to the +duties of his command, gave him a great ascendency over the minds of his +men, and inspired that degree of confidence which would have maintained his +authority in almost any circumstances. But here, from the nature of the +undertaking, every man had leisure to feed his imagination with the +gloominess and uncertainty of the prospect. They found from day to day the +same steady gales wafting them with rapidity from their native country, and +indeed from all countries of which they had any knowledge. + +He addressed himself to their passions with all the variety of management +that the situation would admit, sometimes by soothing them with the +prognostics of approaching land, sometimes by flattering their ambition and +feasting their avarice with the glory and wealth they would acquire from +discovering the rich countries beyond the Atlantic, and sometimes by +threatening them with the displeasure of their king, should their +disobedience defeat so great an object. But every argument soon lost its +effect; and their uneasiness still increased. From secret whisperings it +arose to open mutiny and dangerous conspiracy. At length they determined to +rid themselves of the remonstrances of Columbus by throwing him into the +sea. The infection spread from ship to ship, and involved officers as well +as sailors. They finally lost all sense of subordination and addressed +their commander in an insolent manner, demanding to be conducted +immediately back to Spain; or, they assured him, they would seek their own +safety by taking away his life. + +Columbus, whose sagacity had discerned every symptom of the disorder, was +prepared for this last stage of it; and was sufficiently apprized of the +danger that awaited him. He found it vain to contend with passions he could +no longer control. He therefore proposed that they should obey his orders +for three days longer; and should they not discover land in that time, he +would then direct his course for Spain. They complied with his proposal; +and, happily for mankind, in three days they discovered land. This was +a small island, to which he gave the name of San Salvador. His first +interview with the natives was a scene of compassion on the one part and +astonishment on the other, but highly interesting to both. The natives were +entirely naked, simple and timorous; and they viewed the Spaniards as a +superior order of beings descended from the sun; which, in that island and +in most parts of America, was worshipped as a Deity. By this it was easy +for Columbus to perceive the line of conduct proper to be observed toward +that simple and inoffensive people. Had his companions and successors +of the Spanish nation possessed the wisdom and humanity of this great +discoverer, the benevolent mind would have had to experience no sensations +of regret in contemplating the extensive advantages arising to mankind from +the discovery of America. + +In this voyage Columbus discovered the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola, on +the latter of which he erected a small fort; and having left a garrison of +thirty-eight men he set sail for Spain. Returning across the Atlantic, he +was overtaken by a violent storm, which lasted several days, and increased +to such a degree as baffled his naval skill and threatened immediate +destruction. In this situation when all were in a state of despair, and +it was expected that every sea would swallow up the crazy vessel, he +manifested a serenity and presence of mind seldom equalled in cases of like +extremity. He wrote a short account of his voyage and of the discoveries he +had made; this he hastily wrapt in an oiled cloth, then enclosed it in a +cake of wax and put it into an empty cask, which he threw overboard, in +hopes that some fortunate accident might preserve a deposit of so much +importance to the world. + +The storm however abated, and he at length arrived in Spain, after having +been driven by stress of weather into the port of Lisbon; where he had +opportunity, in an interview with the king of Portugal, to prove the +truth of his system by arguments more convincing than those he had before +advanced in the character of a bold projector but humble suitor. He was +received every where in Spain with royal honors; his family was ennobled, +and his former stipulation respecting his offices and emoluments was +ratified in the most solemn manner by Ferdinand and Isabella; while +all Europe resounded his praises, and reciprocated their joy and +congratulations on the discovery of what they called a new world. + +The immediate consequence was a second voyage, in which Columbus took +charge of a squadron of seventeen ships of considerable burden. Volunteers +of all ranks solicited to be employed in this expedition. He carried over +fifteen hundred persons, with the necessaries for establishing a colony +and extending his discoveries. In this voyage he explored most of the West +India islands; but on his arrival at Hispaniola he found that the garrison +he had left there had been all destroyed by the natives, and the fort +demolished. He proceeded however in the planting of his colony; and by his +prudent and humane conduct towards the natives he effectually established +the Spanish authority in that island. But while he was thus laying the +foundation of European dominion in America, some discontented persons, +who had returned to Spain, uniting with his former opponents and powerful +enemies at court, conspired to accomplish his ruin. + +They represented his conduct in such a light as to create uneasiness in +the jealous mind of Ferdinand, and make it necessary for Columbus again to +return to Spain, to counteract their machinations and obtain such farther +supplies as were necessary to his great political and beneficent purposes. +On his arriving at court, and stating with his usual dignity and confidence +the whole history of his transactions abroad, every thing wore a favorable +appearance. He was received with the same honors as before, and solicited +to take charge of another squadron, to carry out farther supplies, to +pursue his discoveries, and in every respect to use his discretion in +extending the Spanish empire in the new world. + +In this third voyage he discovered the continent of America at the mouth +of the river Orinoco. He rectified many disorders in his government of +Hispaniola, which had happened in his absence; and every thing was going on +in a prosperous train, when an event was announced to him, which completed +his own ruin and gave a fatal turn to the Spanish policy and conduct in +America. This was the arrival of Francis de Bovadilla, with a commission +to supersede Columbus in his government, to arraign him as a criminal, and +pronounce judgment on all his former administration. + +It seems that by this time the enemies of Columbus, despairing to complete +his overthrow by groundless insinuations of malconduct, had taken the more +effectual method of exciting the jealousy of their sovereigns. From the +promising samples of gold and other valuable commodities brought from +America, they took occasion to represent to the king and queen that the +prodigious wealth and extent of the countries he had discovered would soon +throw such power into the hands of the viceroy, that he would trample on +the royal authority and bid defiance to the Spanish power. These arguments +were well calculated for the cold and suspicious temper of Ferdinand; and +they must have had some effect upon the mind of Isabella. The consequence +was the appointment of Bovadilla, the inveterate enemy of Columbus, to take +the government from his hands. This first tyrant of the Spanish nation in +America began his administration by ordering Columbus to be put in chains +on board of a ship, and sending him prisoner to Spain. By relaxing all +discipline he introduced disorder and licentiousness thro the colony. +He subjected the unhappy natives to a most miserable servitude, and +apportioned them out in large numbers among his adherents. Under this +severe treatment perished in a short time many thousands of those innocent +people. + +Columbus was carried in his fetters to the Spanish court, where the king +and queen either feigned or felt a sufficient regret at the conduct of +Bovadilla towards their illustrious prisoner. He was not only released from +confinement; he was treated with all imaginable respect. But, altho +the king endeavored to expiate the offence by censuring and recalling +Bovadilla, yet we may judge of his sincerity from his appointing Nicholas +de Ovando, another well known enemy of Columbus, to succeed in the +government; and from his ever after refusing to reinstate Columbus, or to +fulfil any of the conditions on which the discoveries had been undertaken. + +After two years of solicitation for this or some other employment, he +at length obtained a squadron of four small vessels to attempt new +discoveries. He then set out, with the enthusiasm of a young adventurer, in +quest of what was always his favorite object, a passage into the South Sea, +by which he might sail to India. He touched at Hispaniola, where Ovando the +governor refused him admittance on shore, even to take shelter during +a hurricane, the prognostics of which his experience had taught him to +discern. By putting into a creek he rode out the storm, and then bore away +for the continent. He spent several months, the most boisterous of the +year, in exploring the coast round the gulph of Mexico, in hopes of finding +the intended navigation to India. At length he was shipwrecked, and driven +ashore on the island of Jamaica. + +His cup of calamities seemed now to be full. He was cast upon an island of +savages, without provisions, without a vessel, and thirty leagues from any +Spanish settlement. But the greatest physical misfortunes are capable of +being embittered by the insults of our fellow creatures. A few of his +companions generously offered, in two Indian canoes, to attempt a voyage to +Hispaniola, in hopes of obtaining a vessel for the relief of the unhappy +crew. After suffering every extremity of danger and fatigue, they arrived +at the Spanish colony in ten days. Ovando, excited by personal malice +against Columbus, detained these messengers for eight months, and then +despatched a vessel to Jamaica to spy out the condition of Columbus and +his crew, with positive instructions to the captain not to afford them any +relief. This order was punctually executed. The captain approached the +shore, delivered a letter of empty compliment from Ovando to the admiral, +received his answer and returned. About four months afterwards a vessel +came to their relief; and Columbus, worn out with fatigues and broken by +misfortunes, returned for the last time to Spain. Here a new distress +awaited him, which he considered as one of the greatest of his whole life: +this was the death of queen Isabella, his last and most powerful friend. + +He did not suddenly abandon himself to despair. He called upon the +gratitude and justice of the king; and in terms of dignity demanded the +fulfilment of his former contract. Notwithstanding his age and infirmities, +he even solicited to be farther employed in extending the career of +discovery, without a prospect of any other reward than the pleasure of +doing good to mankind. But Ferdinand, cold ungrateful and timid, dared not +comply with any proposal of this kind, lest he should increase his own +obligations to a man, whose services he thought it dangerous to reward. He +therefore delayed and avoided any decision on these subjects, in hopes +that the declining health of Columbus would soon rid the court of the +remonstrances of a suitor, whose unexampled merit was, in their opinion, a +sufficient reason for destroying him. In this they were not disappointed. +Columbus languished a short time, and gladly resigned a life which had been +worn out in the most signal services perhaps that have been rendered by any +one man to an ungrateful world. + +Posterity is sometimes more just to the memory of great men than +contemporaries were to their persons. But even this consolation, if it be +one, has been wanting to the discoverer of our hemisphere. The continent, +instead of bearing his name, has been called after one of his followers, +a man of no particular merit. And in the modern city of Mexico there is +instituted and perpetuated, by order of government, an annual festival in +honour of Hernando Cortez, the perfidious butcher of its ancient race; +while no public honors have been decreed to Christopher Columbus, one of +the wisest and best among the benefactors of mankind. + +After his last return from America he seems to have past the short +remainder of his life at Valladolid, the capital of Old Castile, and then +the seat of the Spanish government. He died in that city on the twentieth +of August 1506, and was buried in one of its churches. Over his body is a +plain stone inscribed simply with his name, as it is written in Spanish, +CHRISTOVAL COLON. + +His son, who wrote his life, has left us a particular description of his +person, manners and private character; all of which were agreeable and +interesting. His portrait is in possession of the author of this poem. +It is painted in oil, half length and the size of life, copied from an +original picture in the gallery of Florence. + + + + + + +The Columbiad. + + + + +Book I. + + + + +Argument + + + Subject of the Poem, and invocation to Freedom. Condition of Columbus + in a Spanish prison. His monologue on the great actions of his life, + and the manner in which they had been rewarded. Appearance and speech + of Hesper, the guardian Genius of the western continent. They quit the + dungeon, and ascend the mount of vision, which rises over the western + coast of Spain; Europe settling from their sight, and the Atlantic + ocean spreading far beneath their feet. Continent of America draws into + view, and is described by its mountains, rivers, lakes, soil and some + of the natural productions. + + +I sing the Mariner who first unfurl'd +An eastern banner o'er the western world, +And taught mankind where future empires lay +In these fair confines of descending day; +Who sway'd a moment, with vicarious power, +Iberia's sceptre on the new found shore, +Then saw the paths his virtuous steps had trod +Pursued by avarice and defiled with blood, +The tribes he foster'd with paternal toil +Snatch'd from his hand, and slaughter'd for their spoil. + +Slaves, kings, adventurers, envious of his name, +Enjoy'd his labours and purloin'd his fame, +And gave the Viceroy, from his high seat hurl'd. +Chains for a crown, a prison for a world +Long overwhelm'd in woes, and sickening there, +He met the slow still march of black despair, +Sought the last refuge from his hopeless doom, +And wish'd from thankless men a peaceful tomb: +Till vision'd ages, opening on his eyes, +Cheer'd his sad soul, and bade new nations rise; +He saw the Atlantic heaven with light o'ercast, +And Freedom crown his glorious work at last. + +Almighty Freedom! give my venturous song +The force, the charm that to thy voice belong; +Tis thine to shape my course, to light my way, +To nerve my country with the patriot lay, +To teach all men where all their interest lies, +How rulers may be just and nations wise: +Strong in thy strength I bend no suppliant knee, +Invoke no miracle, no Muse but thee. + +Night held on old Castile her silent reign, +Her half orb'd moon declining to the main; +O'er Valladolid's regal turrets hazed +The drizzly fogs from dull Pisuerga raised; +Whose hovering sheets, along the welkin driven, +Thinn'd the pale stars, and shut the eye from heaven. +Cold-hearted Ferdinand his pillow prest, +Nor dream'd of those his mandates robb'd of rest, +Of him who gemm'd his crown, who stretch'd his reign +To realms that weigh'd the tenfold poise of Spain; +Who now beneath his tower indungeon'd lies, +Sweats the chill sod and breathes inclement skies. + +His feverish pulse, slow laboring thro his frame, +Feeds with scant force its fast expiring flame; +A far dim watch-lamp's thrice reflected beam +Throws thro his grates a mist-encumber'd gleam, +Paints the dun vapors that the cell invade, +And fills with spectred forms the midnight shade; +When from a visionary short repose, +That nursed new cares and temper'd keener woes, +Columbus woke, and to the walls addrest +The deep felt sorrows bursting from his breast: + +Here lies the purchase, here the wretched spoil +Of painful years and persevering toil. +For these damp caves, this hideous haunt of +pain, +I traced new regions o'er the chartless main, +Tamed all the dangers of untraversed waves, +Hung o'er their clefts, and topt their surging graves, +Saw traitorous seas o'er coral mountains sweep, +Red thunders rock the pole and scorch the deep, +Death rear his front in every varying form, +Gape from the shoals and ride the roaring storm, +My struggling bark her seamy planks disjoin, +Rake the rude rock and drink the copious brine. +Till the tired elements are lull'd at last, +And milder suns allay the billowing blast, +Lead on the trade winds with unvarying force, +And long and landless curve our constant course. + +Our homeward heaven recoils; each night forlorn +Calls up new stars, and backward rolls the morn; +The boreal vault descends with Europe's shore, +And bright Calisto shuns the wave no more, +The Dragon dips his fiery-foaming jole, +The affrighted magnet flies the faithless pole; +Nature portends a general change of laws, +My daring deeds are deemed the guilty cause; +The desperate crew, to insurrection driven, +Devote their captain to the wrath of heaven, +Resolve at once to end the audacious strife, +And buy their safety with his forfeit life. + +In that sad hour, this feeble frame to save, +(Unblest reprieve) and rob the gaping wave, +The morn broke forth, these tearful orbs descried +The golden banks that bound the western tide. +With full success I calm'd the clamorous race, +Bade heaven's blue arch a second earth embrace; +And gave the astonish'd age that bounteous shore, +Their wealth to nations, and to kings their power. + +Land of delights! ah, dear delusive coast, +To these fond aged eyes forever lost! +No more thy flowery vales I travel o'er, +For me thy mountains rear the head no more, +For me thy rocks no sparkling gems unfold, +Nor streams luxuriant wear their paths in gold; +From realms of promised peace forever borne, +I hail mute anguish, and in secret mourn. + +But dangers past, a world explored in vain, +And foes triumphant show but half my pain. +Dissembling friends, each early joy who gave, +And fired my youth the storms of fate to brave, +Swarm'd in the sunshine of my happier days, +Pursued the fortune and partook the praise, +Now pass my cell with smiles of sour disdain, +Insult my woes and triumph in my pain. + +One gentle guardian once could shield the brave; +But now that guardian slumbers in the grave. +Hear from above, thou dear departed shade; +As once my hopes, my present sorrows aid, +Burst my full heart, afford that last relief, +Breathe back my sighs and reinspire my grief; +Still in my sight thy royal form appears, +Reproves my silence and demands my tears. +Even on that hour no more I joy to dwell, +When thy protection bade the canvass swell; +When kings and churchmen found their factions vain, +Blind superstition shrunk beneath her chain, +The sun's glad beam led on the circling way, +And isles rose beauteous in Atlantic day. +For on those silvery shores, that new domain, +What crowds of tyrants fix their murderous reign! +Her infant realm indignant Freedom flies, +Truth leaves the world, and Isabella dies. + +Ah, lend thy friendly shroud to veil my sight, +That these pain'd eyes may dread no more the light; +These welcome shades shall close my instant doom, +And this drear mansion moulder to a tornb. + +Thus mourn'd the hapless man: a thundering sound +Roll'd thro the shuddering walls and shook the ground; +O'er all the dungeon, where black arches bend, +The roofs unfold, and streams of light descend; +The growing splendor fills the astonish'd room, +And gales etherial breathe a glad perfume. +Robed in the radiance, moves a form serene, +Of human structure, but of heavenly mien; +Near to the prisoner's couch he takes his stand, +And waves, in sign of peace, his holy hand. +Tall rose his stature, youth's endearing grace +Adorn'd his limbs and brighten'd in his face; +Loose o'er his locks the star of evening hung, +And sounds melodious moved his cheerful tongue: + +Rise, trembling chief, to scenes of rapture rise; +This voice awaits thee from the western skies; +Indulge no longer that desponding strain, +Nor count thy toils, nor deem thy virtues vain. +Thou seest in me the guardian Power who keeps +The new found world that skirts Atlantic deeps, +Hesper my name, my seat the brightest throne +In night's whole heaven, my sire the living sun, +My brother Atlas with his name divine +Stampt the wild wave; the solid coast is mine. + +[Note: Atlas and Hesper were of the race of Titans. They were sons of +Uranus, or of Japetus, according as the fable is traced to different +countries, whose supreme God (originally the sun) was called by different +names. Atlas, from being king of Mauritania, became a mountain to support +the heavens, and gave his name to the western ocean. Hesper frequented that +mountain in the study of astronomy; till one evening he disappeared, and +returned no more. He was then placed in the western heaven; and, having +been a beautiful young man, he became a beautiful planet, called the +evening star. This circumstance gave his name to the western regions of the +earth indefinitely. Italy was called Hesperia by the Greeks, because it +lay west from them, and seemed under the influence of the star of evening; +Spain was called Hesperia by the Romans, for the same reason. + +If the nations which adopted this fable had known of a country west of the +Atlantic, that country must have been Hesperia to them all; and pursuing +this analogy I have so named it, in several instances, in the course of +this poem. Considering Hesper as the guardian Genius, and Columbus as the +Discoverer, of the western continent, it may derive its name, in poetical +language, from either of theirs indifferently, and be called Hesperia or +Columbia. + +Atlas is considered in this poem as the guardian Genius of Africa. See his +speech, in the eighth book, on the slavery of his people. + +This explanation seemed of such immediate importance for understanding +the machinery of the poem, as to require its being placed here. The other +notes, being numerous and some of them long, have been forced to yield +to typographical elegance; and are placed at the end of the volume, with +suitable reference to the passages to which they belong.] + +This hand, which form'd, and in the tides of time +Laves and improves the meliorating clime, +Which taught thy prow to cleave the trackless way, +And hail'd thee first in occidental day, +To all thy worth shall vindicate thy claim, +And raise up nations to revere thy name. + +In this dark age tho blinded faction sways, +And wealth and conquest gain the palm of praise; +Awed into slaves while groveling millions groan, +And blood-stain'd steps lead upward to a throne; +Far other wreaths thy virtuous temples twine, +Far nobler triumphs crown a life like thine; +Thine be the joys that minds immortal grace, +As thine the deeds that bless a kindred race. +Now raise thy sorrowed soul to views more bright, +The vision'd ages rushing on thy sight; +Worlds beyond worlds shall bring to light their stores, +Time, nature, science blend their utmost powers, +To show, concentred in one blaze of fame, +The ungather'd glories that await thy name. + +As that great seer, whose animating rod +Taught Jacob's sons their wonder-working God, +Who led thro dreary wastes the murmuring band, +And reach'd the confines of their promised land, +Opprest with years, from Pisgah's towering height, +On fruitful Canaan feasted long his sight; +The bliss of unborn nations warm'd his breast, +Repaid his toils and sooth'd his soul to rest; +Thus o'er thy subject wave shalt thou behold +Far happier realms their future charms unfold, +In nobler pomp another Pisgah rise, +Beneath whose foot thy new found Canaan lies; +There, rapt in vision, hail my favorite clime, +And taste the blessings of remotest time. + +So Hesper spoke; Columbus raised his head; +His chains dropt off; the cave, the castle fled. +Forth walked the Pair; when steep before them stood; +Slope from the town, a heaven-illumined road; +That thro disparting shades arose on high, +Reach'd o'er the hills, and lengthen'd up the sky, +Show'd a clear summit, rich with rising flowers, +That breathe their odors thro celestial bowers. +O'er the proud Pyrenees it looks sublime, +Subjects the Alps, and levels Europe's clime; +Spain, lessening to a chart, beneath it swims, +And shrouds her dungeons in the void she dims. + +Led by the Power, the Hero gain'd the height, +New strength and brilliance flush'd his mortal sight; +When calm before them flow'd the western main, +Far stretch'd, immense, a sky-encircled plain. +No sail, no isle, no cloud invests the bound, +Nor billowy surge disturbs the vast profound; +Till, deep in distant heavens, the sun's blue ray +Topt unknown cliffs and call'd them up to day; +Slow glimmering into sight wide regions drew, +And rose and brighten'd on the expanding view; +Fair sweep the waves, the lessening ocean smiles, +In misty radiance loom a thousand isles; +Near and more near the long drawn coasts arise, +Bays stretch their arms and mountains lift the skies, +The lakes, high mounded, point the streams their way, +Slopes, ridges, plains their spreading skirts display, +The vales branch forth, high walk approaching groves, +And all the majesty of nature moves. + +O'er the wild hemisphere his glances fly, +Its form unfolding as it still draws nigh, +As all its salient sides force far their sway, +Crowd back the ocean and indent the day. +He saw, thro central zones, the winding shore +Spread the deep Gulph his sail had traced before, +The Darien isthmus check the raging tide, +Join distant lands, and neighboring seas divide; +On either hand the shores unbounded bend, +Push wide their waves, to each dim pole ascend; +The two twin continents united rise, +Broad as the main, and lengthen'd with the skies. + +Long gazed the Mariner; when thus the Guide: +Here spreads the world thy daring sail descried, +Hesperia call'd, from my anterior claim; +But now Columbia, from thy patriarch name. +So from Phenicia's peopled strand of yore +Europa sail'd, and sought an unknown shore; +There stampt her sacred name; and thence her race, +Hale, venturous, bold, from Jove's divine embrace, +Ranged o'er the world, predestined to bestride +Earth's elder continents and each far tide. + +Ages unborn shall bless the happier day, +That saw thy streamer shape the guideless way, +Their bravest heroes trace the path you led, +And sires of nations thro the regions spread. +Behold yon isles, where first thy flag unfurl'd +In bloodless triumph o'er the younger world; +As, awed to silence, savage bands gave place, +And hail'd with joy the sun-descended race. + +Retrace the banks yon rushing waters lave; +There Orinoco checks great ocean's wave; +Thine is the stream; it cleaves the well known coast, +Where Paria's walks thy former footsteps boast. +But these no more thy wide discoveries bound; +Superior prospects lead their swelling round; +Nature's remotest scenes before thee roll, +And years and empires open on thy soul. + +To yon dim rounds first elevate thy view; +See Quito's plains o'erlook their proud Peru; +On whose huge base, like isles amid sky driven, +A vast protuberance props the cope of heaven; +Earth's loftiest turrets there contend for height, +And all our Andes fill the bounded sight. +From south to north what long blue swells arise, +Built thro the clouds, and lost in ambient skies! +Approaching slow they heave expanding bounds, +The yielding concave bends sublimer rounds; +Whose wearied stars, high curving to the west, +Pause on the summits for a moment's rest; +Recumbent there they renovate their force, +And roll rejoicing on their downward course. + +Round each bluff base the sloping ravine bends; +Hills forms on hills, and croupe o'er croupe extends; +Ascending, whitening, how the crags are lost, +O'erhung with headcliffs of eternal frost! +Broad fields of ice give back the morning ray, +Like walls of suns, or heaven's perennial day. + +There folding storms on eastern pinions ride, +Veil the black void, and wrap the mountains side, +Rude thunders rake the crags, the rains descend, +And the long lightnings o'er the vallies bend; +While blasts unburden'd sweep the cliffs of snow, +The whirlwinds wheel above, the floods convolve +below. + +There molten rocks explosive rend their tomb; +Volcanos, laboring many a nation's doom, +Wild o'er the regions pour their floods of fire; +The shores heave backward, and the seas retire. +There lava waits my late reluctant call, +To roar aloft and shake some guilty wall; +Thy pride, O Lima, swells the sulphurous wave, +And fanes and priests and idols crowd thy grave. + +But cease, my son, these dread events to trace, +Nor learn the woes that here await thy race. +Anorth from that broad gulph, where verdant rise +Those gentler mounds that skirt the temperate skies, +A happier hemisphere invites thy view; +Tis there the old world shall embrace the new: +There Europe's better sons their seat shall trace, +And change of government improve the race. +Thro all the midsky zones, to yon blue pole, +Their green hills lengthen, their bright rivers roll; +And swelling westward, how their champaigns run! +How slope their uplands to the morning sun! + +So spoke the blest Immortal; when more near +His northern wilds in all their breadth appear; +Lands yet unknown, and streams without a name +Rise into vision and demand their fame. +As when some saint first gains his bright abode, +Vaults o'er the spheres and views the works of God, +Sees earth, his kindred orb, beneath him roll, +Here glow the centre, and there point the pole; +O'er land and sea his eyes delighted rove, +And human thoughts his heavenly joys improve; +With equal scope the raptured Hero's sight +Ranged the low vale, or climb'd the cloudy height, +As, fixt in ardent look, his opening mind, +Explored the realms that here invite mankind. + +From sultry Mobile's gulph-indented shore +To where Ontario hears his Laurence roar, +Stretch'd o'er the broadback'd hills, in long array. +The tenfold Alleganies meet the day. +And show, far sloping from the plains and streams, +The forest azure streak'd with orient beams. +High moved the scene, Columbus gazed sublime, +And thus in prospect hail'd the happy clime: +Blest be the race my guardian guide shall lead +Where these wide vales their various bounties spread! +What treasured stores the hills must here combine! +Sleep still ye diamonds, and ye ores refine; +Exalt your heads ye oaks, ye pines ascend, +Till future navies bid your branches bend; +Then spread the canvass o'er the watery way, +Explore new worlds and teach the old your sway. + +He said, and northward cast his curious eyes +On other cliffs of more exalted size. +Where Maine's bleak breakers line the dangerous coast, +And isles and shoals their latent horrors boast, +High lantern'd in his heaven the cloudless White +Heaves the glad sailor an eternal light; +Who far thro troubled ocean greets the guide, +And stems with steadier helm the stormful tide. + +Nor could those heights unnoticed raise their head, +That swell sublime o'er Hudson's shadowy bed; +Tho fiction ne'er has hung them in the skies, +Tho White and Andes far superior rise, +Yet hoary Kaatskill, where the storms divide, +Would lift the heavens from Atlas' laboring pride. + +Land after land his passing notice claim, +And hills by hundreds rise without a name; +Hills yet unsung, their mystic powers untold; +Celestials there no sacred senates hold; +No chain'd Prometheus feasts the vulture there, +No Cyclop forges thro their summits glare, +To Phrygian Jove no victim smoke is curl'd, +Nor ark high landing quits a deluged world. +But were these masses piled on Asia's shore, +Taurus would shrink, Hemodia strut no more, +Indus and Ganges scorn their humble sires, +And rising suns salute superior fires; +Whose watchful priest would meet, with matin blaze, +His earlier God, and sooner chaunt his praise. +For here great nature, with a bolder hand, +Roll'd the broad stream, and heaved the lifted land; +And here from finish'd earth, triumphant trod +The last ascending steps of her creating God. + +He saw these mountains ope their watery stores, +Floods quit their caves and seek the distant shores; +Wilcl thro disparting plains their waves expand, +And lave the banks where future towns must stand. +Whirl'd from the monstrous Andes' bursting sides, +Maragnon leads his congregating tides; +A thousand Alps for him dissolve their snow, +A thousand Rhones obedient bend below, +From different zones their ways converging wind, +Sweep beds of ore, and leave their gold behind, +In headlong cataracts indignant rave, +Rush to his banks and swell the swallowing wave. +Ucayla, first of all his mighty sons, +From Cusco's walls a wearied journey runs; +Pastaza mines proud Pambamarca's base, +And holds thro sundering hills his lawless race; +Aloft, where Cotopaxa flames on high, +The roaring Napo quits his misty sky, +Down the long steeps in whitening torrents driven, +Like Nile descending from his fabled heaven; +Mound after mound impetuous Tigris rends, +Curved Ista folds whole countries in his bends; +Vast Orinoco, summon'd forth to bring +His far fetch'd honors to the sateless king, +Drives on his own strong course to gain the shore, +But sends Catuba here with half his store; +Like a broad Bosphorus here Negro guides +The gather'd mass of fifty furious tides; +From his waste world, by nameless fountains fed, +Wild Purus wears his long and lonely bed; +O'er twelve degrees of earth Madera flows, +And robs the south of half its treasured snows; +Zingus, of equal length and heavier force, +Rolls on, for months, the same continuous course +To reach his master's bank; that here constrains +Topayo, charged with all Brazilians rains; +While inland seas, and lakes unknown to fame, +Send their full tributes to the monarch stream; +Who, swell'd with growing conquest, wheels abroad, +Drains every land, and gathers all his flood; +Then far from clime to clime majestic goes, +Enlarging, widening, deepening as he flows; +Like heaven's broad milky way he shines alone, +Spreads o'er the globe its equatorial zone, +Weighs the cleft continent, and pushes wide +Its balanced mountains from each crumbling side. +Sire Ocean hears his proud Maragnon roar, +Moves up his bed, and seeks in vain the shore, +Then surging strong, with high and hoary tide, +Whelms back the Stream and checks his rolling pride. +The stream ungovernable foams with ire, +Climbs, combs tempestuous, and attacks the Sire; +Earth feels the conflict o'er her bosom spread, +Her isles and uplands hide their wood-crown'd head; +League after league from land to water change, +From realm to realm the seaborn monsters range; +Vast midland heights but pierce the liquid plain, +Old Andes tremble for their proud domain; +Till the fresh Flood regains his forceful sway, +Drives back his father Ocean, lash'd with spray; +Whose ebbing waters lead the downward sweep, +And waves and trees and banks roll whirling to the deep. +Where suns less ardent cast their golden beams, +And minor Andes pour a waste of streams, +The marsh of Moxoe scoops the world, and fills +(From Bahia's coast to Cochabamba's hills) +A thousand leagues of bog; he strives in vain +Their floods to centre and their lakes retain; +His gulphs o'ercharged their opening sides display, +And southern vales prolong the seaward way. +Columbus traced, with swift exploring eye, +The immense of waves that here exalted lie, +The realms that mound the unmeasured magazine, +The far blue main, the climes that stretch between. +He saw Xaraya's diamond banks unfold, +And Paraguay's deep channel paved with gold, +Saw proud Potosi lift his glittering head, +And pour down Plata thro his tinctured bed. +Rich with the spoils of many a distant mine, +In his broad silver sea their floods combine; +Wide over earth his annual freshet strays, +And highland drains with lowland drench repays; +Her thirsty regions wait his glad return, +And drink their future harvest from his urn. + +Where the cold circles gird the southern sky. +Brave Magellan's wild channel caught his eye; +The long cleft ridges wall'd the spreading way. +That gleams far westward to an unknown sea. +Soon as the distant swell was seen to roll, +His ancient wishes reabsorb'd his soul; +Warm from his heaving heart a sudden sigh +Burst thro his lips; he turn'd his moisten'd eye, +And thus besought his Angel: speak, my guide, +Where leads the pass? and what yon purple tide? +How the dim waves in blending ether stray! +No lands behind them rise, no pinions on them play. +There spreads, belike, that other unsail'd main +I sought so long, and sought, alas, in vain; +To gird this watery globe, and bring to light +Old India's coast; and regions wrapt in night. +Restore, celestial friend, my youthful morn, +Call back my years, and let my fame return; +Grant me to trace, beyond that pathless sea, +Some happier shore from lust of empire free; +To find in that far world a peaceful bower, +From envy safe and curst Ovando's power. +Earth's happiest realms let not their distance hide, +Nor seas forever roll their useless tide. +For nations yet unborn, that wait thy time, +Demand their seats in that secluded clime; +Ah, grant me still, their passage to prepare. +One venturous bark, and be my life thy care. + +So pray'd the Hero; Hesper mild replies, +Divine compassion softening in his eyes, +Tho still to virtuous deeds thy mind aspires, +And these glad visions kindle new desires, +Yet hear with reverence what attends thy state, +Nor wish to pass the eternal bounds of fate. +Led by this sacred light thou soon shalt see +That half mankind shall owe their seats to thee, +Freedom's first empire claim its promised birth +In these rich rounds of sea-encircled earth; +Let other years, by thine example prest, +Call forth their heroes to explore the rest. + +Thro different seas a twofold passage lies +To where sweet India scents a waste of skies. +The circling course, by Madagascar's shores, +Round Afric's cape, bold Gama now explores; +Thy well plann'd path these gleamy straits provide, +Nor long shall rest the daring search untried. +This idle frith must open soon to fame, +Here a lost Lusitanian fix his name, +From that new main in furious waves be tost, +And fall neglected on the barbarous coast. + +But lo the Chief! bright Albion bids him rise, +Speed in his pinions, ardor in his eyes! +Hither, O Drake, display thy hastening sails, +Widen ye passes, and awake ye gales, +March thou before him, heaven-revolving sun, +Wind his long course, and teach him where to run; +Earth's distant shores, in circling bands unite, +Lands, learn your fame, and oceans, roll in light, +Round all the watery globe his flag be hurl'd, +A new Columbus to the astonish'd world. + +He spoke; and silent tow'rd the northern sky +Wide o'er the hills the Hero cast his eye, +Saw the long floods thro devious channels pour, +And wind their currents to the opening shore; +Interior seas and lonely lakes display +Their glittering glories to the beams of day. +Thy capes, Virginia, towering from the tide, +Raise their blue banks, and slope thy barriers wide, +To future sails unfold an inland way, +And guard secure thy multifluvian Bay; +That drains uncounted realms, and here unites +The liquid mass from Alleganian heights. +York leads his wave, imbank'd in flowery pride, +And nobler James falls winding by his side; +Back to the hills, thro many a silent vale, +While Rappahanok seems to lure the sail, +Patapsco's bosom courts the hand of toil, +Dull Susquehanna laves a length of soil; +But mightier far, in sealike azure spread, +Potowmak sweeps his earth disparting bed. + +Long dwelt his eye where these commingling pour'd, +Their waves unkeel'd, their havens unexplored; +Where frowning forests stretch the dusky wing, +And deadly damps forbid the flowers to spring; +No seasons clothe the field with cultured grain, +No buoyant ship attempts the chartless main; +Then with impatient voice: My Seer, he cried, +When shall my children cross the lonely tide? +Here, here my sons, the hand of culture bring, +Here teach the lawn to smile, the grove to sing: +Ye laboring floods, no longer vainly glide, +Ye harvests load them, and ye forests ride; +Bear the deep burden from the joyous swain, +And tell the world where peace and plenty reign. + +Hesper to this return'd him no reply, +But raised new visions to his roving eye. +He saw broad Delaware the shores divide, +He saw majestic Hudson pour his tide; +Thy stream, my Hartford, thro its misty robe, +Play'd in the sunbeams, belting far the globe; +No watery glades thro richer vallies shine, +Nor drinks the sea a lovelier wave than thine. + +Mystick and Charles refresh their seaward isles, +And gay Piscateway pays his passing smiles; +Swift Kenebec, high bursting from his lakes, +Shoots down the hillsides thro the clouds he makes; +And hoarse resounding, gulphing wide the shore, +Dread Laurence labors with tremendous roar; +Laurence, great son of Ocean! lorn he lies, +And braves the blasts of hyperborean skies. +Where hoary winter holds his howling reign, +And April flings her timid showers in vain, +Groans the choked Flood, in frozen fetters bound, +And isles of ice his angry front surround. + +As old Enceladus, in durance vile, +Spreads his huge length beneath Sicilia's isle, +Feels mountains, crush'd by mountains, on him prest, +Close not his veins, nor still his laboring breast; +His limbs convulse, his heart rebellious rolls, +Earth shakes responsive to her utmost poles, +While rumbling, bursting, boils his ceaseless ire, +Flames to mid heaven, and sets the skies on fire. +So the contristed Laurence lays him low, +And hills of sleet and continents of snow +Rise on his crystal breast; his heaving sides +Crash with the weight, and pour their gushing tides, +Asouth, whence all his hundred branches bend, +Relenting airs with boreal blasts contend; +Far in his vast extremes he swells and thaws, +And seas foam wide between his ice-bound jaws. +Indignant Frost, to hold his captive, plies +His hosted fiends that vex the polar skies, +Unlocks his magazines of nitric stores, +Azotic charms and muriatic powers; +Hail, with its glassy globes, and brume congeal'd, +Rime's fleecy flakes, and storm that heaps the field +Strike thro the sullen Stream with numbing force, +Obstruct his sluices and impede his course. +In vain he strives; his might interior fails; +Nor spring's approach, nor earth's whole heat avails; +He calls his hoary Sire; old Ocean roars +Responsive echoes thro the Shetland shores. +He comes, the Father! from his bleak domains, +To break with liquid arms the sounding chains; +Clothed in white majesty, he leads from far +His tides high foaming to the wintry war. +Billows on billows lift the maddening brine, +And seas and clouds in battling conflict join, +O'erturn the vast gulph glade with rending sweep, +And crash the crust that bridged the boiling deep; +Till forced aloft, bright bounding thro the air, +Moves the blear ice, and sheds a dazzling glare; +The torn foundations on the surface ride, +And wrecks of winter load the downward tide. + +The loosen'd ice-isles o'er the main advance, +Toss on the surge, and thro the concave dance; +Whirl'd high, conjoin'd, in crystal mountains driven, +Alp over Alp, they build a midway heaven; +Whose million mirrors mock the solar ray, +And give condensed the tenfold glare of day. +As tow'rd the south the mass enormous glides. +And brineless rivers furrow down its sides; +The thirsty sailor steals a glad supply, +And sultry trade winds quaff the boreal sky. + +But oft insidious death, with mist o'erstrown, +Rides the dark ocean on this icy throne; +When ships thro vernal seas with light airs steer +Their midnight march, and deem no danger near. +The steerman gaily helms his course along, +And laughs and listens to the watchman's song, +Who walks the deck, enjoys the murky fog, +Sure of his chart, his magnet and his log; +Their shipmates dreaming, while their slumbers last, +Of joys to come, of toils and dangers past. +Sudden a chilling blast comes roaring thro +The trembling shrouds, and startles all the crew; +They spring to quarters, and perceive too late +The mount of death, the giant strides of fate. +The fullsail'd ship, with instantaneous shock, +Dash'd into fragments by the floating rock, +Plunges beneath its basement thro the wave, +And crew and cargo glut the watery grave. + +Say, Palfrey, brave good man, was this thy doom? +Dwells here the secret of thy midsea tomb? +But, Susan, why that tear? my lovely friend, +Regret may last, but grief should have an end. +An infant then, thy memory scarce can trace +The lines, tho sacred, of thy father's face; +A generous spouse has well replaced the sire; +New duties hence new sentiments require. + +Now where the lakes, those midland oceans, lie, +Columbus turn'd his heaven-illumined eye. +Ontario's banks, unable to retain +The five great Caspians from the distant main, +Burst with the ponderous mass, and forceful whirl'd +His Laurence forth, to balance thus the world. +Above, bold Erie's wave sublimely stood, +Look'd o'er the cliff, and heaved his headlong flood; +Where dread Niagara bluffs high his brow, +And frowns defiance to the world below. +White clouds of mist expanding o'er him play, +That tinge their skirts in all the beams of day; +Pleased Iris wantons in perpetual pride, +And bends her rainbows o'er the dashing tide. +Far glimmering in the north, bleak Huron runs, +Clear Michigan reflects a thousand suns, +And bason'd high, on earth's broad bosom gay, +The bright Superior silvers down the day. + +Blue mounds beyond them far in ether fade, +Deep groves between them cast a solemn shade, +Slow moves their settling mist in lurid streams, +And dusky radiance streaks the solar beams. +Fixt on the view the great discoverer stood, +And thus addrest the messenger of good: +But why these seats, that seem reserved to grace +The social toils of some illustrious race, +Why spread so wide and form'd so fair in vain? +And why so distant rolls the bounteous main? +These happy regions must forever rest, +Of man unseen, by native beasts possest; +And the best heritage my sons could boast +Illude their search in far dim deserts lost, +For see, no ship can point her pendants here, +No stream conducts nor ocean wanders near; +Frost, crags and cataracts their north invest, +And the tired sun scarce finds their bounds awest. + +To whom the Seraph: Here indeed retires +The happiest land that feels my fostering fires; +Here too shall numerous nations found their seat, +And peace and freedom bless the kind retreat. +Led by this arm thy sons shall hither come, +And streams obedient yield the heroes room, +Spread a broad passage to their well known main, +Nor sluice their lakes, nor form their soils in vain. + +Here my bold Missisippi bends his way, +Scorns the dim bounds of yon bleak boreal day, +And calls from western heavens, to feed his stream, +The rains and floods that Asian seas might claim. +Strong in his march, and charged with all the fates +Of regions pregnant with a hundred states. +He holds in balance, ranged on either hand, +Two distant oceans and their sundering land; +Commands and drains the interior tracts that lie +Outmeasuring Europe's total breadth of sky. + +High in the north his parent fountains wed, +And oozing urns adorn his infant head; +In vain proud Frost his nursing lakes would close, +And choke his channel with perennial snows; +From all their slopes he curves his countless rills, +Sweeps their long marshes, saps their settling hills; +Then stretching, straighteningsouth, he gaily gleams, +Swells thro the climes, and swallows all their streams; +From zone to zone, o'er earth's broad surface curl'd, +He cleaves his course, he furrows half the world, +Now roaring wild thro bursting mountains driven, +Now calm reflecting all the host of heaven; +Where Cynthia pausing, her own face admires, +And suns and stars repeat their dancing fires. +Wide o'er his meadowy lawns he spreads and feeds +His realms of canes, his waving world of reeds; +Where mammoth grazed the renovating groves, +Slaked his huge thirst, and chill'd his fruitless loves; +Where elks, rejoicing o'er the extinguished race, +By myriads rise to fill the vacant space. +Earth's widest gulph expands to meet his wave, +Vast isles of ocean in his current lave; +Glad Thetis greets him from his finish'd course, +And bathes her Nereids in his freshening source. + +To his broad bed their tributary stores +Wisconsin here, there lonely Peter pours; +Croix, from the northeast wilds his channel fills, +Ohio, gather'd from his myriad hills, +Yazoo and Black, surcharged by Georgian springs, +Rich Illinois his copious treasure brings; +Arkansa, measuring back the sun's long course, +Moine, Francis, Rouge augment the father's force. +But chief of all his family of floods +Missouri marches thro his world of woods; +He scorns to mingle with the filial train, +Takes every course to reach alone the main; +Orient awhile his bending swreep he tries, +Now drains the southern, now the northern skies, +Searches and sunders far the globe's vast frame, +Reluctant joins the sire, and takes at last his name. + +There lies the path thy future sons shall trace, +Plant here their arts, and rear their vigorous race: +A race predestined, in these choice abodes, +To teach mankind to tame their fluvial floods, +Retain from ocean, as their work requires, +These great auxiliars, raised by solar fires, +Force them to form ten thousand roads, and girth +With liquid belts each verdant mound of earth, +To aid the colon's as the carrier's toil, +To drive the coulter, and to fat the soil, +Learn all mechanic arts, and oft regain +Their native hills in vapor and in rain. + +So taught the Saint. The regions nearer drew, +And raised resplendent to their Hero's view +Rich nature's triple reign; for here elate +She stored the noblest treasures of her state, +Adorn'd exuberant this her last domain, +As yet unalter'd by her mimic man, +Sow'd liveliest gems, and plants of proudest grace, +And strung with strongest nerves her animated race. + +Retiring far round Hudson's frozen bay, +Earth's lessening circles shrink beyond the day; +Snows ever rising with the toils of time +Choke the chill shrubs that brave the dismal clime; +The beasts all whitening roam the lifeless plain, +And caves unfrequent scoop the couch for man. + +Where Spring's coy steps in cold Canadia stray, +And joyless seasons hold unequal sway, +He saw the pine its daring mantle rear, +Break the rude blast, and mock the brumal year, +Shag the green zone that bounds the boreal skies, +And bid all southern vegetation rise. +Wild o'er the vast impenetrable round +The untrod bowers of shadowy nature frown'd; +Millennial cedars wave their honors wide, +The fir's tall boughs, the oak's umbrageous pride, +The branching beech, the aspen's trembling shade +Veil the dim heaven, and brown the dusky glade. +For in dense crowds these sturdy sons of earth, +In frosty regions, claim a stronger birth; +Where heavy beams the sheltering dome requires, +And copious trunks to feed its wintry fires. + +But warmer suns, that southern zones emblaze, +A cool thin umbrage o'er their woodland raise; +Floridia's shores their blooms around him spread. +And Georgian hills erect their shady head; +Whose flowery shrubs regale the passing air +With all the untasted fragrance of the year. +Beneath tall trees, dispersed in loose array, +The rice-grown lawns their humble garb display; +The infant maize, unconscious of its worth, +Points the green spire and bends the foliage forth; +In various forms unbidden harvests rise, +And blooming life repays the genial skies. + +Where Mexic hills the breezy gulph defend, +Spontaneous groves with richer burdens bend. +Anana's stalk its shaggy honors yields, +Acassia's flowers perfume a thousand fields, +Their cluster'd dates the mast-like palms unfold, +The spreading orange waves a load of gold, +Connubial vines o'ertop the larch they climb, +The long-lived olive mocks the moth of time, +Pomona's pride, that old Grenada claims, +Here smiles and reddens in diviner flames; +Pimento, citron scent the sky serene, +White woolly clusters fringe the cotton's green, +The sturdy fig, the frail deciduous cane +And foodful cocoa fan the sultry plain. + +Here, in one view, the same glad branches bring +The fruits of autumn and the flowers of spring; +No wintry blasts the unchanging year deform, +Nor beasts unshelter'd fear the pinching storm; +But vernal breezes o'er the blossoms rove, +And breathe the ripen'd juices thro the grove. + +Beneath the crystal wave's inconstant light +Pearls burst their shells to greet the Hero's sight; +From opening earth in living lustre shine +The various treasures of the blazing mine; +Hills cleft before him all their stores unfold, +The pale platina and the burning gold; +Silver whole mounds, and gems of dazzling ray +Illume the rocks and shed the beams of day. + + + +Book II. + + + +Argument + + + + Natives of America appear in vision. Their manners and characters. + Columbus demands the cause of the dissimilarity of men in different + countries, Hesper replies, That the human body is composed of a due + proportion of the elements suited to the place of its first formation; + that these elements, differently proportioned, produce all the changes + of health, sickness, growth and decay; and may likewise produce any + other changes which occasion the diversity of men; that these elemental + proportions are varied, not more by climate than temperature and other + local circumstances; that the mind is likewise in a state of change, + and will take its physical character from the body and from external + objects: examples. Inquiry concerning the first peopling of America. + View of Mexico. Its destruction by Cortez. View of Cusco and Quito, + cities of Peru. Tradition of Capac and Oella, founders of the Peruvian + empire. Columbus inquires into their real history. Hesper gives an + account of their origin, and relates the stratagems they used in + establishing that empire. + + +High o'er his world as thus Columbus gazed, +And Hesper still the changing scene emblazed, +Round all the realms increasing lustre flew, +And raised new wonders to the Patriarch's view. + +He saw at once, as far as eye could rove, +Like scattering herds, the swarthy people move +In tribes innumerable; all the waste, +Wide as their walks, a varying shadow cast. +As airy shapes, beneath the moon's pale eye, +People the clouds that sail the midnight sky, +Dance thro the grove and flit along the glade, +And cast their grisly phantoms on the shade; +So move the hordes, in thickets half conceal'd, +Or vagrant stalking thro the fenceless field, +Here tribes untamed, who scorn to fix their home, +O'er shadowy streams and trackless deserts roam; +While others there in settled hamlets rest, +And corn-clad vales a happier state attest. + +The painted chiefs, in guise terrific drest, +Rise fierce to war, and beat their savage breast; +Dark round their steps collecting warriors pour, +Some fell revenge begins the hideous roar; +From hill to hill the startling war-song flies, +And tribes on tribes in dread disorder rise, +Track the mute foe and scour the howling wood, +Loud as a storm, ungovern'd as a flood; +Or deep in groves the silent ambush lay, +Lead the false flight, decoy and seize their prey, +Their captives torture, butcher and devour, +Drink the warm blood and paint their cheeks with gore. + +Awhile he paused, with dubious thoughts opprest, +And thus to Hesper's ear his doubts addrest: +Say, to what class of nature's sons belong +The countless tribes of this untutor'd throng? +Where human frames and brutal souls combine, +No force can tame them, and no arts refine. +Can these be fashion'd on the social plan, +Or boast a lineage with the race of man? +When first we found them in yon hapless isle, +They seem'd to know and seem'd to fear no guile; +A timorous herd, like harmless roes, they ran, +And call'd us Gods, from whom their tribes began. +But when, their fears allay'd, in us they trace +The well-known image of a mortal race, +When Spanish blood their wondering eyes beheld, +A frantic rage their changing bosoms swell'd; +They roused their bands from numerous hills afar, +To feast their souls on ruin, waste and war. +Nor plighted vows nor sure defeat control +The same indignant savageness of soul. + +Tell then, my Seer, from what dire sons of earth +The brutal people drew their ancient birth; +If these forgotten shores and useless tides +Have form'd them different from the world besides, +Born to subjection, when in happier time +A nobler race should reach their fruitful clime; +Or, if a common source all nations claim, +Their lineage, form and faculties the same, +What sovereign secret cause, yet undisplay'd, +This wondrous change in nature's work has made; +Why various powers of soul and tints of face +In different lands diversify the race; +To whom the Guide: Unnumbered causes lie, +In earth and sea, in climate, soil and sky, +That fire the soul, or damp the genial flame, +And work their wonders on the human frame. +See beauty, form and color change with place; +Here charms of health the lively visage grace; +There pale diseases float in every wind, +Deform the figure, and degrade the mind. + +From earth's own elements thy race at first +Rose into life, the children of the dust; +These kindred elements, by various use, +Nourish the growth and every change produce; +In each ascending stage the man sustain, +His breath, his food, his physic and his bane. +In due proportions where these atoms lie, +A certain form their equal aids supply; +And while unchanged the efficient causes reign, +Age following age the certain form maintain. +But where crude atoms disproportion'd rise, +And cast their sickening vapors round the skies, +Unlike that harmony of human frame, +That moulded first and reproduce the same, +The tribes ill form'd, attempering to the clime, +Still vary downward with the years of time; +More perfect some, and some less perfect yield +Their reproductions in this wondrous field; +Till fixt at last their characters abide, +And local likeness feeds their local pride. +The soul too, varying with the change of clime, +Feeble or fierce, or groveling or sublime, +Forms with the body to a kindred plan, +And lives the same, a nation or a man. + +Yet think not clime alone the tint controls, +On every shore, by altitude of poles; +A different cast the glowing zone demands, +In Paria's groves, from Tombut's burning sands, +Unheeded agents, for the sense too fine, +With every pulse, with every thought combine, +Thro air and ocean, with their changes run, +Breathe from the ground, or circle with the sun. +Where these long continents their shores outspread, +See the same form all different tribes pervade; +Thro all alike the fertile forests bloom, +And all, uncultured, shed a solemn gloom; +Thro all great nature's boldest features rise, +Sink into vales or tower amid the skies; +Streams darkly winding stretch a broader sway, +The groves and mountains bolder walks display; +A dread sublimity informs the whole, +And rears a dread sublimity of soul. + +Yet time and art shall other changes find, +And open still and vary still the mind. +The countless clans that tread these dank abodes, +Who glean spontaneous fruits and range the woods, +Fixt here for ages, in their swarthy face +Display the wild complexion of the place. +Yet when the hordes to happy nations rise, +And earth By culture warms the genial skies, +A fairer tint and more majestic grace +Shall flush their features and exalt the race; +While milder arts, with social joys refined, +Inspire new beauties in the growing mind. + +Thy followers too, old Europe's noblest pride, +When future gales shall wing them o'er the tide, +A ruddier hue and deeper shade shall gain, +And stalk, in statelier figures, on the plain. +While nature's grandeur lifts the eye abroad +O'er these last labors of the forming God, +Wing'd on a wider glance the venturous soul +Bids greater powers and bolder thoughts unrol; +The sage, the chief, the patriot unconfined, +Shield the weak world and meliorate mankind. +But think not thou, in all the range of man, +That different pairs each different cast began; +Or tribes distinct, by signal marks confest, +Were born to serve or subjugate the rest. + +The Hero heard, and thus resumed the strain: +Who led these wanderers o'er the dreary main? +Could their weak sires, unskill'd in human lore, +Build the bold bark, to seek an unknown shore? +A shore so distant from the world beside, +So dark the tempests, and so wild the tide, +That Greece and Tyre, and all who tempt the sea, +Have shunn'd the task, and left the fame to me. + +When first thy roving race, the Power replied, +Learn'd by the stars the devious sail to guide, +From stormy Hellespont explored the way, +And sought the limits of the Midland sea; +Before Alcides form'd his impious plan +To check the sail, and bound the steps of man, +This hand had led them to this rich abode, +And braved the wrath of that strong demigod. + +Driven from the Calpian strait, a hapless train +Roll'd on the waves that sweep the western main; +Storms from the orient bhcken'd heaven with shade, +Nor sun nor stars could yield their wonted aid. +For many a darksome day o'erwhelm'd and tost, +Their sails, their oars in swallowing surges lost, +At length, the clouds withdrawn, they sad descry +Their course directing from their native sky. +No hope remains; far onward o'er the zone +The trade wind bears them with the circling sun; +Till wreck'd and stranded here, the sylvan coast +Receives to lonely seats the suffering host. +The fruitful vales invite their steps to roam, +Renounce their sorrows and forget their home; +Revolving years their ceaseless wanderings led, +And from their sons descending nations spread. + +These in the torrid tracts began their sway, +Whose cultured fields their growing arts display; +The northern tribes a later stock may boast, +A race descended from the Asian coast. +High in the Arctic, where Anadir glides, +A narrow strait the impinging worlds divides; +There Tartar fugitives from famine sail, +And migrant tribes these fruitful shorelands hail. + +He spoke; when Behren's pass before them lay, +And moving nations on the margin stray, +Thick swarming, venturous; sail and oar they ply, +Climb on the surge and o'er the billows fly. +As when autumnal storms awake their force. +The storks foreboding tempt their southern course; +From all the fields collecting throngs arise, +Mount on the wing and crowd along the skies: +Thus, to his eye, from bleak Tartaria's shore, +Thro isles and seas, the gathering people pour, +Change their cold regions for a happier strand, +Leap from the wave and tread the welcome land; +In growing tribes extend their southern sway, +And wander wide beneath a warmer day. + +But why, the Chief replied, if ages past +Led the bold vagrants to so mild a waste; +If human souls, for social compact given, +Inform their nature with the stamp of heaven. +Why the wild woods for ever must they rove, +Nor arts nor social joys their passions move? +Long is the lapse of ages, since thy hand +Conducted here thy first adventurous band. +On other shores, in every eastern clime, +Since that unletter'd, distant tract of time, +What arts have sprung, imperial powers to grace! +What sceptres sway'd the many-master'd race! +Guilt, grandeur, glory from their seats been hurl'd, +And dire divulsions shook the changing world! + +Ere Rome's first Eagle clave the frighted air, +Ere Sparta form'd her deathlike sons of war, +Ere Tyre and Ilion saw their towers arise, +Or Memphian pyramids usurp'd the skies, +These tribes have forester'd the fruitful zone, +Their seats unsettled, and their name unknown. + +Hesper to this replied: A scanty train, +In that far age, approach'd the wide domain; +The wide domain, with game and fruitage crown'd, +Supplied their food uncultured from the ground. +By nature form'd to rove, the humankind, +Of freedom fond, will ramble unconfined, +Till all the region fills, and rival right +Restrains their steps, and bids their force unite; +When common safety builds a common cause, +Conforms their interest and inspires their laws; +By mutual checks their different manners blend, +Their fields bloom joyous, and their walls ascend. +Here to the vagrant tribes no bounds arose, +They form'd no union, as they fear'd no foes; +Wandering and wild, from sire to son they stray, +A thousand ages, scorning every sway. +And what a world their seatless nations led! +A total hemisphere around them spread; +See the lands lengthen, see the rivers roll, +To each far main, to each extended pole! + +But lo, at last the destined course is run, +The realms are peopled and their arts begun. +Where yon mid region elevated lies, +A few famed cities glitter to the skies; +There move, in eastern pomp, the toils of state, +And temples heave, magnificently great. + +The Hero turn'd to greet the novel sight; +When three far splendors, yet confusedly bright, +Rose like a constellation; till more near, +Distinctly mark'd their different sites appear; +Diverging still, beneath their roofs of gold, +Three cities gay their mural towers unfold. +So, led by visions of his guiding God, +The seer of Patmos o'er the welkin trod, +Saw the new heaven its flamy cope unbend, +And walls and gates and spiry domes descend; +His well known sacred city grows, and gains +Her new built towers, her renovated fanes; +With golden skies and suns and rainbows crown'd, +Jerusalem looks forth and lights the world around. + +Bright on the north imperial Mexic rose; +A mimic morn her sparkling vanes disclose, +Her opening streets concentred hues display, +Give back the sun, and shed internal day; +The circling wall with guardian turrets frown'd, +And look'd defiance to the realms around; +A glimmering lake without the wall retires, +Inverts the towers, and seems a grove of spires. + +Proud o'er the midst, on columns lifted high, +A giant structure claims a loftier sky; +O'er the tall gates sublimer arches bend, +Courts larger lengthen, bolder walks ascend, +Starr'd with superior gems the porches shine, +And speak the royal residence writhin. +There, deck'd in state robes, on his golden throne, +Mid suppliant kings, dread Montezuma shone; +Mild in his eye a temper'd grandeur sate, +High seem'd his soul, with conscious power elate; +In aspect open, social and serene, +Enclosed by favorites, and of friends unseen. + +Round the rich throne, in various lustre dight, +Gems undistinguished cast a changing light; +Sapphire and emerald soften down the scene, +Cold azure mingling with the vernal green, +Pearl, amber, ruby warmer flames unfold, +And diamonds brighten from the burning gold; +Thro all the dome the living blazes blend, +And shoot their rainbows where the arches bend. +On every ceiling, painted light and gay, +Symbolic forms their graphic art display; +Recording, confident of endless fame, +Each feat of arms, each patriarchal name; +Like Memphian hieroglyphs, to stretch the span +Of memory frail in momentary man. + +Pour'd thro the gates a hundred nations greet, +Throng the rich mart and line each ample street, +Ply different labors, walls and structures rear, +Or till the fields, or train the ranks of war. +Thro spreading states the skirts of empire bend, +New temples rise and other plains extend; +Thrice ten wide provinces, in culture gay, +Bless the same king, and daily firm the sway. + +A smile benignant kindling in his eyes, +O happy realm! the glad Columbus cries, +Far in the midland, safe from every foe, +Thy arts shall flourish as thy virtues grow, +To endless years thy rising fame extend, +And sires of nations from thy sons descend. +May no gold-thirsty race thy temples tread, +Insult thy rites, nor heap thy plains with dead; +No Bovadilla seize the tempting spoil, +No dark Ovando, no religious Boyle, +In mimic priesthood grave, or robed in state, +Overwhelm thy glories in oblivious fate! + +Vain are thy hopes, the sainted Power replied, +These rich abodes from Spanish hordes to hide, +Or teach hard guilt and cruelty to spare +The guardless prize of sacrilegious war. +Think not the vulture, mid the field of slain, +Where base and brave promiscuous strow the plain, +Where the young hero in the pride of charms +Pours brighter crimson o'er his spotless arms, +Will pass the tempting prey, and glut his rage +On harder flesh, and carnage black with age; +O'er all alike he darts his eager eye, +Whets the blunt beak and hovers down the sky, +From countless corses picks the dainty food, +And screams and fattens in the purest blood. +So the vile hosts, that hither trace thy way, +On happiest tribes with fiercest fury prey. +Thine the dread task, O Cortez, here to show +What unknown crimes can heighten human woe, +On these fair fields the blood of realms to pour, +Tread sceptres down, and print thy steps in gore, +With gold and carnage swell thy sateless mind, +And live and die the blackest of mankind. + +He gains the shore. Behold his fortress rise, +His fleet high flaming suffocates the skies. +The march begins; the nations in affright +Quake as he moves, and wage the fruitless fight; +Thro the rich provinces he bends his way, +Kings in his chain, and kingdoms for his prey; +Full on the imperial town infuriate falls, +And pours destruction o'er its batter'd walls. + +In quest of peace great Montezuma stands, +A sovereign supplicant with lifted hands, +Brings all his treasure, yields the regal sway, +Bids vassal millions their new lord obey; +And plies the victor with incessant prayer, +Thro ravaged realms the harmless race to spare. +But treasures, tears and sceptres plead in vain, +Nor threats can move him, nor a world restrain; +While blind religion's prostituted name +And monkish fury guide the sacred flame. +O'er crowded fanes their fires unhallow'd bend, +Climb the wide roofs, the lofty towers ascend, +Pour thro the lowering skies the smoky flood, +And stain the fields, and quench the blaze in blood. + +Columbus heard; and, with a heaving sigh, +Dropt the full tear that started in his eye: +O hapless day! his trembling voice replied, +That saw my wandering pennon mount the tide. +Had but the lamp of heaven to that bold sail +Ne'er mark'd the passage nor awoke the gale, +Taught foreign prows these peopled shores to find, +Nor led those tigers forth to fang mankind; +Then had the tribes beneath these bounteous skies +Seen their walls widen and their harvests rise; +Down the long tracts of time their glory shone, +Broad as the day and lasting as the sun. +The growing realms, behind thy shield that rest, +Paternal monarch, still thy power had blest, +Enjoy'd the pleasures that surround thy throne, +Survey'd thy virtues and improved their own. + +Forgive me, prince; this luckless arm hath led +The storm unseen that hovers o'er thy head; +Taught the dark sons of slaughter where to roam, +To seize thy crown and seal the nation's doom. +Arm, sleeping empire, meet the murderous band, +Drive back the invaders, save the sinking land.-- +But vain the call! behold the streaming blood! +Forgive me, Nature! and forgive me, God! + +While sorrows thus his patriarch pride control, +Hesper reproving sooths his tender soul: +Father of this new world, thy tears give o'er, +Let virtue grieve and heaven be blamed no more. +Enough for man, with persevering mind, +To act his part and strive to bless his kind; +Enough for thee, o'er thy dark age to soar, +And raise to light that long-secluded shore. +For this my guardian care thy youth inspired, +To virtue rear'd thee, and with glory fired, +Bade in thy plan each distant world unite, +And wing'd thy vessel for the venturous flight. + +Nor think the labors vain; to good they tend; +Tyrants like these shall ne'er defeat their end; +Their end that opens far beyond the scope +Of man's past efforts and his present hope. +Long has thy race, to narrow shores confined, +Trod the same round that fetter'd fast the mind; +Now, borne on bolder plumes, with happier flight, +The world's broad bounds unfolding to the sight, +The mind shall soar; the coming age expand +Their arts and lore to every barbarous land; +And buried gold, drawn copious from the mine, +Give wings to commerce and the world refine. + +Now to yon southern cities turn thy view, +And mark the rival seats of rich Peru. +See Quito's airy plains, exalted high, +With loftier temples rise along the sky; +And elder Cusco's shining roofs unfold, +Flame on the day, and shed their suns of gold. +Another range, in these pacific climes, +Spreads a broad theatre for unborn crimes; +Another Cortez shall their treasures view, +His rage rekindle and his guilt renew; +His treason, fraud, and every fell design, +O curst Pizarro, shall revive in thine. + +Here reigns a prince, whose heritage proclaims +A long bright lineage of imperial names; +Where the brave roll of Incas love to trace +The distant father of their realm and race, +Immortal Capac. He, in youthful pride, +With young Oella his illustrious bride, +Announced their birth divine; a race begun +From heaven, the children of their God the Sun; +By him sent forth a polish'd state to frame, +Crush the fiend Gods that human victims claim, +With cheerful rites their pure devotions pay +To the bright orb that gives the changing day. + +On this great plan, as children of the skies, +They plied their arts and saw their hamlets rise. +First of their works, and sacred to their fame. +Yon proud metropolis received its name, +Cusco the seat of states, in peace design'd +To reach o'er earth, and civilize mankind. +Succeeding sovereigns spread their limits far, +Tamed every tribe, and sooth'd the rage of war; +Till Quito bow'd; and all the heliac zone +Felt the same sceptre, and confirm'd the throne. + +Near Cusco's walls, where still their hallow'd isle +Bathes in its lake and wears its verdant smile, +Where these prime parents of the sceptred line +Their advent made, and spoke their birth divine, +Behold their temple stand; its glittering spires +Light the glad waves and aid their father's fires. +Arch'd in the walls of gold, its portal gleams +With various gems of intermingling beams; +And flaming from the front, with borrow'd ray, +A diamond circlet gives the rival day; +In whose bright face forever looks abroad +The labor'd image of the radiant God. +There dwells the royal priest, whose inner shrine +Conceals his lore; tis there his voice divine +Proclaims the laws; and there a cloister'd quire +Of holy virgins keep the sacred fire. + +Columbus heard; and curious to be taught +What pious fraud such wondrous changes wrought, +Ask'd by what mystic charm, in that dark age, +They quell'd in savage souls the barbarous rage, +By leagues of peace combined a wide domain, +And taught the virtues in their laws to reign. + +Long is the tale; but tho their labors rest +By years obscured, in flowery fiction drest, +My voice, said Hesper, shall revive their name, +And give their merits to immortal fame. +Led by his father's wars, in early prime +Young Capac left his native northern clime; +The clime where Quito since hath rear'd her fanes, +And now no more her barbarous rites maintains. +He saw these vales in richer blooms array'd, +And tribes more numerous haunt the woodland shade, +Saw rival clans their local Gods adore, +Their altars staining with their children's gore, +Yet mark'd their reverence for the Sun, whose beam +Proclaims his bounties and his power supreme; +Who sails in happier skies, diffusing good, +Demands no victim and receives no blood. + +In peace return'd with his victorious sire, +New charms of glory all his soul inspire; +To conquer nations on a different plan, +And build his greatness on the good of man. + +By nature form'd for hardiest deeds of fame, +Tall, bold and full-proportion'd rose his frame; +Strong moved his limbs, a mild majestic grace +Beam'd from his eyes and open'd in his face; +O'er the dark world his mind superior shone, +And seem'd the semblance of his parent Sun. +But tho fame's airy visions lift his eyes, +And future empires from his labors rise; +Yet softer fires his daring views control, +And mixt emotions fill his changing soul. +Shall genius rare, that might the world improve, +Bend to the milder voice of careless love, +That bounds his glories, and forbids to part +From bowers that woo'd his fluctuating heart? +Or shall the toils imperial heroes claim +Fire his brave bosom with a patriot flame, +Bid sceptres wait him on Peruvia's shore, +And loved Oella meet his eyes no more? + +Still unresolved he sought the lonely maid, +Who plied her labors in the silvan shade; +Her locks loose rolling mantle deep her breast, +And wave luxuriant round her slender waist, +Gay wreaths of flowers her pensive brows adorn, +And her white raiment mocks the light of morn. +Her busy hand sustains a bending bough, +Where cotton clusters spread their robes of snow, +From opening pods unbinds the fleecy store, +And culls her labors for the evening bower. + +For she, the first in all Hesperia, fed +The turning spindle with the twisting thread; +The woof, the shuttle follow'd her command, +Till various garments grew beneath her hand. +And now, while all her thoughts with Capac rove +Thro former scenes of innocence and love, +In distant fight his fancied dangers share, +Or wait him glorious from the finish'd war; +Blest with the ardent hope, her sprightly mind +A vesture white had for the prince design'd; +And here she seeks the wool to web the fleece, +The sacred emblem of returning peace. + +Sudden his near approach the maid alarms; +He flew enraptured to her yielding arms, +And lost, dissolving in a softer flame, +His distant empire and the fire of fame. +At length, retiring thro the homeward field, +Their glowing souls to cooler converse yield; +O'er various scenes of blissful life they ran, +When thus the warrior to the maid began: + +Long have we mark'd the inauspicious reign +That waits our sceptre in this rough domain; +A soil ungrateful and a wayward race, +Their game but scanty, and confined their space. +Where late my steps the southern war pursued, +The fertile plains grew boundless as I view'd; +More numerous nations trod the grassy wild, +And joyous nature more delightful smiled. +No changing seasons there the flowers deform, +No dread volcano and no mountain storm; +Rains ne'er invade, nor livid lightnings play, +Nor clouds obscure the radiant King of day. +But while his orb, in ceaseless glory bright, +Rolls the rich day and fires his stars by night, +Unbounded fulness flows beneath his reign, +Seas yield their treasures, fruits adorn the plain; +His melting mountains spread their annual flood, +Night sheds her dews, the day-breeze fans the God. +Tis he inspires me with the vast design +To form those nations to a sway divine; +Destroy the rites of every demon Power, +Whose altars smoke with sacrilegious gore; +To laws and labor teach the tribes to yield, +And richer fruits to grace the cultured field. + +But great, my charmer, is the task of fame, +Their faith to fashion and their lives to tame; +Full many a spacious wild these eyes must see +Spread dreary bounds between my love and me; +And yon bright Godhead circle thrice the year, +Each lonely evening number'd with a tear. +Long robes of white my shoulders must embrace, +To speak my lineage of ethereal race; +That simple men may reverence and obey +The radiant offspring of the Power of day. + +When these my deeds the faith of nations gain, +And happy millions bless thy Capac's reign, +Then shall he feign a journey to the Sun, +To bring the partner of his well-earn'd throne; +So shall descending kings the line sustain, +Till earth's whole regions join the vast domain. + +Will then my fair, at my returning hour, +Forsake these wilds and hail a happier bower? +Will she consenting now resume her smiles, +Send forth her warrior to his glorious toils; +And, sweetly patient, wait the flight of days, +That crown our labors with immortal praise? + +Silent the damsel heard; her moistening eye +Spoke the full soul, nor could her voice reply; +Till softer accents sooth'd her wounded ear, +Composed her tumult and allay'd her fear: +Think not, heroic maid, my steps would part +While silent sorrows heave that tender heart. +Oella's peace more dear shall prove to me +Than all the realms that bound the raging sea; +Nor thou, bright Sun, shalt bribe my soul to rest, +And leave one struggle in her lovely breast. + +Yet think in tribes so vast, my gentle fair, +What millions merit our instructive care; +How age to age leads on their joyless gloom, +Habitual slaughter their poor piteous doom; +No social ties their wayward passions prove, +Nor peace nor pleasure treads the howling grove; +Mid thousand heroes and a thousand fair +No fond Oella meets her Capac there. +Yet, taught by thee domestic joys to prize, +With softer charms the virgin race shall rise, +Awake new virtues, every grace improve, +And form their minds for happiness and love. + +Ah think, as future years thro time descend, +What wide creations on thy voice depend; +And, like the Sun, whose all-delighting ray +To those mild regions gives his purest day, +Diffuse thy bounties, let me instant fly; +In three short moons the generous task I'll try; +Then swift returning, I'll conduct my fair +Where realms submissive wait her fostering care. + +And will my prince, my Capac, borne away, +Thro those dark wilds in quest of empire stray, +Where tigers fierce command the shuddering wood, +And men like tigers thirst for human blood? +Think'st thou no dangerous deed the course attends, +Alone, unaided by thy sire and friends? +Even chains and death may meet my hero there, +Nor his last groan could reach Oella's ear. + +But no! nor death nor chains shall Capac prove +Unknown to her, while she has power to rove. +Close by thy side, where'er thy wanderings stray, +My equal steps shall measure all the way; +With borrow'd soul each chance of fate I'll dare, +Thy toils to lessen and thy dangers share. +Quick shall my ready hand two garments weave, +Whose sunny whiteness shall the tribes deceive; +Thus clad, their homage shall secure our sway. +And hail us children of the God of day. + +The lovely counsel pleased. The smiling chief +Approved her courage and dispell'd her grief; +Then to their homely bower in haste they move. +Begin their labors and prepare to rove. +Soon grow the robes beneath her forming care, +And the fond parents wed the wondrous pair; +But whelm'd in grief beheld the following dawn, +Their joys all vanish'd and their children gone. +Nine days they march'd; the tenth effulgent morn +Saw their white forms that sacred isle adorn. +The work begins; they preach to every band +The well-form'd fiction, and their faith demand; +With various miracles their powers display, +To prove their lineage and confirm their sway. +They form to different arts the hand of toil, +To whirl the spindle and to spade the soil, +The Sun's bright march with pious finger trace, +And his pale sister with her changing face; +Show how their bounties clothe the labor'd plain, +The green maize shooting from its golden grain, +How the white cotton tree's expanding lobes +File into threads, and swell to fleecy robes; +While the tamed Llama aids the wondrous plan, +And lends his garment to the loins of man. + +The astonish'd tribes believe, with glad surprise, +The Gods descended from the favoring skies, +Adore their persons robed in shining white. +Receive their laws and leave each horrid rite, +Build with assisting hands the golden throne, +And hail and bless the sceptre of the Sun. + + + +Book III. + + + +Argument. + + + + Actions of the Inca Capac. A general invasion of his dominions + threatened by the mountain savages. Rocha, the Inca's son, sent with a + few companions to offer terms of peace. His embassy. His adventure with + the worshippers of the volcano. With those of the storm, on the Andes. + Falls in with the savage armies. Character and speech of Zamor, their + chief. Capture of Rocha and his companions. Sacrifice of the latter. + Death song of Azonto. War dance. March of the savage armies down the + mountains to Peru. Incan army meets them. Battle joins. Peruvians + terrified by an eclipse of the sun, and routed. They fly to Cusco. + Grief of Oella, supposing the darkness to be occasioned by the death of + Rocha. Sun appears. Peruvians from the city wall discover Roch + an altar in the savage camp. They march in haste out of the city and + engage the savages. Exploits of Capac. Death of Zamor. Recovery of + Rocha, and submission of the enemy. + + +Now twenty years these children of the skies +Beheld their gradual growing empire rise. +They ruled with rigid but with generous care, +Diffused their arts and sooth'd the rage of war, +Bade yon tall temple grace their favorite isle, +The mines unfold, the cultured valleys smile, +Those broad foundations bend their arches high, +And rear imperial Cusco to the sky; +Wealth, wisdom, force consolidate the reign +From the rude Andes to the western main. + +But frequent inroads from the savage bands +Lead fire and slaughter o'er the labor'd lands; +They sack the temples, the gay fields deface, +And vow destruction to the Incan race. +The king, undaunted in defensive war, +Repels their hordes, and speeds their flight afar; +Stung with defeat, they range a wider wood, +And rouse fresh tribes for future fields of blood. + +Where yon blue ridges hang their cliffs on high, +And suns infulminate the stormful sky, +The nations, temper'd to the turbid air, +Breathe deadly strife, and sigh for battle's blare; +Tis here they meditate, with one vast blow, +To crush the race that rules the plains below. +Capac with caution views the dark design, +Learns from all points what hostile myriads join. +And seeks in time by proffer'd leagues to gain +A bloodless victory, and enlarge his reign. + +His eldest hope, young Rocha, at his call, +Resigns his charge within the temple wall; +In whom began, with reverend forms of awe, +The functions grave of priesthood and of law, + +In early youth, ere yet the ripening sun +Had three short lustres o'er his childhood run, +The prince had learnt, beneath his father's hand, +The well-framed code that sway'd the sacred land; +With rites mysterious served the Power divine, +Prepared the altar and adorn'd the shrine, +Responsive hail'd, with still returning praise, +Each circling season that the God displays, +Sooth'd with funereal hymns the parting dead, +At nuptial feasts the joyful chorus led; +While evening incense and the morning song +Rose from his hand or trembled on his tongue. + +Thus form'd for empire ere he gain'd the sway, +To rule with reverence and with power obey, +Reflect the glories of the parent Sun, +And shine the Capac of his future throne, +Employed his docile years; till now from far +The rumor'd leagues proclaim approaching war; +Matured for active scenes he quits the shrine, +To aid in council or in arms to shine. + +Amid the chieftains that the court compose, +In modest mien the stripling pontiff rose, +With reverence bow'd, conspicuous o'er the rest, +Approach'd the throne, and thus the sire addrest: +Great king of nations, heaven-descended sage, +Thy second heir has reach'd the destined age +To take these priestly robes; to his pure hand +I yield them pure, and wait thy kind command. +Should foes invade, permit this arm to share +The toils, the triumphs, every chance of war; +For this dread conflict all our force demands, +In one wide field to whelm the brutal bands, +Pour to the mountain gods their wonted food, +And save thy realms from future leagues of blood. +Yet oh, may sovereign mercy first ordain +Propounded compact to the savage train! +I'll go with terms of peace to spread thy sway, +And teach the blessings of the God of day. + +The sire return'd: My great desire you know, +To shield from slaughter and preserve the foe, +In bands of concord all their tribes to bind, +And live the friend and guardian of mankind. +Should strife begin, thy youthful arm shall share +The toils of glory thro the walks of war; +But o'er their hills to seek alone the foes, +To gain their confidence or brave their blows, +Bend their proud souls to reason's voice divine, +Claims hardier limbs and riper years than thine. +Yet one of heavenly race the task requires, +Whose mystic rites control the solar fires; +So the sooth'd Godhead proves to faithless eyes +His love to man, his empire of the skies. + +Some veteran chief, in those rough labors tried, +Shall aid thee on, and go thy faithful guide; +O'er dreary heights thy sinking limbs sustain. +Teach the dark wiles of each insidious train, +Thro all extremes of life thy voice attend, +In counsel lead thee, or in arms defend. +And three firm youths, thy chosen friends, shall go +To learn the climes and meditate the foe; +That wars of future years their skill may find, +To serve the realm and save the savage kind. + +Rise then, my son, first partner of my fame, +With early toils to build thy sacred name; +In high behest, for his own legate known, +Proclaim the bounties of our sire the Sun. +Tell how his fruits beneath our culture rise, +His stars, how glorious, gem our cloudless skies; +And how to us his hand hath kindly given +His peaceful laws, the purest grace of heaven, +With power to widen his terrestrial sway, +And give our blessings where he gives the day. +Yet, should the stubborn nations still prepare +The shaft of slaughter for the barbarous war, +Tell them we know to tread the crimson plain, +And God's own children never yield to man. + +But ah, my child, with steps of caution go, +The ways are hideous, and enraged the foe; +Blood stains their altars, all their feasts are blood, +Death their delight, and darkness reigns their God; +Tigers and vultures, storms and earthquakes share +Their rites of worship and their spoils of war. +Shouldst thou, my Rocha, tempt too far their ire, +Should those dear relics feed a murderous fire, +Deep sighs would rend thy wretched mother's breast, +The pale Sun sink in clouds of darkness drest, +Thy sire and mournful nations rue the day +That drew thy steps from these sad walls away. + +Yet go; tis virtue calls; and realms unknown, +Won by these works, may bless thy future throne; +Millions of unborn souls in time may see +Their doom reversed, and owe their peace to thee, +Deluded sires, with murdering hands, no more +Feed fancied demons with their children's gore, +But, sway'd by happier sceptres, here behold +The rites of freedom and the shrines of gold. +Be wise, be mindful of thy realm and throne; +God speed thy labors and preserve my son! + +Soon the glad prince, in robes of white array'd, +Call'd his attendants and the sire obey'd. +A diamond broad, in burning gold imprest, +Display'd the sun's bright image on his breast; +A pearl-dropt girdle bound his waist below, +And the white lautu graced his lofty brow. +They journey'd forth, o'ermarching far the mound +That flank'd the kingdom on its Andean bound; +Ridge after ridge thro vagrant hordes they past, +Where each new tribe seem'd wilder than the last; +To all they preach and prove the solar sway, +And climb fresh mountains on their tedious way. + +At length, as thro disparting clouds they rise, +And hills above them still obstruct the skies, +While a dead calm o'er all the region stood? +And not a leaf could fan its parent wood, +Sudden a strange portentous noise began; +The birds fled wild, the beasts for shelter ran; +Slow, sullen, loud, with deep astounding blare, +Swell the strong tones of subterranean war; +Behind, before, beneath them groans the ground, +Earth heaves and labors with the shuddering sound; +Columns of smoke, that cap the rumbling height, +Roll reddening far thro heaven, and choke the light; +From tottering steeps descend their cliffs of snow, +The mountains reel, the valleys rend below; +The headlong streams forget their usual round, +And shrink and vanish in the gaping ground. +The sun descends; but night recals in vain +Her silent shades, to recommence her reign; +The bursting mount gapes high, a sudden glare +Coruscates wide, till all the purpling air +Breaks into flame, and wheels and roars and raves +And wraps the welkin in its folding waves; +Light sailing cinders, thro its vortex driven, +Stream high and brighten to the midst of heaven; +And, following slow, full floods of boiling ore +Swell, swoop aloft and thro the concave roar. +Torrents of molten rocks, on every side, +Lead o'er the shelves of ice their fiery tide; +Hills slide before them, skies around them burn, +Towns sink beneath and heaving plains upturn; +O'er many a league the flaming deluge hurl'd, +Sweeps total nations from the staggering world. + +Meanwhile, at distance thro the livid light, +A busy concourse met their wondering sight; +The prince drew near; where lo! an altar stood, +Rude in its form, and fill'd with burning wood; +Wrapt in the flames a youth expiring lay, +And the fond father thus was heard to pray: +Receive, O dreadful Power, from feeble age, +This last pure offering to thy sateless rage; +Thrice has thy vengeance on this hated land +Claim'd a dear infant from my yielding hand; +Thrice have those lovely lips the victim prest, +And all the mother torn that tender breast; +When the dread duty stifled every sigh, +And not a tear escaped her beauteous eye. +Our fourth and last now meets the fatal doom; +Groan not, my child, thy God remands thee home; +Attend once more, thou dark infernal Name, +From yon far streaming pyramid of flame; +Snatch from his heaving flesh the blasted breath. +Sacred to thee and all the fiends of death; +Then in thy hall, with spoils of nations crown'd, +Confine thy walks beneath the rending ground; +No more on earth the embowel'd flames to pour, +And scourge my people and my race no more. + +Thus Rocha heard; and to the trembling crowd +Turn'd the bright image of his beaming God. +The afflicted chief, with fear and grief opprest, +Beheld the sign, and thus the prince addrest: +From what far land, O royal stranger, say, +Ascend thy wandering steps this nightly way? +From plains like ours, by holy demons fired? +Have thy brave people in the flames expired? +And hast thou now, to stay the whelming flood, +No son to offer to the furious God? + +From happier lands I came, the prince returns, +Where no red flaming flood the concave burns, +No furious God bestorms our soil and skies, +Nor yield our hands the bloody sacrifice; +But life and joy the Power delights to give, +And bids his children but rejoice and live. +Thou seest thro heaven the day-dispensing Sun +In living radiance wheel his golden throne, +O'er earth's gay surface send his genial beams, +Force from yon cliffs of ice the vernal streams; +While fruits and flowers adorn the cultured field, +And seas and lakes their copious treasures yield; +He reigns our only God. In him we trace +The friend, the father of our happy race. +Late the lone tribes, on those unlabor'd shores, +Ran wild and served imaginary Powers; +Till he, in pity, taught their feuds to cease, +Devised their laws, and fashion'd all for peace. +My sacred parents first the reign began, +Sent from his courts to guide the paths of man, +To plant his fruits, to manifest his sway, +And give their blessings where he gives the day. + +The sachem proud replied: Thy garb and face +Proclaim thy lineage of superior race; +And our progenitors, no less than thine, +Sprang from a God, and own a birth divine. +From that sky-scorching mount, on floods of flame, +In elder times my great forefathers came; +There dwells the Sire, and from his dark abode +Oft claims, as now, the tribute of a God. +This victim due when willing mortals pay, +His terrors lessen and his fires decay; +While purer sleet regales the mountain air, +And our glad hosts are fired for fiercer war. + +Yet know, dread chief, the pious youth rejoin'd, +Some one prime Power produced all human kind: +Some Sire supreme, whose ever-ruling soul +Creates, preserves, and regulates the whole. +That Sire supreme must roll his radiant eye +Round the wide earth and thro the boundless sky; +That all their habitants, their gods and men, +May rise unveil'd beneath his careful ken. +Could thy dark fiend, that hides his blind abode, +And cauldrons in his cave that fiery flood, +Yield the rich fruits that distant nations find? +Or praise or punish or behold mankind? +But when my God, resurging from the night, +Shall gild his chambers with the morning light, +By mystic rites he'll vindicate his throne, +And own thy servant for his duteous son. + +Meantime, the chief replied, thy cares releast, +Rest here the night and share our scanty feast; +Which, driven in hasty rout, our train supplied, +When trembling earth foretold the boiling tide. +They fared, they rested; till with lucid horn +All-cheering Phosphor led the lively morn; +The prince arose, an altar rear'd in haste, +And watch'd the splendors of the reddening east. + +As o'er the mountain flamed the sun's broad eye, +He call'd the host, his holy rites to try; +Then took the loaves of maize, the bounties brake, +Gave to the chief, and bade them all partake; +The hallow'd relics on the pile he placed, +With tufts of flowers the simple offering graced, +Held to the sun the image from his breast, +Whose glowing concave all the God exprest; +O'er the dried leaves the rays concentred fly, +And thus his voice ascends the listening sky: +O thou, whose splendors kindle heaven with fire. +Great Soul of nature, man's immortal Sire, +If e'er my father found thy sovereign grace, +Or thy blest will ordain'd the Incan race, +Give these lorn tribes to learn thy awful name, +Receive this offering, and the pile inflame; +So shall thy laws o'er wider bounds be known, +And earth's whole race be happy as thy own. + +Thus pray'd the prince; the focal flames aspire, +The mute beholders tremble and retire, +Gaze on the miracle, full credence own, +And vow obedience to the sacred Sun. + +The legates now their farther course descried, +A young cazique attending as a guide, +O'er craggy cliffs pursued their eastern way, +Trod loftier champaigns, meeting high the day, +Saw timorous tribes, in these sublime abodes, +Adore the blasts and turn the storms to gods; +While every cloud that thunders thro the skies +Claims from their hands a human sacrifice. +Awhile the youth, their better faith to gain, +Strives with his usual art, but strives in vain; +In vain he pleads the mildness of the sun; +A gale refutes him ere his speech be done; +Continual tempests from their orient blow, +And load the mountains with eternal snow. +The sun's own beam, the timid clans declare, +Drives all their evils on the tortured air; +He draws the vapors up their eastern sky, +That sail and centre round his dazzling eye; +Leads the loud storms along his midday course, +And bids the Andes meet their sweeping force; +Builds their bleak summits with an icy throne, +To shine thro heaven, a semblance of his own; +Hence the sharp sleet, these lifted lawns that wait, +And all the scourges that attend their state. + +Two toilsome days the virtuous Inca strove +To social life their savage minds to move; +When the third morning glow'd serenely bright, +He led their elders to an eastern height; +The world unlimited beneath them lay, +And not a cloud obscured the rising day. +Vast Amazonia, starr'd with twinkling streams, +In azure drest, a heaven inverted seems; +Dim Paraguay extends the aching sight, +Xaraya glimmers like the moon of night, +Land, water, sky in blending borders play, +And smile and brighten to the lamp of day. +When thus the prince: What majesty divine! +What robes of gold! what flames about him shine! +There walks the God! his starry sons on high +Draw their dim veil and shrink behind the sky; +Earth with surrounding nature's born anew, +And men by millions greet the glorious view! +Who can behold his all-delighting soul +Give life and joy, and heaven and earth control, +Bid death and darkness from his presence move, +Who can behold, and not adore and love? +Those plains, immensely circling, feel his beams, +He greens the groves, he silvers gay the streams, +Swells the wild fruitage, gives the beast his food, +And mute creation hails the genial God. +But richer boons his righteous laws impart, +To aid the life and mould the social heart, +His arts of peace thro happy realms to spread, +And altars grace with sacrificial bread; +Such our distinguish'd lot, who own his sway, +Mild as his morning stars and liberal as the day. + +His unknown laws, the mountain chief replied, +May serve perchance your boasted race to guide; +And yon low plains, that drink his partial ray, +At his glad shrine their just devotions pay. +But we nor fear his frown nor trust his smile; +Vain as our prayers is every anxious toil; +Our beasts are buried in his whirls of snow, +Our cabins drifted to his slaves below. +Even now his placid looks thy hopes beguile, +He lures thy raptures with a morning smile; +But soon (for so those saffron robes proclaim) +His own black tempest shall obstruct his flame, +Storm, thunder, fire, against the mountains driven, +Rake deep their sulphur'd sides, disgorging here his +heaven. + +He spoke; they waited, till the fervid ray +High from the noontide shot the faithless day; +When lo, far gathering under eastern skies, +Solemn and slow, the dark red vapors rise; +Full clouds, convolving on the turbid air, +Move like an ocean to the watery war. +The host, securely raised, no dangers harm, +They sit unclouded and o'erlook the storm; +While far beneath, the sky-borne waters ride, +Veil the dark deep and sheet the mountain's side; +The lightning's glancing fires, in fury curl'd, +Bend their long forky foldings o'er the world; +Torrents and broken crags and floods of rain +From steep to steep roll down their force amain, +In dreadful cataracts; the bolts confound +The tumbling clouds, and rock the solid ground. + +The blasts unburden'd take their upward course, +And o'er the mountain top resume their force. +Swift thro the long white ridges from the north +The rapid whirlwinds lead their terrors forth; +High walks the storm, the circling surges rise, +And wild gyrations wheel the hovering skies; +Vast hills of snow, in sweeping columns driven, +Deluge the air and choke the void of heaven; +Floods burst their bounds, the rocks forget their place, +And the firm Andes tremble to their base. + +Long gazed the host; when thus the stubborn chief, +With eyes on fire, and fill'd with sullen grief: +Behold thy careless god, secure on high, +Laughs at our woes and peaceful walks the sky, +Drives all his evils on these seats sublime, +And wafts his favors to a happier clime; +Sire of the dastard race thy words disclose, +There glads his children, here afflicts his foes. +Hence! speed thy flight! pursue him where he leads; +Lest vengeance seize thee for thy father's deeds, +Thy immolated limbs assuage the fire +Of those curst Powers, who now a gift require. + +The youth in haste collects his scanty train, +And, with the sun, flies o'er the western plain; +The fading orb with plaintive voice he plies, +To guide his steps and light him down the skies. +So when the moon and all the host of even +Hang pale and trembling on the verge of heaven, +While storms ascending threat their nightly reign, +They seek their absent sire, and sink below the main. + +Now to the south he turns; where one vast plain +Calls from a hundred hordes the warrior train; +Of various dress and various form they show'd; +Each wore the ensign of his local god. + +From eastern hills a grisly troop descends, +Whose war song wild the shuddering concave rends; +Cloak'd in a tiger's hide their grim chief towers, +And apes the brinded god his tribe adores. +The tusky jaws grin o'er the sachem's brow, +The bald eyes glare, the paws depend below, +From his bored ears contorted serpents hung, +And drops of gore seem'd rolling on his tongue. +The northern glens pour forth the Vulture-race; +Brown tufts of quills their shaded foreheads grace; +The claws branch wide, the beak expands for blood, +And all the armor imitates the god. +The Condor, frowning from a southern plain, +Borne on a standard, leads a numerous train: +Clench'd in his talons hangs an infant dead, +His long bill pointing where the sachems tread, +His wings, tho lifeless, frighten still the wind, +And his broad tail o'ershades the file behind. +From other plains and other hills afar, +The tribes throng dreadful to the promised war; +Some twine their forelock with a crested snake, +Some wear the emblems of a stream or lake; +All from the Power they serve assume their mode, +And foam and yell to taste the Incan blood. + +The prince incautious with his men drew near, +Known for an Inca by his dress and air; +Till coop'd and caught amid the warrior trains, +They bow in silence to the victor's chains. +When now the gather'd thousands throng the plain, +And echoing skies the rending shouts retain; +Zamor, the chieftain of the Tiger-band, +By choice appointed to the first command, +Shrugg'd up his brinded spoils above the rest, +And grimly frowning thus the crowd addrest: + +Warriors, attend! tomorrow leads abroad +Our sacred vengeance for our brothers' blood. +On those scorch'd plains for ever must they lie, +Their bones still naked to the burning sky? +Left in the field for foreign hawks to tear, +Nor our own vultures can the banquet share. +But soon, ye mountain gods, yon dreary west +Shall sate your hunger with an ampler feast; +When the proud Sun, that terror of the plain, +Shall grieve in heaven for all his children slain, +As o'er his realm our slaughtering armies roam, +And give to your sad Powers a happier home. +Meanwhile, ye tribes, these men of solar race, +Food for the flames, your bloody rites shall grace; +Each to a different god his panting breath +Resigns in fire; this night demands their death: +All but the Inca; him reserved in state +These conquering hands ere long shall immolate +To all the Powers at once that storm the skies, +A grateful gift, before his mother's eyes. + +The sachem ceased; the chiefs of every race +Lead the bold captives to their destined place; +The sun descends, the parting day expires, +And earth and heaven display their sparkling fires. +Soon the raised altars kindle round the gloom, +And call the victims to their vengeful doom; +Led to their pyres, in sullen pomp they tread, +And sing by turns the triumphs of the dead. +Amid the crowd beside his altar stood +The youth devoted to the Tiger-god; +A beauteous form he rose, of noble grace, +The only hope of his illustrious race. +His aged sire, for numerous years, had shone +The first supporter of the Incan throne; +Wise Capac loved the youth, and graced his hand +With a fair virgin from a neighboring band; +And him the legate prince, in equal prime, +Had chose to share his mission round the clime. +He mounts the pyre, the flames approach his breath. +And thus he wakes the dauntless song of death: + +Dark vault of heaven, that greet his daily throne. +Where flee the glories of your absent Sun? +Ye starry hosts, who kindle from his eye, +Can you behold him in the western sky? +Or if unseen beneath his watery bed, +The wearied God reclines his radiant head, +When next his morning steps your courts inflame, +And seek on earth for young Azonto's name, +Then point these ashes, mark the smoky pile, +And say the hero suffer'd with a smile. +So shall the Power in vengeance view the place, +In crimson clothe his terror-beaming face, +Pour swift destruction on these curst abodes, +Whelm the grim tribes and all their savage gods. + +But ah, forbear to tell my stooping sire +His darling hopes have fed a coward fire; +Why should he know the tortures of the brave? +Why fruitless sorrows bend him to the grave? +Nor shalt thou e'er be told, my bridal fair, +What silent pangs these panting vitals tear; +But blooming still the patient hours employ +On the blind hope of future scenes of joy. +Now haste, ye fiends of death; the Sire of day +In absent slumber gives your malice way; +While fainter light these livid flames supply, +And short-lived thousands learn of me to die, + +He ceased not speaking; when the yell of war +Drowns all their death songs in a hideous jar; +The cries rebounding from the hillsides pour, +And wolves and tigers catch the distant roar. +Now more concordant all their voices join, +And round the plain they form the festive line; +When, to the music of the dismal din, +Indignant Zamor bids the dance begin. +Dim thro the shadowy fires each changing form +Moves like a cloud before an evening storm, +When o'er the moon's pale face and starry plain +The shifting shades lead on their broken train; +The mingling tribes their mazy gambols tread, +Till the last groan proclaims the victims dead, +Then part the smoky flesh, enjoy the feast, +And lose their labors in oblivious rest. + +Soon as the western hills announced the morn, +And falling fires were scarcely seen to burn, +Grimm'd by the horrors of the dreadful night, +The hosts woke fiercer for the promised fight; +And dark and silent thro the frowning grove +The different tribes beneath their standards move. + +Meantime the solar king collects from far +His martial bands, to meet the expected war, +Camps on the confines of an eastern plain +That skirts the steep rough limit of his reign; +He trains their ranks, their pliant force combines, +To close in columns or extend in lines, +To wheel, change front, in broken files dispart, +And draw new strength from all the warrior's art. + +But now the rising sun relumes the plain, +And calls to arms the well-accustom'd train. +High in the front imperial Capac strode, +In fair effulgence like the beaming God; +A golden girdle bound his snowy vest, +A mimic sun hung sparkling on his breast; +The lautu's horned wreath his temples twined, +The bow, the quiver shade his waist behind; +Raised high in air his golden sceptre burn'd, +And hosts surrounding trembled as he turn'd. + +O'er eastern hills he cast his watchful eye, +Thro the broad breaks that lengthen down the sky; +In whose blue clefts the sloping pathways bend, +Where annual floods from melting snows descend. +Now dry and deep, they lead from every height +The savage files that headlong rush to fight; +They throng and thicken thro the smoky air, +And every breach pours down the dusky war. +So when a hundred streams explore their way, +Down the same slopes, convolving to the sea, +They boil, they bend, they force their floods amain, +Swell o'er obstructing crags, and sweep the plain. + +Capac beholds and waits the coming shock, +As for the billows waits the storm-beat rock; +And while for fight his ardent troops prepare, +Thus thro the ranks he breathes the soul of war: +Ye tribes that flourish in the Sun's mild reign, +Long have your flocks adorn'd the peaceful plain, +As o'er the realm his smiles persuasive flow'd, +And conquer'd all without the stain of blood; +But lo, at last that wild infuriate band +With savage war demands your happy land. +Beneath the dark immeasurable host, +Descending, swarming, how the crags are lost! +Already now their ravening eyes behold +Your star-bright temples and your gates of gold; +And to their gods in fancied goblets pour +The warm libation of your children's gore. +Move then to vengeance, meet the sons of blood, +Led by this arm and lighted by that God; +The strife is fierce, your fanes and fields the prize, +The warrior conquers or the infant dies. + +Fill'd with his fire, the troops in squared array +Wait the wild hordes loose huddling to the fray; +Their pointed arrows, rising on the bow, +Look up the sky and chide the lagging foe. + +Dread Zamor leads the homicidious train, +Moves from the clefts and stretches o'er the plain. +He gives the shriek; the deep convulsing sound +The hosts reecho, and the hills around +Retain the rending tumult; all the air +Clangs in the conflict of the clashing war; +But firm undaunted as a shelvy strand +That meets the surge, the bold Peruvians stand, +With steady aim the sounding bowstring ply, +And showers of arrows thicken thro the sky; +When each grim host, in closer conflict join'd, +Clench the dire ax and cast the bow behind; +Thro broken ranks sweep wide their slaughtering course. +Now struggle back, now sidelong swray the force. +Here from grim chiefs is lopt the grisly head; +All gride the dying, all deface the dead; +There scattering o'er the field in thin array, +Man tugs with man, and clubs with axes play; +With broken shafts they follow and they fly, +And yells and groans and shouts invade the sky; +Round all the shatter'd groves the ground is strow'd +With sever'd limbs and corses bathed in blood. +Long raged the strife; and where, on either side, +A friend, a father or a brother died, +No trace remain'd of what he was before, +Mangled with horrid wounds and black with gore. + +Now the Peruvians, in collected might, +With one wide stroke had wing'd the savage flighty +But their bright Godhead, in his midday race, +With glooms unusual veil'd his radiant face, +Quench'd all his beams, tho cloudless, in affright, +As loth to view from heaven the finish'd fight. +A trembling twilight o'er the welkin moves, +Browns the dim void, and darkens deep the groves; +The waking stars, embolden'd at the sight, +Peep out and gem the anticipated night; +Day-birds, and beasts of light to covert fly, +And owls and wolves begin their evening cry. +The astonish'd Inca marks, with wild surprise, +Dead chills on earth, no cloud in all the skies, +His host o'ershaded in the field of blood, +Gored by his foes, deserted by his God. +Mute with amaze, they cease the war to wage, +Gaze on their leaders and forget their rage; +When pious Capac to the listening crowd +Raised high his wand and pour'd his voice aloud: +Ye chiefs and warriors of Peruvian race, +Some sore offence obscures my father's face; +What moves the Numen to desert the plain, +Nor save his children, nor behold them slain? +Fly! speed your course, regain the guardian town, +Ere darkness shroud you in a deeper frown; +The faithful walls your squadrons shall defend, +While my sad steps the sacred dome ascend, +To learn the cause, and ward the woes we fear: +Haste, haste, my sons! I guard the flying rear. + +The hero spoke; the trembling tribes obey, +While deeper glooms obscure the source of day. +Sudden the savage bands collect amain, +Hang on the rear and sweep them o'er the plain; +Their shouts, redoubling with the flying war. +Drown the loud groans and torture all the air. +The hawks of heaven, that o'er the field had stood, +Scared by the tumult from the scent of blood, +Cleave the far gloom; the beasts forget their prey, +And scour the waste, and give the war its way. + +Zamor elate with horrid joy beheld +The Sun depart, his children fly the field, +And raised his rending voice: Thou darkening sky, +Deepen thy damps, the fiend of death is nigh; +Behold him rising from his shadowy throne, +To veil this heaven and drive the conquer'd Sun; +The glaring Godhead yields to sacred night, +And his foil'd armies imitate his flight. +Confirm, infernal Power, thy rightful reign, +Give deadlier shades and heap the piles of slain; +Soon the young captive prince shall roll in fire, +And all his race accumulate the pyre. +Ye mountain vultures, here your food explore, +Tigers and condors, all ye gods of gore, +In these rich fields, beneath your frowning sky, +A plenteous feast shall every god supply. +Rush forward, warriors, hide the plains with dead; +Twas here our friends in former combat bled; +Strow'd thro the waste their naked bones demand +This tardy vengeance from our conquering hand. + +He said; and high before the Tiger-train +With longer strides hangs forward o'er the slain, +Bends like a falling tree to reach the foe, +And o'er tall Capac aims a forceful blow. +The king beheld the ax, and with his wand +Struck the raised weapon from the sachem's hand; +Then clench'd the falling helve, and whirling round, +Fell'd a close file of heroes to the ground; +Nor stay'd, but follow'd where his people run, +Fearing to fight, forsaken by the Sun; +Till Cusco's walls salute their longing sight, +And the wide gates receive their rapid flight. +The folds are barr'd, the foes in shade conceal'd, +Like howling wolves, rave round the frighted field. + +The monarch now ascends the sacred dome; +The Sun's fixt image there partakes the gloom; +Thro all the shrines, where erst on new-moon day +Swell'd the full quires of consecrated praise, +A tomb-like silence reigns; till female cries +Burst forth at last, and these sad accents rise: +Was it for this, my son to distant lands +Must trace the wilds, and tempt those lawless bands? +And does the God obscure his golden throne +In mournful darkness for my slaughter'd son? +Oh, had his beam; ere that disastrous day +That call'd the youth from these fond arms away, +Received my spirit to its native sky, +That sad Oella might have seen him die! + +Where slept thy shaft of vengeance, O my God, +When those fell tigers drank his sacred blood? +Did not the pious prince, with rites divine, +Feed the pure flame in this thy hallow'd shrine; +And early learn, beneath his father's hand, +To shed thy blessings round the favor'd land? +Form'd by thy laws the royal seat to grace, +Son of thy son, and glory of his race. +Where, my lost Rocha, rests thy lovely head? +Where the rent robes thy hapless mother made? +I see thee, mid those hideous hills of snow, +Pursued and slaughter'd by the wildman foe; +Or, doom'd a feast for some pretended god, +Drench his black altar with celestial blood. +Snatch me, O Sun, to happier worlds of light-- +No: shroud me, shroud me with thyself in night. +Thou hear'st me not, thou dread departed Power, +Thy face is dark, and Rocha lives no more. + +Thus heard the silent king; his equal heart +Caught all her grief, and bore a father's part. +The cause, suggested by her tender moan, +The cause perchance that veil'd the midday sun, +And shouts that spoke the still approaching foe, +Fixt him suspense, in all the strength of woe. +A doubtful moment held his changing choice; +Now would he sooth her, half assumes his voice; +But greater cares the rising wish control, +And call forth all his energy of soul. +Why should he cease to ward the coming fate? +Or she be told the foes besiege the gate? +He turn'd in haste; and now their image-god +High on the spire with newborn lustre glow'd; +Swift thro the portal flew the hero's eye, +And hail'd the growing splendor in the sky. + +The troops courageous at return of light +Throng round the dome, impatient for the fight; +The king descending in the portal stood, +And thus addrest the all-delighting God: +O sovereign Soul of heaven, thy changing face +Makes or destroys the glory of thy race. +If from this mortal life my child he fled, +First of thy line that ever graced the dead; +If thy bright splendor ceased on high to burn +For that loved youth who never must return. +Forgive thine armies, when in fields of blood +They lose their strength and fear the frowning God. +As now thy glory, with superior day, +Glows thro the field and leads the warrior's way, +May our exalted souls, to vengeance driven, +Burn with new brightness in the cause of heaven! +For thy slain son the murderous horde shall bleed; +We mourn the hero, but avenge the deed. + +He said; and from the battlement on high +A watchful warrior raised a sudden cry: +"An Inca white on yonder altar tied-- +Tis Rocha's self--the flame ascends his side." + +In sweeping haste the bursting gates unbar, +And flood the champaign with a tide of war; +A cloud of arrows leads the rapid train, +They shout, they swarm, they hide the dusty plain; +Bows, quivers, girdles strow the field behind, +And the raised axes cleave the passing wind. +The prince, confest to every warrior's sight, +Inspires each soul and centres all the fight; +Each hopes to snatch him from the kindling pyre, +Each fears his breath already flits in fire. +Here Zamor ranged his ax-men deep and wide, +Wedged like a wall, and thus the king defied: +Haste, son of Light, pour fast the winged war, +The prince, the dying prince demands your care; +Hear how his death song chides your dull delay, +Lift longer strides, bend forward to the fray, +Ere flames infolding suffocate his groan, +Child of your beaming God, a victim to our own. + +This said, he raised his shaggy shoulders high, +And bade the shafts glide thicker thro the sky. +Like the broad billows of the lifted main, +Rolls into sight the long Peruvian train; +A white sail bounding, on the billows tost, +Is Capac towering o'er the furious host. + +Now meet the dreadful chiefs, with eyes on fire; +Beneath their blows the parting ranks retire; +In whirlwind-sweep their meeting axes bound, +Wheel, crash in air, and plow the trembling ground; +Their sinewy limbs in fierce contortions bend, +And mutual strokes with equal force descend, +Parried with equal art, now gyring prest +High at the head, now plunging for the breast. +The king starts backward from the struggling foe, +Collects new strength, and with a circling blow +Rush'd furious on; his flinty edge, whirl'd wide, +Met Zamor's helve, and glancing grazed his side +And settled in his groin; so plunged it lay, +That scarce the king could tear his ax away. +The savage fell; when thro the Tiger-train +The driving Inca turns his force amain; +Where still compact they hem the murderous pyre, +And Rocha's voice seems faltering to expire. +The phrensied father rages, thunders wild, +Hews armies down, to save the sinking child; +The ranks fall staggering where he lifts his arm, +Or roll before him like a billowy storm; +Behind his steps collecting warriors close; +Deep centred in a circling ridge of foes +He cleaves his wasting way; the prince unties, +And thus his voice: Dread Sovereign of the skies. +Accept my living son, again bestow'd +To grace with rites the temple of his God. +Move, heroes, move; complete the work begun. +Crush the grim race, avenge your injured Sun. + +The savage host, that view'd the daring deed, +And saw their nations with their leader bleed, +Raised high the shriek of horror; all the plain +Is trod with flight and cover'd with the slain. +The bold Peruvians compass round the field, +Confine their flight, and force the rest to yield; +When Capac raised his placid voice again; +Ye conquering troops, collect the vanquish'd train; +The Sun commands to stay the rage of war, +He knows to conquer, but he loves to spare. + +He ceased; and where the savage leader lay +Weltering in gore, directs his eager way, +Unwraps the tiger's hide, and strives in vain +To close the wound, and mitigate the pain; +And while compassion for a foe distrest +Mixt with reproach, he thus the chief addrest: +Too long, proud prince, thy fearless heart withstood +Our sacred arms, and braved the living God; +His sovereign will commands all feuds to cease, +His realm is concord and his pleasure peace; +This copious carnage, spreading far the plain, +Insults his bounties, but confirms his reign. +Enough! tis past; thy parting breath demands +The last sad office from my yielding hands. +To share thy pains and feel thy hopeless woe, +Are rites ungrateful to a fallen foe: +Yet rest in peace; and know, a chief so brave, +When life departs, shall find an honor'd grave; +Myself in princely pomp thy tomb shall rear, +And tribes unborn thy hapless fate declare. + +Insult me not with tombs! the monster cried, +Let closing clods thy coward carcase hide; +But these brave bones, unburied on the plain, +Touch not with dust, nor dare with rites profane; +Let no curst earth conceal this gory head, +Nor songs proclaim the dreadful Zamor dead, +Me, whom the hungry gods from plain to plain +Have follow'd, feasting on thy slaughter'd train, +Me wouldst thou cover? No! from yonder sky, +The wide-beak'd hawk, that now beholds me die, +Soon with his cowering train my flesh shall tear, +And wolves and tigers vindicate their share. +Receive, dread Powers (since I can slay no more), +My last glad victim, this devoved gore. + +Thus pour'd the vengeful chief his fainting breath, +And lost his utterance in the gasp of death. +The sad remaining tribes confess the Power, +That sheds his bounties round Peruvia's shore; +All bow obedient to the Incan throne, +And blest Oella hails her living son. + + + + +Book IV. + + + +Argument + + + + Destruction of Peru foretold. Grief of Columbus. He is comforte + the promise of a vision of future ages. All Europe appears in vision. + Effect of the discovery of America upon the affairs of Europe. + Improvement in commerce; government. Revival of letters. Order of the + Jesuits. Religious persecution. Inquisition. Rise and progress of more + liberal principles. Character of Raleigh; who plans the settlement of + North America. Formation of the coast by the gulph stream. Nature of + the colonial establishments, the first great asylum and infant empire + of Liberty. Liberty the necessary foundation of morals. Delaware + arrives with a reinforcement of new settlers, to consolidate the colony + of Virginia. Night scene, as contemplated by these patriarchs, while + they are sailing up the Chesapeak, and are saluted by the river gods. + Prophetic speech of Potowmak. Fleets of settlers from seyeral parts of + Europe steering for America. + + +In one dark age, beneath a single hand, +Thus rose an empire in the savage land. +Its wealth and power with following years increase, +Its growing nations spread the walks of peace; +Religion here, that universal name, +Man's proudest passion, most ungovern'd flame, +Erects her altars on the same bright base, +That dazzled erst, and still deludes the race; +Sun, moon, all powers that forceful strike his eyes, +Earth-shaking storms and constellated skies. + +Yet all the pomp his labors here unfold, +The vales of verdure and the towers of gold, +Those infant arts and sovereign seats of state, +In short-lived glory hasten to their fate. +Thy followers, rushing like an angry flood, +Too soon shall drench them in the nation's blood; +Nor thou, Las Casas, best of men, shalt stay +The ravening legions from their guardless prey. +O hapless prelate! hero, saint and sage, +Foredoom'd with crimes a fruitless war to wage, +To see at last (thy life of virtue run) +A realm unpeopled and a world undone! +While pious Valverde mock of priesthood stands, +Guilt in his heart, the gospel in his hands, +Bids, in one field, their unarm'd thousands bleed, +Smiles o'er the scene and sanctifies the deed. +And thou, brave Gasca, with persuasive strain, +Shalt lift thy voice and urge thy power in vain; +Vain are thy hopes the sinking land to save, +Or call her slaughter'd millions from the grave. + +Here Hesper paused. Columbus with a sigh +Cast o'er the continent his moisten'd eye, +And thus replied: Ah, hide me in the tomb; +Why should I live to see the impending doom? +If such foul deeds the scheme of heaven compose, +And virtue's toils induce redoubled woes, +Unfold no more; but grant a kind release; +Give me, tis all I ask, to rest in peace. + +And thou shalt rest in peace, the Saint rejoin'd, +Ere these conflicting shades involve mankind. +But broader views shall first thy mind engage, +Years far advanced beyond this darksome age +Shall feast thee here; the fruits of thy long care +A grateful world beneath thy ken shall share. +Europe's contending kings shall soon behold +These fertile plains and hills of treasured gold; +And in the path of thy adventurous sail +Their countless navies float on every gale, +For wealth and commerce search the western shore. +And load each ocean with the shining ore. + +As up the orient heaven the dawning ray +Smiles o'er the hills and gives the promised day, +Drives fraud and rapine from their nightly spoil, +And social nature wakes to various toil; +So from the blazing mine the golden store +Mid rival states shall spread from shore to shore, +Unite their force, its opulence to share, +Extend the pomp but sooth the rage of war; +Wide thro the world while genius unconfined +Tempts loftier flights, and opens all the mind, +Dissolves the slavish bands of monkish lore, +Wakes the bold arts and bids the Muses soar. +Then shall thy northern climes their seats display +United nations there commence their sway; +O'er earth and ocean spread their peerless fame, +And send thro time thy patriarchal name. + +Now turn thy view to Europe; see the rage +Of feudal faction every court engage; +All honest labor, all commercial ties +Their kings discountenance, their lords despise. +The naked harbors, looking to the main, +Rear their kind cliffs and break the storms in vain, +The willing wave no foreign treasures lade, +Nor sails nor cities cast a watery shade; +Save, where yon opening gulph the strand divides, +Proud Venice bathes her in the broken tides, +Weds her tamed sea, shakes every distant throne, +And deems by right the naval world her own. + +Yet must we mark, the bondage of the mind +Spreads deeper glooms, and subj ugates mankind; +The zealots fierce, whom local creeds enrage, +In holy feuds perpetual combat wage, +Support all crimes by full indulgence given, +Usurp the power and wield the sword of heaven, + +But lo, where future years their scenes unrol, +The rising arts inspire the venturous soul. +From all the ports that cleave the coast of Spain, +New fleets ascending streak the western main; +From Tago's bank, from Albion's rocky round, +Commercing squadrons o'er the billows bound; +Thro Afric's isles observe the sweeping sails, +Full pinions tossing in Arabian gales, +Indus and Ganges deep in canvass lost, +And navies crowding round Cambodia's coast; +New nations rise, all climes and oceans brave, +And shade with sheets the immeasurable wave. + +See lofty Ximenes with solemn gait +Move from the cloister to the walks of state, +And thro the factious monarchies of Spain, +Curb the fierce lords and fix one royal reign. +Behold dread Charles the imperial seat ascends, +O'er Europe's thrones his conquering arm extends; +While wealthier shores, beneath the western day, +Unfold their treasures to confirm his sway. + +Roused at false glory's fascinating call, +See Francis train the gallant youths of Gaul, +O'erstrain the strength of her extended states, +Scale the proud Alps, or burst their granite gates, +On Pavia's plain for Cesar's crown contend, +Of arms the votary, but of arts the friend. + +And see proud Wolsey rise, securely great, +Kings at his call and mitres round him wait; +From monkish walls the hoarded wealth he draws +To aid the tyrant and restrain the laws, +Wakes Albion's genius, neighboring princes braves, +And shares with them the commonwealth of waves, + +Behold dark Solyman, from eastern skies, +With his grim host magnificently rise, +Wave his broad crescent o'er the Midland sea, +Thro vast Hungaria drive his conquering way, +Crowd close the Christian powers, and carry far +The rules of homicide, the lore of war. + +The Tuscan dukes excite a nobler strife; +Lorenzo calls the Fine Arts forth to life, +Fair nature's mimic maids; whose powers divine +Her charms develop and her laws define; +From sire to son the splendid labors spread, +And Leo follows where good Cosmo led. +Waked from the ground that Gothic rovers trod, +Starts the bronze hero and the marble god; +Monks, prelates, pontiffs pay the reverence due +To that bold taste their Grecian masters knew; +Resurgent temples throng the Latian shore, +The Pencil triumphs and the Muses soar. + +O'er the dark world Erasmus rears his eye, +In schoolman lore sees kings and nations lie, +With strength of judgment and with fancy warm, +Derides their follies and dissolves the charm, +Tears the deep veil that bigot zeal has thrown +On pagan books and science long unknown, +From faith in senseless rites relieves mankind, +And seats bold virtue in the conscious mind. +But still the frightful task, to face alone +The jealous vengeance of the papal throne, +Restrains his hand: he gives the contest o'er, +And leaves his hardier sons to curb that power. + +Luther walks forth in yon majestic frame, +Bright beam of heaven, and heir of endless fame, +Born, like thyself, thro toils and griefs to wind, +From slavery's chains to free the captive mind, +Brave adverse crowns, control the pontiff sway, +And bring benighted nations into day. + +Remark what crowds his name around him brings, +Schools, synods, prelates, potentates and kings, +All gaining knowledge from his boundless store, +And join'd to shield him from the papal power. +First of his friends, see Frederic's princely form +Ward from the sage divine the gathering storm, +In learned Wittemburgh secure his seat, +High throne of thought, religion's safe retreat. +There sits Melancthon, mild as morning light, +And feuds, tho sacred, soften in his sight; +In terms so gentle flows his tuneful tongue, +Even cloister'd bigots join the pupil throng; +By all sectarian chiefs he lives approved, +By monarchs courted and by men beloved. + +And lo, where Europe's utmost limits bend, +From this new source what various lights ascend! +See haughty Henry from the papal tie +His realms dissever, and the priest defy; +While Albion's sons disdain a foreign throne, +And learn to bound the oppressions of their own. + +Then rises Loyola, a strange new name, +By paths unseen to reach the goal of fame; +Thro courts and camps he teaches how to wind, +To mine whole states and overreach mankind. +Train'd in his school, a bold and artful race +Range o'er the world, and every sect embrace, +All creeds and powers and policies explore, +New seats of science raise on every shore; +Till their wide empire gains a wondrous birth, +Built in all empires o'er this ancient earth. +Our wildmen too, the tribes of Paraguay, +Receive their rites and bow beneath their sway. + +The world of men thus moving in thy view +Improve their state, more useful works pursue; +Unwonted deeds in rival greatness shine, +Call'd into life, and first inspired by thine. +So while imperial Homer tunes the lyre, +His living lays unnumber'd bards inspire; +From age to age the kindling spirit flies, +Sounds thro the earth and echoes to the skies. + +Now roll the years, when Europe's ample space +By peace and culture rears a wiser race, +Men bred to labor, school'd in freedom's lore, +And formed to colonize our favorite shore. +To speed their course, the sons of bigot rage +In persecution whelm the inquiring age; +Myriads of martyr'd heroes mount the pyre, +And blind devotion lights the sacred fire. + +Led by the dark Dominicans of Spain, +A newborn Fury walks the wide domain, +Gaunt INQUISITION; mark her giant stride, +Her blood-nursed vulture screaming at her side. +Her priestly train the tools of torment brings. +Racks, wheels and crosses, faggots, stakes and strings; +Scaffolds and cages round her altar stand, +And, tipt with sulphur, waves her flaming brand. +Her imps of inquest round the Fiend advance, +Suspectors grave, and spies with eye askance, +Pretended heretics who worm the soul, +And sly confessors with their secret scroll, +Accusers hired, for each conviction paid, +Judges retain'd and witnesses by trade. + +Dragged from a thousand jails her victim trains, +Jews, Moors and Christians, clank alike their chains, +Read their known sentence in her fiery eyes, +And breathe to heaven their unavailing cries; +Lash'd on the pile their writhing bodies turn, +And, veil'd in doubling smoke, begin to burn. +Where the flames open, lo! their limbs in vain +Reach out for help, distorted by the pain; +Till folded in the fires they disappear, +And not a sound invades the startled ear. + +See Philip, throned in insolence and pride, +Enjoy their wailings and their pangs deride; +While o'er the same dread scenes, on Albion's isles, +His well-taught spouse, the cruel Mary, smiles. +What clouds of smoke hang heavy round the shore! +What altars hecatomb'd with Christian gore! +Her sire's best friends, the wise, the brave, the good, +Roll in the flames or fly the land of blood. + +To Gallia's plains the maddening phrensy turns. +Religion raves and civil discord burns; +Leaguers and Huguenots their vengeance pour, +They swell Bartholemy's wide feast of gore, +Alternate victors bid their gibbets rise, +And the foul stench of victims chokes the skies. + +Now cease the factions with the Valois line, +And Bourbon's virtues every voice combine. +Quell'd by his fame, the furious sects accord, +Europe respires beneath his guardian sword; +Batavia's states to independence soar, +And curb the cohorts of Iberian power. +From Albion's ports her infant navies heave, +Stretch forth and thunder on the Flandrian wave; +Her Howard there first foils the force of Spain, +And there begins her mastery of the main. + +The Seraph spoke; when full beneath their eye +A new-form'd squadron rose along the sky. +High on the tallest deck majestic shone +Sage Raleigh, pointing to the western sun; +His eye, bent forward, ardent and sublime, +Seem'd piercing nature and evolving time; +Beside him stood a globe, whose figures traced +A future empire in each present waste; +All former works of men behind him shone +Graved by his hand in ever-during stone; +On his calm brow a various crown displays +The hero's laurel and the scholar's bays; +His graceful limbs in steely mail were drest, +The bright star burning on his lofty breast; +His sword, high waving, flash'd the solar ray. +Illumed the shrouds and rainbow'd far the spray; +The smiling crew rose resolute and brave, +And the glad sails hung bounding o'er the wave. + +Storms of wild Hatteras, suspend your roar, +Ye tumbling billows, cease to shake the shore; +Look thro the doubling clouds, thou lamp of day, +Teach the bold Argonauts their chartless way; +Your viewless capes, broad Chesapeak, unfold, +And show your promised Colchis fleeced with gold. +No plundering squadron your new Jason brings; +No pirate demigods nor hordes of kings +From shore to shore a faithless miscreant steers, +To steal a maid and leave a sire in tears. +But yon wise chief conducts with careful ken +The queen of colonies, the best of men, +To wake to fruitful life your slumbering soil, +And rear an empire with the hand of toil. +Your fond Medea too, whose dauntless breast +All danger braves to screen her hunted guest. +Shall quit her native tribe, but never share +The crimes and sufferings of the Colchian fair. +Blest Pocahontas! fear no lurking guile; +Thy hero's love shall well reward thy smile. +Ah sooth the wanderer in his desperate plight, +Hide him by day and calm his cares by night; +Tho savage nations with thy vengeful sire +Pursue their victim with unceasing ire, +And tho their threats thy startled ear assail, +Let virtue's voice o'er filial fears prevail. +Fly with the faithful youth, his steps to guide, +Pierce the known thicket, breast the fordless tide, +Illude the scout, avoid the ambush'd line, +And lead him safely to his friends and thine; +For thine shall be his friends, his heart, his name; +His camp shall shout, his nation boast thy fame. + +But now the Bay unfolds a passage wide, +And leads the squadron up the freshening tide; +Where Pohatan spreads deep her sylvan soil, +And grassy lawns allure the steps of toil. +Here, lodged in peace, they tread the welcome land. +An instant harvest waves beneath their hand, +Spontaneous fruits their easy cares beguile, +And opening fields in living culture smile. + +With joy Columbus view'd; when thus his voice: +Ye grove-clad shores, ye generous hosts, rejoice! +Exchange your benefits, your gifts combine; +What nature fashions, let her sons refine. + +Be thou, my Seer, the people's guardian friend, +Protect their virtues and their lives defend; +May wealth and wisdom with their arts unfold, +Yet save, oh, save them from the thirst of gold! +Let the poor guardless natives never feel +The flamen's fraud, the soldier's fateful steel; +But learn the blessings that alone attend +On civil rights where social virtues blend, +In these brave leaders find a welcome guide, +And rear their fanes and empires by their side. +Smile, great Hesperia, smile; the star of morn +Illumes thy heavens and bids thy day be born; +Thy opening forests show the work begun, +Thy plains unshaded drink a purer sun; +Yield now thy bounties, load the laboring main, +Give birth to nations, and begin thy reign. + +The Hero spoke; when thus the Saint rejoin'd, +Approved his joy, and feasted still his mind: +Well may thy voice, with patriarch pride elate, +Burst forth triumphant at a scene so great; +Here springs indeed the day, since time began, +The brightest, broadest, happiest morn of man. +In these prime settlements thy raptures trace +The germ, the genius of a sapient race, +Predestined here to methodise and mould +New codes of empire to reform the old. + +A work so vast a second world required, +By oceans bourn'd, from elder states retired; +Where, uncontaminated, unconfined, +Free contemplation might expand the mind, +To form, fix, prove the well-adjusted plan, +And base and build the commonwealth of man. + +This arm, that leads the stellar host of even, +That stretch'd o'er yon rude ridge the western heaven, +That heal'd the wounded earth, when from her side +The moon burst forth, and left the South Sea tide, +That calm'd these elements, and taught them where +To mould their mass and rib the crusted sphere, +Line the closed continent with wrecks of life, +And recommence their generating strife, +That rear'd the mountain, spread the subject plain, +Led the long stream and roll'd the billowy main, +Stole from retiring tides the growing strand, +Heaved the green banks, the shadowy inlets plann'd, +Strow'd the wild fruitage, gave the beast his place, +And form'd the region for thy filial race,-- +This arm prepared their future seats of state, +Design'd their limits and prescribed their date. + +When first the staggering globe its breach repair'd, +And this bold hemisphere its shoulders rear'd, +Back to those heights, whose hovering vapor shrouds +My rock-raised world in Alleganian clouds, +The Atlantic waste its coral kingdom spread, +And scaly nations here their gambols led; +Till by degrees, thro following tracts of time, +From laboring ocean rose the sedgy clime, +As from unloaded waves the rising sand +Swell'd into light and gently drew to land. +For, moved by trade winds o'er the flaming zone, +The waves roll westward with the constant sun, +Meet my firm isthmus, scoop that gulphy bed, +Wheel to the north, and here their current spread. +Those ravaged banks, that move beneath their force, +Borne on the tide and lost along their course, +Create the shore, consolidate the soil. +And hither lead the enlighten'd steps of toil. + +Think not the lust of gold shall here annoy, +Enslave the nation and its nerve destroy. +No useles mine these northern hills enclose, +No ruby ripens and no diamond glows; +But richer stores and rocks of useful mould +Repay in wealth the penury of gold. +Freedom's unconquer'd race, with healthy toil, +Shall lop the grove and warm the furrow'd soil, +From iron ridges break the rugged ore, +And plant with men the man-ennobling shore; +Sails, villas, towers and temples round them heave, +Shine o'er the realms and light the distant wave. +Nor think the native tribes shall rue the day +That leads our heroes o'er the watery way. +A cause like theirs no mean device can mar, +Nor bigot rage nor sacerdotal war. +From eastern tyrants driven, resolved and brave, +To build new states or seek a distant grave, +Our sons shall try a new colonial plan, +To tame the soil, but spare their kindred man. + +Thro Europe's wilds when feudal nations spread. +The pride of conquest every legion led. +Each fur-clad chief, by servile crowds adored, +O'er conquer'd realms assumed the name of lord, +Built the proud castle, ranged the savage wood, +Fired his grim host to frequent fields of blood, +With new-made honors lured his subject bands, +Price of their lives, and purchase of their lands; +For names and titles bade the world resign +Their faith, their freedom and their rights divine. + +Contending baronies their terrors spread, +And slavery follow'd where the standard led; +Till, little tyrants by the great o'erthrown, +The spoils of nobles build the regal crown; +Wealth, wisdom, virtue, every claim of man +Unguarded fall to consummate the plan. +Ambitious cares, that nature never gave, +Torment alike the monarch and the slave, +Thro all degrees in gradual pomp ascend, +Honor the name, but tyranny the end. + +Far different honors here the heart shall claim, +Sublimer objects, deeds of happier fame; +A new creation waits the western shore, +And moral triumphs o'er monarchic power. +Thy freeborn sons, with genius unconfined, +Nor sloth can slacken nor a tyrant bind; +With self-wrought fame and worth internal blest, +No venal star shall brighten on their breast, +Nor king-created name nor courtly art +Damp the bold thought or desiccate the heart. +Above all fraud, beyond all titles great, +Truth in their voice and sceptres at their feet, +Like sires of unborn states they move sublime, +Look empires thro and span the breadth of time, +Hold o'er the world, that men may choose from far, +The palm of peace, or scourge of barbarous war; +Till their example every nation charms, +Commands its friendship and its rage disarms. + +Here social man a second birth shall find, +And a new range of reason lift his mind, +Feed his strong intellect with purer light, +A nobler sense of duty and of right, +The sense of liberty; whose holy fire +His life shall temper and his laws inspire, +Purge from all shades the world-embracing scope +That prompts his genius and expands his hope. + +When first his form arose erect on earth, +Parturient nature hail'd the wondrous birth, +With fairest limbs and finest fibres wrought, +And framed for vast and various toils of thought. +To aid his promised powers with loftier flight, +And stretch his views beyond corporeal sight, +Prometheus came, and from the floods of day +Sunn'd his clear soul with heaven's internal ray, +The expanding spark divine; that round him springs, +And leads and lights him thro the immense of things, +Probes the dense earth, explores the soundless main, +Remoulds their mass thro all its threefold reign, +O'er great, o'er small extends his physic laws, +Empalms the empyrean or dissects a gaz, +Weighs the vast orbs of heaven, bestrides the sky, +Walks on the windows of an insect's eye; +Turns then to self, more curious still to trace +The whirls of passion that involve the race, +That cloud with mist the visual lamp of God, +And plunge the poniard in fraternal blood. +Here fails his light. The proud Titanian ray +O'er physic nature sheds indeed its day; +Yet leaves the moral in chaotic jars, +The spoil of violence, the sport of wars, +Presents contrasted parts of one great plan, +Earth, heaven subdued, but man at swords with man; +His wars, his errors into science grown, +And the great cause of all his ills unknown. + +But when he steps on these regenerate shores, +His mind unfolding for superior powers, +FREEDOM, his new Prometheus, here shall rise, +Light her new torch in my refulgent skies, +Touch with a stronger life his opening soul, +Of moral systems fix the central goal, +Her own resplendent essence. Thence expand +The rays of reason that illume the land; +Thence equal rights proceed, and equal laws, +Thence holy Justice all her reverence draws; +Truth with untarnish'd beam descending thence, +Strikes every eye, and quickens every sense, +Bids bright Instruction spread her ample page, +To drive dark dogmas from the inquiring age, +Ope the true treasures of the earth and skies, +And teach the student where his object lies. + +Sun of the moral world! effulgent source +Of man's best wisdom and his steadiest force, +Soul-searching Freedom! here assume thy stand, +And radiate hence to every distant land; +Point out and prove how all the scenes of strife, +The shock of states, the impassion'd broils of life, +Spring from unequal sway; and how they fly +Before the splendor of thy peaceful eye; +Unfold at last the genuine social plan, +The mind's full scope, the dignity of man, +Bold nature bursting thro her long disguise, +And nations daring to be just and wise. + +Yes! righteous Freedom, heaven and earth and sea +Yield or withold their various gifts for thee; +Protected Industry beneath thy reign +Leads all the virtues in her filial train; +Courageous Probity with brow serene, +And Temperance calm presents her placid mien +Contentment, Moderation, Labor, Art, +Mould the new man and humanize his heart; +To public plenty private ease dilates, +Domestic peace to harmony of states. +Protected Industry, careering far, +Detects the cause and cures the rage of war, +And sweeps, with forceful arm, to their last graves, +Kings from the earth and pirates from the waves. + +But slow proceeds the work. Long toils, my son, +Must base the fabric of so vast a throne; +Where Freedom founds her everlasting reign, +And earth's whole empires form the fair domain. +That great coloniarch, whose exalted soul +Pervades all scenes that future years unrol, +Must yield the palm, and at a courtier's shrine +His plans relinquish and his life resign; +His life that brightens, as his death shall stain, +The fair, foul annals of his master's reign. + +That feeble band, the lonely wilds who tread, +Their sire, their genius in their Raleigh dead, +Shall pine and perish in the savage gloom, +Or mount the wave and seek their ancient home. +Others in vain the generous task pursue, +The dangers tempt and all the strife renew; +While kings and ministers obstruct the plan, +Unfaithful guardians of the weal of man. + +At last brave Delaware, with his blithe host, +Sails in full triumph to the well-known coast, +Aids with a liberal hand the patriot cause, +Reforms their policy, designs their laws; +Till o'er Virginia's plains they spread their sway, +And push their hamlets tow'rd the setting day. +He comes, my Delaware! how mild and bland +My zephyrs greet him from the long-sought land! +From fluvial glades that thro my cantons run, +From those rich mounds that mask the falling sun. + +Borne up my Chesapeak, as first he hails +The flowery banks that scent his slackening sails, +Descending twilight mellows down the gleam +That spreads far forward on the broad blue stream; +The moonbeam dancing, as the pendants glide, +Silvers with trembling tints the ripply tide; +The sand-sown beach, the rocky bluff repays +The faint effulgence with their amber'd rays; +O'er greenwood glens a browner lustre flies, +And bright-hair'd hills walk shadowy round the skies. + +Profound solicitude and strong delight +Absorb the chief, as thro the waste of night +He walks the lonely deck, and skirts the lands +That wait their nations from his guiding hands. +Tall thro the tide the river Sires by turns +Rise round the bark and blend their social urns; +Majestic brotherhood! each feels the power +To feed an empire from his future store. +They stand stupendous, flooding full the bay, +And pointing each thro different climes the way. + +Resplendent o'er the rest, the regent god +Potowmak towers, and sways the swelling flood; +Vines clothe his arms, wild fruits o'erfill his horn, +Wreaths of green maize his reverend brows adorn, +His silver beard reflects the lunar day, +And round his loins the scaly nations play. +The breeze falls calm, the sails in silence rest, +While thus his greetings cheer the stranger guest: + +Blest be the bark that seized the promised hour +To waft thee welcome to this friendly shore! +Long have we learnt the fame that here awaits +The future sires of our unplanted states; +We all salute thee with our mingling tides, +Our high-fenced havens and our fruitful sides. +The hundred realms our myriad fountains drain +Shall lose their limits in the vast domain; +But my bold banks with proud impatience wait +The palm of glory in a work so great; +On me thy sons their central seat shall raise, +And crown my labors with distinguish'd praise. +For this, from rock-ribb'd lakes I forced my birth, +And climb'd and sunder'd many a mound of earth, +Rent the huge hills that yonder heave on high +And with their tenfold ridges rake the sky, +Removed whole mountains in my headlong way, +Strow'd a strong soil around this branching Bay, +Scoop'd wide his basins to the distant main, +And hung with headlands every marsh they drain. + +Haste then, my heroes, tempt the fearless toil, +Enrich your nations with the nurturing spoil; +O'er my vast vales let yellow harvests wave, +Quay the calm ports and dike the lawns I lave. +Win from the waters every stagnant fen, +Where truant rills escape my conscious ken; +And break those remnant rocks that still impede +My current crowding thro the gaps I made. + +So shall your barks pursue my branching bed, +Slope after slope, to every fountain's head, +Seat your contiguous towns on all my shores, +And charge my channel with their seaward stores. +Freedom and Peace shall well reward your care, +My guardian mounds protect the friendly pair; +Or if delirious War shall dare draw nigh, +And eastern storms o'ercast the western sky, +My soil shall rear the chief to guide your host, +And drive the demon cringing from the coast; +Yon verdant hill his sylvan seat shall claim, +And grow immortal from his deathless fame. + +Then shall your federal towers my bank adorn, +And hail with me the great millennial morn +That gilds your capitol. Thence earth shall draw +Her first clear codes of liberty and law; +There public right a settled form shall find, +Truth trim her lamp to lighten humankind, +Old Afric's sons their shameful fetters cast, +Our wild Hesperians humanize at last, +All men participate, all time expand +The source of good my liberal sages plann'd. + +This said, he plunges in the sacred flood; +That closes calm and lulls the cradled god. +Exulting at his words, the gallant crew +Brace the broad canvass and their course pursue: +For now the breathing airs, from ocean born, +Breeze up the bay, and lead the lively morn +That lights them to their port. Tis here they join +Their bold precursors in the work divine; +And here their followers, yet a numerous train, +Wind o'er the wave and swell the new domain. +For impious Laud, on England's wasted shore, +Renews the flames that Mary fed before; +Contristed sects his sullen fury fly, +To seek new seats beneath a safer sky; +Where faith and freedom yield a forceful charm, +And toils and dangers every bosom warm. + +Amid the tried unconquerable train, +Whom tyrants press and seas oppose in vain, +See Plymouth colons stretch their standards o'er, +Face the dark wildmen and the wintry shore; +See virtuous Baltimore ascend the wave, +See peaceful Penn its unknown terrors brave; +Swedes, Belgians, Gauls their various flags display, +Full pinions crowding on the watery way; +All from their different ports, their sails unfurl'd, +Point their glad streamers to the western world. + + + + +Book V. + + + +Argument. + + + Vision confined to North America. Progress of the colonies. Troubles + with the natives. Settlement of Canada. Spirit of the English and + French colonies compared. Hostilities between France and England + extended to America. Braddock's defeat. Washington saves the re + of the English army. Actions of Abercrombie, Amherst, Wolfe. Peace. + Darkness overspreads the continent. Apprehensions of Columbus from that + appearance. Cause explained. Cloud bursts away in the centre. + of congress, and of the different regions from which its members are + delegated. Their endeavors to arrest the violence of England compared + with those of the Genius of Rome to dissuade Cesar from passing the + Rubicon. The demon War stalking over the ocean and leading on the + English invasion. Conflagration of towns from Falmouth to Norfolk. + Battle of Bunker Hill seen thro the smoke. Death of Warren. American + army assembles. Review of its chiefs. Speech of Washington. Actions and + death of Montgomery. Loss of Newyork. + + +Columbus hail'd them with a father's smile, +Fruits of his cares and children of his toil; +While still his eyes, thro tears of joy, descried +Their course adventurous on the distant tide. +Thus, when o'er deluged earth her Numen stood, +The tost ark bounding on the shoreless flood, +The sacred treasure fixt his guardian view, +While climes unnoticed in the wave withdrew. + +The Hero saw them reach the rising strand, +Leap from their ships and share the joyous land; +Receding forests yield the laborers room, +And opening wilds with fields and gardens bloom. +Fill'd with the glance ecstatic, all his soul +Now seems unbounded with the scene to roll, +And now impatient, with retorted eye, +Perceives his station in another sky: +Waft me, indulgent Angel, waft me o'er, +With those blest heroes, to the happy shore; +There let me live and die. But all appears +A fleeting vision! these are future years. +Yet grant the illusion still may nearer spread, +And my glad steps may seem their walks to tread; +While Europe, wrapt in momentary night, +Shall rise no more to intercept the sight. + +Columbus thus; when Hesper's potent hand +Moves brightening o'er the visionary land; +The height that bore them still sublimer grew, +And earth's whole circuit settled from their view. +A dusky deep, serene as breathless even, +Seem'd vaulting downward like another heaven; +The sun, rejoicing on his western way, +Stampt his fair image in the inverted day: +When now Hesperia's coast arose more nigh, +And life and action fill'd the dancing eye. + +Between the gulphs, where Laurence drains the world +And where Floridia's farthest floods are curl'd, +Where midlands broad their swelling mountains heave +And slope their champaigns to the Atlantic wave, +The sandy streambank and the woodgreen plain +Raise into sight the new-made seats of man. +The placid ports, that break the seaborn gales, +Shoot forth their quays and stretch aloft their sails, +Full harvests wave, new groves with fruitage bend, +Gay villas smile, defensive towers ascend; +All the rich works of art their charms display, +To court the planter and his cares repay: +Till war invades; when soon the dales disclose +Their meadows path'd with files of savage foes; +High tufted quills their painted foreheads press, +Dark spoils of beasts their shaggy shoulders dress, +The bow bent forward for the combat strung, +Ax, quiver, scalpknife on the girdle hung; +Discordant yells, convulsing long the air, +Tone forth at last the war whoop's hideous blare. + +The Patriarch look'd; and every frontier height +Pours down the swarthy nations to the fight. +Where Kennebec's high source forsakes the sky, +Where long Champlain's yet unkeel'd waters lie, +Where Hudson crowds his hill-dissundering tide, +Where Kaatskill dares the starry vault divide, +Where the dim Alleganies sit sublime +And give their streams to every neighboring clime, +The swarms descended like an evening shade, +And wolves and vultures follow'd where they spread. +Thus when a storm, on eastern pinions driven, +Meets the firm Andes in the midst of heaven, +The clouds convulse, the torrents pour amain, +And the black waters sweep the subject plain. + +Thro harvest fields the bloody myriads tread, +Sack the lone village, strow the streets with dead; +The flames in spiry volumes round them rise, +And shrieks and shouts redoubling rend the skies. +Fair babes and matrons in their domes expire, +Or bursting frantic thro the folding fire +They scream, fly, fall; promiscuous rave along +The yelling victors and the driven throng; +The streams run purple; all the peopled shore +Is wrapt in flames and trod with steps of gore. +Till colons, gathering from the shorelands far, +Stretch their new standards and oppose the war, +With muskets match the many-shafted bow, +With loud artillery stun the astonish'd foe. +When, like a broken wave, the barbarous train +Lead back the flight and scatter from the plain +Slay their weak captives, drop their shafts in haste, +Forget their spoils and scour the trackless waste; +From wood to wood in wild confusion hurl'd, +They hurry o'er the hills far thro the savage world. + +Now move secure the cheerful works of peace, +New temples rise and fruitful fields increase. +Where Delaware's wide waves behold with pride +Penn's beauteous town ascending on their side, +The crossing streets in just allinement run, +The walls and pavements sparkle to the sun, +Like that famed city rose the checker'd plan, +Whose spacious towers Semiramis began; +Long ages finish'd what her hand design'd, +The pride of kings and wonder of mankind. + +Newyork ascends o'er Hudson's seaward isles, +And flings the sunbeams from her glittering tiles; +Albania, opening thro the distant wood, +Rolls her rich treasures on her parent flood; +Amid a thousand sails young Boston laves, +High looms majestic Newport o'er the waves, +Patapsco's bay contracts his yielding side, +As spreading Baltimore invades his tide; +Aspiring Richmond tops the bank of James, +And Charleston sways her two contending streams. + +Thro each colonial realm, for wisdom great, +Elected sires assume the cares of state; +Nursed in equality, to freedom bred, +Firm is their step and straight the paths they tread; +Dispensing justice with paternal hand, +By laws of peace they rule the happy land; +While reason's page their statute codes unfold, +And rites and charters flame in figured gold. +All rights that Britons know they here transfuse, +Their sense invigorate and expand their views, +Dare every height of human soul to scan, +Find, fathom, scope the moral breadth of man, +Learn how his social powers may still dilate, +And tone their tension to a stronger state. + +Round the long glade where lordly Laurence strays, +Gaul's migrant sons their forts and villas raise, +Stretch over Canada their colon sway, +And circling far beneath the western day +Plant sylvan Wabash with a watchful post, +O'er Missisippi spread a mantling host, +Bid Louisiana's lovely clime prepare +New arts to prove and infant states to rear; +While the bright lakes, that wide behind them spread, +Unfold their channels to the paths of trade, +Ohio's waves their destined honors claim, +And smile, as conscious of approaching fame. + +But Gallic planters still their trammels wear, +Their feudal genius still attends them here; +Dependent feelings for a distant throne +Gyve the crampt soul that fears to think alone, +Demand their rulers from the parent land, +Laws ready made, and generals to command. +Judge, priest and pedagogue, and all the slaves +Of foreign masters, crowding o'er the waves, +Spread thick the shades of vassalage and sloth, +Absorb their labors and prevent their growth, +Damp every thought that might their tyrants brave, +And keep the vast domain a desert and a grave. + +Too soon the mother states, with jealous fear, +Transport their feuds and homebred quarrels here. +Now Gallia's war-built barks ascend in sight, +White flags unfold, and armies robed in white +On all the frontier streams their forts prepare, +And coop our cantons with surrounding war. +Quebec, as proud she rears her rocky seat, +Feeds their full camp and shades their anchored fleet: +Oswego's rampart frowns athwart his flood, +And wild Ontario swells beneath his load. + +And now a friendly host from Albion's strand +Arrives to aid her young colonial band. +They join their force, and tow'rd the falling day +Impetuous Braddock leads their hasty way; +O'er Allegany heights, like streams of fire, +The red flags wave and glittering arms aspire +To meet the savage hordes, who there advance +Their skulking files to join the arms of France. + +Where, old as earth, yet still unstain'd with blood, +Monongahela roll'd his careless flood, +Flankt with his mantling groves the fountful hills, +Drain'd the vast region thro his thousand rills, +Lured o'er his lawns the buffle herds, and spread +For all his fowls his piscatory glade; +But now perceives, with hostile flag unfurl'd, +A Gallic fortress awe the western world; +There Braddock bends his march; the troops within +Behold their danger and the fire begin. +Forth bursting from the gates they rush amain, +Front, flank and charge the fast approaching train; +The batteries blaze, the leaden volleys pour, +The vales, the streams, the solid mountains roar; +Clouds of convolving smoke the welkin spread, +The champaign shrouding in sulphureous shade. +Lost in the rocking thunder's loud career, +No shouts nor groans invade the Patriarch's ear, +Nor valorous feats are seen, nor flight nor fall, +But one broad burst of darkness buries all; +Till chased by rising winds the smoke withdrew, +And the wide slaughter open'd on his view. +He saw the British leader borne afar, +In dust and gore, beyond the wings of war; +And while delirious panic seized his host, +Their flags, their arms in wild confusion tost, +Bold in the midst a youthful warrior strode, +And tower'd undaunted o'er the field of blood; +He checks the shameful rout, with vengeance burns, +And the pale Britons brighten where he turns. +So, when thick vapors veil the nightly sky, +The starry host in half-seen lustre fly, +Till Phosphor rises o'er the twinkling crowd, +And gives new splendor thro his parting cloud. + +Swift on a fiery steed the stripling rose, +Form'd the light files to pierce the line of foes; +Then waved his gleamy sword that flash'd the day, +And thro the Gallic legions hew'd his way: +His troops press forward like a loose-broke flood, +Sweep ranks away and smear their paths in blood; +The hovering foes pursue the combat far, +And shower their balls along the flying war; +When the new leader turns his single force, +Points the flight forward, speeds his backward course; +The French recoiling half their victory yield, +And the glad Britons quit the fatal field. + +These deathful deeds as great Columbus eyed, +With anxious tone he thus addrest the Guide: +Why combat here these transatlantic bands, +And strow their corses thro thy pathless lands? +Can Europe's realms, the seat of endless strife, +Afford no trophies for the waste of life? +Can monarchs there no proud applauses gain, +No living laurel for their people slain? +Nor Belgia's plains, so fertile made with gore, +Hide heroes' bones nor feast the vultures more? +Will Rhine no longer cleanse the crimson stain, +Nor Danube bear their bodies to the main, +That infant empires here the shock must feel, +And these pure streams with foreign carnage swell? +But who that chief? his name, his nation say, +Whose lifeblood seems his follies to repay; +And who the youth, that from the combat lost +Springs up and saves the remnant of his host? + +The Power replied: Each age successive brings +Their varying views to earth's contentious kings; +Here roll the years when Albion's parent hand, +In aid of thy brave children, guards the land; +That growing states their veteran force may train, +A nobler prize in later fields to gain; +In fields where Albion's self shall turn their foe, +Spread broader sails and aim a deadlier blow, +Recross, in evil hour, the astonish'd wave, +Her own brave sons to ravage and enslave. +But here she combats with the powers of Gaul: +Here her bold Braddock finds his destined fall; +Thy Washington, in that young martial frame, +From yon lost field begins a life of fame. +Tis he, in future straits, with loftier stride, +The colon states to sovereign rule shall guide; +When, prest by wrongs, their own full force they find, +To wield the sword for man, and bulwark humankind. + +The Seraph spoke; when thro the purpled air +The northern armies spread the flames of war. +Swift o'er the lake, to Crownpoint's fortful strand, +Rash Abercrombie leads his headlong band +To fierce unequal fight; the batteries roar, +Shield the strong foes and rake the banner'd shore; +Britannia's sons again the contest yield, +Again proud Gaul triumphant sweeps the field. + +But Amherst quick renews the raging toil, +And drives wide hosting o'er Acadia's isle; +Young Wolfe beside him points the lifted lance, +The boast of Britain and the scourge of France. +The tide of victory here the heroes turn, +And Gallic navies in their harbors burn; +High flame the ships, the billows swell with gore, +And the red standard shades the conquer'd shore. + +Wolfe, now detacht and bent on bolder deeds, +A sail-borne host up sealike Laurence leads, +Stems the long lessening tide; till Abraham's height +And famed Quebec rise frowning into sight. +Swift bounding on the bank, the foe they claim. +Climb the tall mountain like a rolling flame, +Push wide their wings, high bannering bright the air, +And move to fight as comets cope in war. +The smoke falls folding thro the downward sky. +And shrouds the mountain from the Patriarch's eye, +While on the towering top, in glare of day, +The flashing swords in fiery arches play. +As on a side-seen storm, adistance driven, +The flames fork round the semivault of heaven, +Thick thunders roll, descending torrents flow, +Dash down the clouds and whelm the hills below; +Or as on plains of light when Michael strove, +The swords of cherubim to combat move, +Ten thousand fiery forms together fray, +And flash new lightning on empyreal day. + +Long raged promiscuous combat, half conceal'd, +When sudden parle suspended all the field; +Then roar the shouts, the smoke forsakes the plain +And the huge hill is topt with heaps of slain. +Stretch'd high in air Britannia's standard waved, +And good Columbus hail'd his country saved; +While calm and silent, where the ranks retire, +He saw brave Wolfe in victory's arms expire. +So the pale moon, when morning beams arise, +Veils her lone visage in her midway skies; +She needs no longer drive the shades away, +Nor waits to view the glories of the day. + +Again the towns aspire; the cultured field +And crowded mart their copious treasures yield; +Back to his plough the colon soldier moves, +And songs of triumph fill the warbling groves, +The conscious flocks, returning joys that share, +Spread thro the grassland o'er the walks of war, +Streams, freed of gore, their crystal course regain, +Serener sunbeams gild the tentless plain; +A general jubilee, o'er earth and heaven, +Leads the gay morn and lights the lambent even. + +Rejoicing, confident of long repose, +(Their friends triumphant, far retired their foes,) +The British colonies now feel their sway +Span the whole north and crowd the western day. +Acadia, Canada, earth's total side, +From Slave's long lake to Pensacola's tide, +Expand their soils for them; and here unfold +A range of highest hope, a promised age of gold. + +But soon from eastern seas dark vapors rise, +Sweep the vast Occident and shroud the skies, +Snatch all the vision from the Hero's sight, +And wrap the coast in sudden shades of night. +He turn'd, and sorrowful besought the Power: +Why sinks the scene, or must I view no more? +Must here the fame of that young world descend? +Shall our brave children find so quick their end? +Where then the promised grace? "Thou soon shalt see +That half mankind shall owe their seats to thee." + +The Saint replied: Ere long, beneath thy view +The scene shall brighten and thy joys renew. +Here march the troublous years, when goaded sore +Thy sons shall rise to change the ruling power; +When Albion's prince, who sways the happy land, +To lawless rule extends his tyrant hand, +To bind in slavery's bands the peaceful host, +Their rights unguarded and their charters lost. +Now raise thine eye; from this delusive plain; +What nations leap to life, what deeds adorn their fame! + +Columbus look'd; and still around them spread, +From south to north, the immeasurable shade; +At last the central darkness burst away, +And rising regions opened on the day. +Once more bright Delaware's commercial stream +And Penn's throng'd city cast a cheerful gleam; +The dome of state, as conscious of his eye, +Now seem'd to silver in a loftier sky, +Unfolding fair its gates; when lo, within +The assembled states in solemn Congress shine. + +The sires elect from every province came, +Where wide Columbia bore the British name, +Where Freedom's sons their highborn lineage trace, +And homebred bravery still exalts the race: +Her sons who plant each various vast domain +That Chesapeak's uncounted currents drain; +The race who Roanoke's clear stream bestride, +Who fell the pine on Apalachia's side, +To Albemarle's wide wave who trust their store, +Who dike proud Pamlico's unstable shore. +Whose groaning barks o'erload the long Santee, +Wind thro the realms and labor to the sea, +(Their cumbrous cargoes, to the sail consign'd, +Seek distant worlds, and feed and clothe mankind;) +The race whose rice-fields suck Savanna's urn, +Whose verdant vines Oconee's bank adorn; +Who freight the Delaware with golden grain, +Who tame their steeds on Monmouth's flowery plain, +From huge Toconnok hills who drag their ore, +And sledge their corn to Hudson's quay-built shore. +Who keel Connecticut's long meadowy tide, +With patient plough his fallow plains divide, +Spread their white flocks o'er Narraganset's vale, +Or chase to each chill pole the monstrous whale; +Whose venturous prows have borne their fame afar, +Tamed all the seas and steer'd by every star, +Dispensed to earth's whole habitants their store, +And with their biting flukes have harrow'd every shore. + +The virtuous delegates behold with pain +The hostile Britons hovering o'er the main, +Lament the strife that bids two worlds engage, +And blot their annals with fraternal rage; +Two worlds in one broad state! whose bounds bestride, +Like heaven's blue arch, the vast Atlantic tide, +By language, laws and liberty combined, +Great nurse of thought, example to mankind. +Columbia rears her warning voice in vain, +Brothers to brothers call across the main; +Britannia's patriots lend a listening ear, +But kings and courtiers push their mad career; +Dissension raves, the sheathless falchions glare, +And earth and ocean tremble at the war. + +Thus with stern brow, as worn by cares of state, +His bosom big with dark unfolding fate, +High o'er his lance the sacred Eagle spread, +And earth's whole crown still resting on his head, +Rome's hoary Genius rose, and mournful stood +On roaring Rubicon's forbidden flood, +When Cesar's ensigns swept the Alpine air, +Led their long legions from the Gallic war, +Paused on the opposing bank with wings unfurl'd, +And waved portentous o'er the shuddering world. +The god, with outstretch'd arm and awful look, +Call'd the proud victor and prophetic spoke: +Arrest, my son, thy parricidious hate, +Pass not the stream nor stab my filial state, +Stab not thyself, thy friends, thy total kind, +And worlds and ages in one state combined. +The chief, regardless of the warning god, +Rein'd his rude steed and headlong past the flood, +Cried, Farewel, Peace! took Fortune for his guide, +And o'er his country pour'd the slaughtering tide. + +High on the foremost seat, in living light, +Resplendent Randolph caught the world's full sight. +He opes the cause, and points in prospect far +Thro all the toils that wait impending war: +But, reverend sage! thy race must soon be o'er, +To lend thy lustre and to shine no more. +So the mild morning star, from shades of even, +Leads up the dawn and lights the front of heaven, +Points to the waking world the sun's broad way, +Then veils his own, and vaults above the day. +And see bright Washington behind thee rise, +Thy following sun, to gild our morning skies, +O'er shadowy climes to pour enlivening flame, +The charms of freedom and the fire of fame. +For him the patriot bay beheld with pride +The hero's laurel springing by its side; +His sword still sleeping rested on his thigh, +On Britain still he cast a filial eye; +But sovereign fortitude his visage bore, +To meet her legions on the invaded shore. + +Sage Franklin next arose with cheerful mien, +And smiled unruffled o'er the solemn scene; +His locks of age a various wreath embraced, +Palm of all arts that e'er a mortal graced; +Beneath him lay the sceptre kings had borne, +And the tame thunder from the tempest torn. + +Wythe, Mason, Pendleton with Henry join'd, +Rush, Rodney, Langdon, friends of humankind, +Persuasive Dickinson, the former's boast, +Recording Thomson, pride of all the host, +Nash, Jay, the Livingstons, in council great, +Rutledge and Laurens held the rolls of fate, +O'er wide creation turn'd their ardent eyes, +And bade the opprest to selfexistence rise; +All powers of state, in their extended plan, +Spring from consent, to shield the rights of man. +Undaunted Wolcott urged the holy cause, +With steady hand the solemn scene he draws; +Stern thoughtful temperance with his ardorjoin'd, +Nor kings nor worlds could warp his steadfast mind. + +With graceful ease but energetic tones; +And eloquence that shook a thousand thrones, +Majestic Hosmer stood; the expanding soul +Darts from his eyebeams while his accents roll. +But lo! the shaft of death untimely flew, +And fell'd the patriot from the Hero's view; +Wrapt in the funeral shroud he sees descend +The guide of nations and the Muse's friend. +Columbus dropt a tear; while Hesper's eye +Traced the freed spirit mounting thro the sky. + +Each generous Adams, freedom's favorite pair, +And Hancock rose the tyrant's rage to dare, +Groupt with firm Jefferson, her steadiest hope, +Of modest mien but vast unclouded scope. +Like four strong pillars of her state they stand, +They clear from doubt her brave but wavering band; +Colonial charters in their hands they bore, +And lawless acts of ministerial power. +Some injured right in every page appears, +A king in terrors and a land in tears; +From all his guileful plots the veil they drew, +With eye retortive look'd creation thro, +Traced moral nature thro her total plan, +Markt all the steps of liberty and man; +Crowds rose to reason while their accents rung. +And INDEPENDENCE thunder'd from their tongue. + +Columbus turn'd; when rolling to the shore +Swells o'er the seas an undulating roar; +Slow, dark, portentous, as the meteors sweep. +And curtain black the illimitable deep, +High stalks, from surge to surge, a demon Form, +That howls thro heaven and breathes a billowing storm. +His head is hung with clouds; his giant hand +Flings a blue flame far flickering to the land; +His blood-stain'd limbs drip carnage as he strides, +And taint with gory grume the staggering tides; +Like two red suns his quivering eyeballs glare, +His mouth disgorges all the stores of war, +Pikes, muskets, mortars, guns and globes of fire. +And lighted bombs that fusing trails exspire. +Percht on his helmet, two twin sisters rode, +The favorite offspring of the murderous god, +Famine and Pestilence; whom whilom bore +His wife, grim Discord, on Trinacria's shore; +When first their Cyclop sons, from Etna's forge, +Fill'd his foul magazine, his gaping gorge: +Then earth convulsive groan'd, high shriek'd the air. +And hell in gratulation call'd him War. + +Behind the fiend, swift hovering for the coast, +Hangs o'er the wave Britannia's sail-wing'd host; +They crowd the main, they spread their sheets abroad, +From the wide Laurence to the Georgian flood, +Point their black batteries to the peopled shore, +And spouting flames commence the hideous roar. + +Where fortless Falmouth, looking o'er her bay, +In terror saw the approaching thunders play, +The fire begins; the shells o'er arching fly, +And shoot a thousand rainbows thro the sky; +On Charlestown spires, on Bedford roofs they light, +Groton and Fairfield kindle from the flight, +Norwalk expands the blaze; o'er Reading hills +High flaming Danbury the welkin fills; +Esopus burns, Newyork's delightful fanes +And sea-nursed Norfolk light the neighboring plains. +From realm to realm the smoky volumes bend, +Reach round the bays and up the streams extend; +Deep o'er the concave heavy wreaths are roll'd, +And midland towns and distant groves infold. + +Thro solid curls of smoke, the bursting fires +Climb in tall pyramids above the spires, +Concentring all the winds; whose forces, driven +With equal rage from every point of heaven, +Whirl into conflict, round the scantling pour +The twisting flames and thro the rafters roar, +Suck up the cinders, send them sailing far, +To warn the nations of the raging war, +Bend high the blazing vortex, swell'd and curl'd, +Careering, brightening o'er the lustred world, +Absorb the reddening clouds that round them run, +Lick the pale stars, and mock their absent sun: +Seas catch the splendor, kindling skies resound, +And falling structures shake the smouldering ground. + +Crowds of wild fugitives, with frantic tread, +Flit thro the flames that pierce the midnight shade, +Back on the burning domes revert their eyes, +Where some lost friend, some perisht infant lies. +Their maim'd, their sick, their age-enfeebled sires +Have sunk sad victims to the sateless fires; +They greet with one last look their tottering walls, +See the blaze thicken, as the ruin falls, +Then o'er the country train their dumb despair, +And far behind them leave the dancing glare; +Their own crusht roofs still lend a trembling light, +Point their long shadows and direct their flight. +Till wandering wide they seek some cottage door, +Ask the vile pittance due the vagrant poor; +Or faint and faltering on the devious road, +They sink at last and yield their mortal load. + +But where the sheeted flames thro Charlestown roar, +And lashing waves hiss round the burning shore, +Thro the deep folding fires dread Bunker's height +Thunders o'er all and shows a field of fight. +Like nightly shadows thro a flaming grove, +To the dark fray the closing squadrons move; +They join, they break, they thicken thro the glare, +And blazing batteries burst along the war; +Now wrapt in reddening smoke, now dim in sight, +They rake the hill, or wing the downward flight; +Here, wheel'd and wedged, Britannia's veterans turn, +And the long lightnings from their muskets burn; +There scattering strive the thin colonial train, +Whose broken platoons still the field maintain; +Till Britain's fresh battalions rise the height, +And with increasing vollies give the fight. +When, choked with dust, discolor'd deep in gore, +And gall'd on all sides from the ships and shore, +Hesperia's host moves off the field afar, +And saves, by slow retreat, the sad remains of war. + +There strides bold Putnam, and from all the plains +Calls the tired troops, the tardy rear sustains, +And, mid the whizzing balls that skim the lowe, +Waves back his sword, defies the following foe. + +In this prime prelude of the toil that waits +The nascent glories of his infant states, +Columbus mourn'd the slain. A numerous crowd, +Half of each host, had bought their fame with blood; +From the whole hill he saw the lifestream pour, +And sloping pathways trod with tracks of gore. +Here, glorious Warren, thy cold earth was seen, +Here spring thy laurels in immortal green; +Dearest of chiefs that ever prest the plain, +In freedom's cause with early honors slain; +Still dear in death, as when before our sight +You graced the senate, or you led the fight. +The grateful Muse shall tell the world your fame, +And unborn realms resound the deathless name. + +Now from all plains, as settling smokes decay, +The banded freemen rise in open day; +Tall thro the lessening shadows, half conceal'd, +They throng and gather in a central field; +In unskill'd ranks but ardent soul they stand, +Claim quick the foe, and eager strife demand. + +In front firm Washington superior shone, +His eye directed to the half-seen sun; +As thro the cloud the bursting splendors glow, +And light the passage to the distant foe. +His waving steel returns the living day, +And points, thro unfought fields, the warrior's way; +His valorous deeds to be confined no more, +Monongahela, to thy desert shore. +Matured with years, with nobler glory warm, +Fate in his eye and empire on his arm, +He feels his sword the strength of nations wield, +And moves before them with a broader shield. + +Greene rose beside him emulous in arms, +His genius brightening as the danger warms, +In counsel great, in every science skill'd, +Pride of the camp and terror of the field. +With eager look, conspicuous o'er the crowd, +And port majestic, brave Montgomery strode, +Bared his tried blade, with honor's call elate, +Claim'd the first field and hasten'd to his fate. +Lincoln, with force unfolding as he rose, +Scoped the whole war and measured well the foes; +Calm, cautious, firm, for frugal counsels known, +Frugal of other's blood but liberal of his own. +Heath for impending toil his falchion draws, +And fearless Wooster aids the sacred cause, +Mercer advanced an early death to prove, +Sinclair and Mifflin swift to combat move; +Here stood stern Putnam, scored with ancient scars. +The living records of his country's wars; +Wayne, like a moving tower, assumes his post. +Fires the whole field, and is himself a host; +Undaunted Stirling, prompt to meet his foes, +And Gates and Sullivan for action rose; +Macdougal, Clinton, guardians of the state, +Stretch the nerved arm to pierce the depth of fate; +Marion with rapture seized the sword of fame, +Young Laurens graced a father's patriot name; +Moultrie and Sumter lead their banded powers, +Morgan in front of his bold riflers towers, +His host of keen-eyed marksmen, skill'd to pour +Their slugs unerring from the twisted bore. +No sword, no bayonet they learn to wield, +They gall the flank, they skirt the battling field, +Cull out the distant foe in full horse speed, +Couch the long tube and eye the silver bead, +Turn as he turns, dismiss the whizzing lead, +And lodge the death-ball in his heedless head. + +So toil'd the huntsman Tell. His quivering dart, +Prest by the bended bowstring, fears to part, +Dreads the tremendous task, to graze but shun +The tender temples of his infant son; +As the loved youth (the tyrant's victim led) +Bears the poised apple tottering on his head. +The sullen father, with reverted eye, +Now marks the satrap, now the bright-hair'd boy; +His second shaft impatient lies, athirst +To mend the expected error of the first, +To pierce the monster, mid the insulted crowd, +And steep the pangs of nature in his blood. +Deep doubling tow'rd his breast, well poised and slow. +Curve the strain'd horns of his indignant bow; +His left arm straightens as the dexter bends, +And his nerved knuckle with the gripe distends; +Soft slides the reed back with the stiff drawn strand, +Till the steel point has reacht his steady hand; +Then to his keen fixt eye the shank he brings, +Twangs the loud cord, the feather'd arrow sings. +Picks off the pippin from the smiling boy, +And Uri's rocks resound with shouts of joy. +Soon by an equal dart the tyrant bleeds, +The cantons league, the work of fate proceeds; +Till Austria's titled hordes, with their own gore, +Fat the fair fields they lorded long before; +On Gothard's height while freedom first unfurl'd +Her infant banner o'er the modern world. + +Bland, Moylan, Sheldon the long lines enforce +With light-arm'd scouts, with solid squares of horse; +And Knox from his full park to battle brings +His brazen tubes, the last resort of kings. +The long black rows in sullen silence wait, +Their grim jaws gaping, soon to utter fate; +When at his word the carbon clouds shall rise, +And well aim'd thunders rock the shores and skies. + +Two foreign Youths had caught the splendent flame, +To Fame's hard school the warm disciples came; +To learn sage Liberty's unlesson'd lore, +To brave the tempest on her war-beat shore, +Prometheus like, to snatch a beam of day, +And homeward bear the unscintillating ray, +To pour new life on Europe's languid horde, +Where millions crouch beneath one stupid lord. +Tho Austria's keiser and the Russian czar +To dungeons doom them, and with fetters mar, +Fayette o'er Gaul's vast realm some light shall spread, +Brave Kosciusko rear Sarmatia's head; +From Garonne's bank to Duna's wintry skies, +The morn shall move, and slumbering nations rise. +And tho their despots quake with wild alarms, +And lash and agonize the world to arms, +Whelm for a while the untutor'd race in blood, +And turn against themselves the raging flood; +Yet shall the undying dawn, with silent pace, +Reach over earth and every land embrace; +Till Europe's well taught sons the boon shall share, +And bless the labors of the imprison'd Pair. + +So Leda's Twins from Colchis raped the Fleece, +And brought the treasure to their native Greece. +She hail'd her heroes from their finished wars, +Assigned their place amid the cluster'd stars, +Bade round the eternal sky their trophies flame, +And charged the zodiac with their deathless fame. +--Here move the Strangers, here in freedom's cause +His untried blade each stripling hero draws, +On the great chief their eyes in transport roll, +And war and Washington renerve the soul. + +Steuben advanced, in veteran armor drest, +For Prussian lore distinguish'd o'er the rest, +The tactic lore; to this he bends his care, +And here transplants the discipline of war. +Other brave chieftains of illustrious name +Rise into sight and equal honors claim; +But who can tell the dew-drops of the morn, +Or count the rays that in the diamond burn? +--Grieve not, my valiant friends; the faithful song +Shall soon redress the momentary wrong; +Your own bright swords have cleaved your course to fame, +And all her hundred tongues recognize every claim. + +Now the broad field as untaught warriors shade, +The sun's glad beam their shining arms display'd; +High waved great Washington his glittering steel, +Bade the long train in circling order wheel; +And, while the banner'd youths around him prest, +With voice revered he thus the ranks addrest: +Ye generous bands, behold the task to save, +Or yield whole nations to an instant grave. +See hosted myriads crowding to your shore, +Hear from all ports their vollied thunders roar; +From Boston heights their bloody standards play, +O'er long Champlain they lead their northern way, +Virginian banks behold their streamers glide, +And hostile navies load each southern tide. +Beneath their steps your towns in ashes lie, +Your inland empires feast their greedy eye; +Soon shall your fields to lordly parks be turn'd, +Your children butcher'd and your villas burn'd; +While following millions, thro the reign of time. +Who claim their birth in this indulgent clime, +Bend the weak knee, to servile toils consigned, +And sloth and slavery still degrade mankind. +Rise then to war, to timely vengeance rise, +Ere the gray sire, the helpless infant dies; +Look thro the world, see endless years descend, +What realms, what ages on your arms depend! +Reverse the fate, avenge the insulted sky, +Move to the work; we conquer or we die. + +So spoke Columbia's chief; his guiding hand +Points out their march to every ardent band, +Assigns to each brave leader, as they claim, +His test of valor and his task of fame. +With his young host Montgomery first moves forth, +To crush the vast invasion of the north; +O'er streams and lakes their flags far onward play, +Navies and forts surrendering mark their way; +Rocks, fens and deserts thwart the paths they go, +And hills before them lose their crags in snow. +Loud Laurence, clogg'd with ice, indignant feels +Their sleet-clad oars, choked helms and crusted keels; +They buffet long his tides; when rise in sight +Quebec's dread walls, and Wolfe's unclouded height +Already there a few brave patriots stood, +Worn down with toil, by famine half subdued; +Untrench'd before the town, they dare oppose +Their fielded cohorts to the forted foes. +Ah gallant troop! deprived of half the praise +That deeds like yours in other times repays, +Since your prime chief (the favorite erst of fame) +Hath sunk so deep his hateful, hideous name, +That every honest Muse with horror flings +The name unsounded from her sacred strings; +Else what high tones of rapture must have told +The first great action of a chief so bold! +Twas his, twas yours, to brave unusual storms, +To tame rude nature in her drearest forms; +Foodless and guideless, thro that waste of earth, +You march'd long months; and, sore reduced by dearth, +Reach'd the proud capital, too feeble far +To tempt unaided such a task of war; +Till now Montgomery's host, with hopes elate, +Joins your scant powers, to try the test of fate. + +With skilful glance he views the fortress round. +Bristled with pikes, with dark artillery crown'd; +Resolves with naked steel to scale the towers, +And snatch a realm from Britain's hostile powers. +Now drear December's boreal blasts arise, +A roaring hailstorm sweeps the shuddering skies, +Night with condensing horror mantles all, +And trembling watch-lights glimmer from the wall. +From bombs o'erarching, fusing, bursting high, +The glare scarce wanders thro the loaded sky; +And in the louder shock of meteors drown'd, +The accustom'd ear in vain expects the sound. + +He points the assault; and, thro the howling air, +O'er rocky ramparts leads audacious war. +Swift rise the rapid files; the walls are red +With flashing flames, that show the piles of dead; +Till back recoiling from the ranks of slain, +They leave their leader with a feeble train, +Begirt with foes within the sounding wall, +Who thick beneath his single falchion fall. +But short the conflict; others hemm'd him round, +And brave Montgomery prest the gory ground. +A second Wolfe Columbus here beheld, +In youthful charms, a soul undaunted yield; +Forlorn, o'erpower'd, his hardy host remains, +Stretch'd by his side, or led in captive chains. +Macpherson, Cheesman share their general's doom; +Meigs, Morgan, Dearborn, planning deeds to come, +Resign impatient prisoners; soon to wield +Their happier swords in many a broader field. + +Triumphant to Newyork's ill forted post +Britannia turns her vast amphibious host, +That seas and storms, obedient to her hand, +Heave and discharge on every distant land; +Fleets, floating batteries shake Manhattan's shore, +And Hellgate rocks reverberate the roar. +Swift o'er the shuddering isles that line the bay +The red flags wave, and battering engines play; +Howe leads aland the interminable train, +While his bold brother still bestorms the main, +Great Albion's double pride; both famed afar +On each vext element, each world of war; +Where British rapine follows peaceful toil, +And murders nations but to seize their spoil. + +Wide sweep the veteran myriads o'er the strand, +Outnumbering thrice the raw colonial band; +Flatbush and Harlem sink beneath their fires, +Brave Stirling yields, and Sullivan retires. +In vain sage Washington, from hill to hill, +Plays round his foes with more than Fabian skill, +Retreats, advances, lures them to his snare, +To balance numbers by the shifts of war. +For not their swords alone, but fell disease +Thins his chill camp and chokes the neighboring seas. +The baleful malady, from Syrius sent, +floats in each breeze, impesting every tent, +Strikes the young soldier with the morning ray, +And lays him lifeless ere the close of day, +Far from his father's house, his mother's care, +And all the charities that nursed him there. + +Damp'd is the native rage that first impell'd +The insulted colons to the battling field; +When first their high-soul'd sentiment of right +And full-vein'd vigor nerved their arm to fight. +For stript of health, benumb'd thy vital flood, +Thy muscles lax'd and decomposed thy blood, +What is thy courage, man? a foodless flame, +A light unseen, a soul without a frame. + +Each day the decimated ranks forgo +Their dying comrades to repulse the foe, +And each damp night, along the slippery trench, +Breathe at their post the suffocating stench; +They sink by hundreds on the vapory soil, +Till a new fight relieves their deadlier toil. +At last from fruitless combat, sore defeat, +To Croton hills they lead a long retreat; +Pale, curbed, exanimate, in dull despair, +Train the scant relics of the twofold war: +The sword, the pestilence press hard behind; +The body both assail, and one beats down the mind. + + + + +Book VI. + + + +Argument. + + + British cruelty to American prisoners. Prison Ship. Retreat of + Washington with the relics of his army, pursued by Howe. Washington + recrossing the Delaware in the night, to surprise the British van, is + opposed by uncommon obstacles. His success in this audacious enterprise + lays the foundation of the American empire. A monument to be ere + on the bank of the Delaware. Approach of Burgoyne, sailing up the St. + Laurence with an army of Britons and various other nations. Indignant + energy of the colonies, compared to that of Greece in opposing the + invasion of Xerxes. Formation of an army of citizens, under the command + of Gates. Review of the American and British armies, and of the savage + tribes who join the British standard. Battle of Saratoga. Story of + Lucinda. Second battle, and capture of Burgoyne and his army. + + +But of all tales that war's black annals hold, +The darkest, foulest still remains untold; +New modes of torture wait the shameful strife, +And Britain wantons in the waste of life. + +Cold-blooded Cruelty, first fiend of hell, +Ah think no more with savage hordes to dwell; +Quit the Caribian tribes who eat their slain, +Fly that grim gang, the Inquisitors of Spain, +Boast not thy deeds in Moloch's shrines of old, +Leave Barbary's pirates to their blood-bought gold, +Let Holland steal her victims, force them o'er +To toils and death on Java's morbid shore; +Some cloak, some color all these crimes may plead; +Tis avarice, passion, blind religion's deed; +But Britons here, in this fraternal broil, +Grave, cool, deliberate in thy service toil. +Far from the nation's eye, whose nobler soul +Their wars would humanize, their pride control, +They lose the lessons that her laws impart, +And change the British for the brutal heart. +Fired by no passion, madden'd by no zeal, +No priest, no Plutus bids them not to feel; +Unpaid, gratuitous, on torture bent, +Their sport is death, their pastime to torment; +All other gods they scorn, but bow the knee, +And curb, well pleased, O Cruelty, to thee. + +Come then, curst goddess, where thy votaries reign, +Inhale their incense from the land and main; +Come to Newyork, their conquering arms to greet, +Brood o'er their camp and breathe along their fleet; +The brother chiefs of Howe's illustrious name +Demand thy labors to complete their fame. +What shrieks of agony thy praises sound! +What grateless dungeons groan beneath the ground! +See the black Prison Ship's expanding womb +Impested thousands, quick and dead, entomb. +Barks after barks the captured seamen bear, +Transboard and lodge thy silent victims there; +A hundred scows, from all the neighboring shore, +Spread the dull sail and ply the constant oar, +Waft wrecks of armies from the well fought field, +And famisht garrisons who bravely yield; +They mount the hulk, and, cramm'd within the cave, +Hail their last house, their living, floating grave. + +She comes, the Fiend! her grinning jaws expand, +Her brazen eyes cast lightning o'er the strand, +Her wings like thunder-clouds the welkin sweep, +Brush the tall spires and shade the shuddering deep; +She gains the deck, displays her wonted store, +Her cords and scourges wet with prisoners' gore; +Gripes, pincers, thumb-screws spread beneath her feet, +Slow poisonous drugs and loads of putrid meat; +Disease hangs drizzling from her slimy locks, +And hot contagion issues from her box. + +O'er the closed hatches ere she takes her place, +She moves the massy planks a little space, +Opes a small passage to the cries below, +That feast her soul on messages of woe; +There sits with gaping ear and changeless eye, +Drinks every groan and treasures every sigh, +Sustains the faint, their miseries to prolong, +Revives the dying and unnerves the strong. + +But as the infected mass resign their breath. +She keeps with joy the register of death. +As tost thro portholes from the encumber'd cave, +Corpse after corpse fall dashing in the wave; +Corpse after corpse, for days and months and years, +The tide bears off, and still its current clears; +At last, o'erloaded with the putrid gore, +The slime-clad waters thicken round the shore. +Green Ocean's self, that oft his wave renews, +That drinks whole fleets with all their battling crews, +That laves, that purifies the earth and sky, +Yet ne'er before resign'd his natural dye, +Here purples, blushes for the race he bore +To rob and ravage this unconquer'd shore; +The scaly nations, as they travel by, +Catch the contagion, sicken, gasp and die. + +Now Hesper turns the Hero's tearful eye +To other fields where other standards fly; +For here constrain'd new warfare to disclose, +And show the feats of more than mortal foes, +Where interposing with celestial might, +His own dread labors must decide the fight, +He bids the scene with pomp unusual rise, +To teach Columbus how to read the skies. + +He marks the trace of Howe's triumphant course, +And wheels o'er Jersey plains his gathering force; +Where dauntless Washington, begirt with foes, +Still greater rises as the danger grows, +And wearied troops, o'er kindred warriors slain, +Attend his march thro many a sanguine plain. + +From Hudson's bank to Trenton's wintry strand, +He guards in firm retreat his feeble band; +Britons by thousands on his flanks advance, +Bend o'er his rear and point the lifted lance. +Past Delaware's frozen stream, with scanty force, +He checks retreat; then turning back his course, +Remounts the wave, and thro the mingled roar +Of ice and storm reseeks the hostile shore, +Wrapt in the gloom of night. The offended Flood +Starts from his cave, assumes the indignant god, +Rears thro the parting tide his foamy form, +And with his fiery eyeballs lights the storm. +He stares around him on the host he heard, +Clears his choked urn and smooths his icy beard, +And thus: Audacious chief, this troubled wave +Tempt not; or tempting, here shall gape thy grave. +Is nothing sacred to thy venturous might? +The howling storm, the holy truce of night, +High tossing ice-isles crashing round thy side, +Insidious rocks that pierce the tumbling tide? +Fear then this forceful arm, and hear once more, +Death stands between thee and that shelvy shore. + +The chief beholds the god, and notes his cry, +But onward drives, nor pauses to reply; +Calls to each bark, and spirits every host +To toil, gain, tempt the interdicted coast. +The crews, regardless of the doubling roar, +Breast the strong helm, and wrestle with the oar, +Stem with resurgent prow the struggling spray, +And with phosphoric lanterns shape their way. + +The god perceived his warning words were vain, +And rose more furious to assert his reign, +Lash'd up a loftier surge, and heaved on high +A ridge of billows that obstruct the sky; +And, as the accumulated mass he rolls, +Bares the sharp rocks and lifts the gaping shoals. +Forward the fearless barges plunge and bound, +Top the curl'd wave, or grind the flinty ground, +Careen, whirl, right, and sidelong dasht and tost, +Now seem to reach and now to lose the coast. + +Still unsubdued the sea-drench'd army toils, +Each buoyant skiff the flouncing godhead foils; +He raves and roars, and in delirious woe +Calls to his aid his ancient hoary foe, +Almighty Frost; when thus the vanquish'd Flood +Bespeaks in haste the great earth-rending god: +Father of storms! behold this mortal race +Confound my force and brave me to my face. +Not all my waves by all my tempests driven, +Nor black night brooding o'er the starless heaven, +Can check their course; they toss and plunge amain, +And lo, my guardian rocks project their points in vain. + +Come to my help, and with thy stiffening breath +Clog their strain'd helms, distend their limbs indeath. +Tho ancient enmity our realms divide, +And oft thy chains arrest my laboring tide, +Let strong necessity our cause combine, +Thy own disgrace anticipate in mine; +Even now their oars thy sleet in vain congeals, +Thy crumbling ice-cakes crash beneath their keels; +Their impious arms already cope with ours, +And mortal man defies immortal Powers. + +Roused at the call, the Monarch mounts the storm; +In muriat flakes he robes his nitrous form, +Glares thro the compound, all its blast inhales, +And seas turn crystal where he breathes his gales. +He comes careering o'er his bleak domain, +But comes untended by his usual train; +Hail, sleet and snow-rack far behind him fly, +Too weak to wade thro this petrific sky, +Whose air consolidates and cuts and stings, +And shakes hoar tinsel from its flickering wings. +Earth heaves and cracks beneath the alighting god; +He gains the pass, bestrides the roaring flood, +Shoots from his nostrils one wide withering sheet +Of treasured meteors on the struggling fleet; +The waves conglaciate instant, fix in air, +Stand like a ridge of rocks, and shiver there. +The barks, confounded in their headlong surge, +Or wedged in crystal, cease their oars to urge; +Some with prone prow, as plunging down the deep, +And some remounting o'er the slippery steep +Seem laboring still, but moveless, lifeless all; +And the chill'd army here awaits its fall. + +But Hesper, guardian of Hesperia's right, +From his far heaven looks thro the rayless night; +And, stung to vengeance at the unequal strife, +To save her host, in jeopardy of life, +Starts from his throne, ascends his flamy car. +And turns tremendous to the field of war. +His wheels, resurging from the depth of even, +Roll back the night, streak wide the startled heaven, +Regain their easting with reverted gyres, +And stud their path with scintillating fires. +He cleaves the clouds; and, swift as beams of day, +O'er California sweeps his splendid way; +Missouri's mountains at his passage nod, +And now sad Delaware feels the present god, +And trembles at his tread. For here to fight +Rush two dread Powers of such unmeasured might, +As threats to annihilate his doubtful reign, +Convulse the heaven and mingle earth and main. + +Frost views his brilliant foe with scornful eye, +And whirls a tenfold tempest thro the sky; +Where each fine atom of the immense of air, +Steel'd, pointed, barb'd for unexampled war, +Sings o'er the shuddering ground; when thus he broke +Contemptuous silence, and to Hesper spoke: +Thou comest in time to share their last disgrace, +To change to crystal with thy rebel race, +Stretch thy huge corse o'er Delaware's bank afar, +And learn the force of elemental war. +Or if undying life thy lamp inspire, +Take that one blast and to thy sky retire; +There, roll'd eternal round the heavens, proclaim +Thy own disaster and my deathless fame. + +I come, said Hesper, not to insult the brave, +But break thy sceptre and let loose my wave, +Teach the proud Stream more peaceful tides to roll, +And send thee howling to thy stormy pole; +That drear dominion shall thy rage confine; +This land, these waters and those troops are mine. + +He added not; and now the sable storm, +Pierced by strong splendor, burst before his form; +His visage stern an awful lustre shed, +His pearly planet play'd around his head. +He seized a lofty pine, whose roots of yore +Struck deep in earth, to guard the sandy shore +From hostile ravage of the mining tide, +That rakes with spoils of earth its crumbling side. +He wrencht it from the soil, and o'er the foe +Whirl'd the strong trunk, and aim'd a sweeping blow, +That sung thro air, but miss'd the moving god, +And fell wide crashing on the frozen flood. +For many a rood the shivering ice it tore, +Loosed every bark and shook the sounding shore; +Stroke after stroke with doubling force he plied, +Foil'd the hoar Fiend and pulverized the tide. +The baffled tyrant quits the desperate cause; +From Hesper's heat the river swells and thaws, +The fleet rolls gently to the Jersey coast, +And morning splendors greet the landing host. + +Tis here dread Washington, when first the day +O'er Trenton beam'd to light his rapid way, +Pour'd the rude shock on Britain's vanguard train, +And led whole squadrons in his captive chain; +Where veteran troops to half their numbers yield, +Tread back their steps, or press the sanguine field, +To Princeton plains precipitate their flight, +Thro new disasters and unfinish'd fight, +Resign their conquests by one sad surprise, +Sink in their pride and see their rivals rise. + +Here dawn'd the daystar of Hesperia's fame, +Here herald glory first emblazed her name; +On Delaware's bank her base of empire stands, +The work of Washington's immortal hands; +Prompt at his side while gallant Mercer trod, +And seal'd the firm foundation with his blood. + +In future years, if right the Muse divine, +Some great memorial on this bank shall shine; +A column bold its granite shaft shall rear, +Swell o'er the strand and check the passing air, +Cast its broad image on the watery glade, +And Bristol greet the monumental shade; +Eternal emblem of that gloomy hour, +When the great general left her storm-beat shore, +To tempest, night and his own sword consign'd +His country's fates, the fortunes of mankind. + +Where sealike Laurence, rolling in his pride, +With Ocean's self disputes the tossing tide, +From shore to shore, thro dim distending skies, +Beneath full sails imbanded nations rise. +Britain and Brunswick here their flags unfold, +Here Hessia's hordes, for toils of slaughter sold, +Anspach and Darmstadt swell the hireling train, +Proud Caledonia crowds the masted main, +Hibernian kerns and Hanoverian slaves +Move o'er the decks and darken wide the waves. + +Tall on the boldest bark superior shone +A warrior ensign'd with a various crown; +Myrtles and laurels equal honors join'd, +Which arms had purchased and the Muses twined; +His sword waved forward, and his ardent eye +Seem'd sharing empires in the southern sky. +Beside him rose a herald to proclaim +His various honors, titles, feats and fame; +Who raised an opening scroll, where proudly shone +_Burgoyne and vengeance from the British throne._ + +Champlain receives the congregated host, +And his husht waves beneath the sails are lost; +Ticonderoga rears his rocks in vain, +Nor Edward's walls the weighty shock sustain; +Deep George's loaded lake reluctant guides +Their bounding barges o'er his sacred tides. +State after state the splendid pomp appalls, +Each town surrenders, every fortress falls; +Sinclair retires; and with his feeble train, +In slow retreat o'er many a fatal plain, +Allures their march; wide moves their furious force, +And flaming hamlets mark their wasting course; +Thro fortless realms their spreading ranks are wheel'd, +On Mohawk's wrestern wave, on Bennington's dread field. + +At last where Hudson, with majestic pace, +Swells at the sight, and checks his rapid race, +Thro dark Stillwater slow and silent moves, +And flying troops with sullen pause reproves, +A few firm bands their starry standard rear, +Wheel, front and face the desolating war. +Sudden the patriot flame each province warms, +Deep danger calls, the freemen quit their farms, +Seize their tried muskets, name their chiefs to lead, +Endorse their knapsacks and to vengeance speed. +O'er all the land the kindling ardor flies, +Troop follows troop, and flags on flags arise, +Concentred, train'd, their forming files unite, +Swell into squadrons and demand the fight. + +When Xerxes, raving at his sire's disgrace, +Pour'd his dark millions on the coast of Thrace, +O'er groaning Hellespont his broad bridge hurl'd, +Hew'd ponderous Athos from the trembling world, +Still'd with his weight of ships the struggling main, +And bound the billows in his boasted chain, +Wide o'er proud Macedon he wheel'd his course, +Thrace, Thebes, Thessalia join'd his furious force. +Thro six torn states his hovering swarms increase, +And hang tremendous on the skirts of Greece; +Deep groan the shrines of all her guardian gods, +Sad Pelion shakes, divine Olympus nods, +Shock'd Ossa sheds his hundred hills of snow, +And Tempe swells her murmuring brook below; +Wild in her starts of rage the Pythian shrieks, +Dodona's Oak the pangs of nature speaks, +Eleusis quakes thro all her mystic caves, +And black Trophonius gapes a thousand graves. +But soon the freeborn Greeks to vengeance rise, +Brave Sparta springs where first the danger lies, +Her self-devoted Band, in one steel'd mass, +Plunge in the gorge of death, and choke the Pass, +Athenian youths, the unwieldy war to meet, +Couch the stiff lance, or mount the well arm'd fleet; +They sweep the incumber'd seas of their vast load, +And fat their fields with lakes of Asian blood. + +So leapt our youths to meet the invading hordes, +Fame fired their courage, freedom edged their swords. +Gates in their van on high-hill'd Bemus rose, +Waved his blue steel and dared the headlong foes; +Undaunted Lincoln, laboring on his right, +Urged every arm, and gave them hearts to fight; +Starke, at the dexter flank, the onset claims, +Indignant Herkimer the left inflames; +He bounds exulting to commence the strife. +And buy the victory with his barter'd life. + +And why, sweet Minstrel, from the harp of fame +Withhold so long that once resounding name? +The chief who, steering by the boreal star, +O'er wild Canadia led our infant war, +In desperate straits superior powers display'd, +Burgoyne's dread scourge, Montgomery's ablest aid; +Ridgefield and Compo saw his valorous might +With ill-arm'd swains put veteran troops to flight. +Tho treason foul hath since absorb'd his soul, +Bade waves of dark oblivion round him roll, +Sunk his proud heart abhorrent and abhorr'd, +Effaced his memory and defiled his sword; +Yet then untarnisht roll'd his conquering car; +Then famed and foremost in the ranks of war +Brave Arnold trod; high valor warm'd his breast, +And beams of glory play'd around his crest. +Here toils the chief; whole armies from his eye +Resume their souls, and swift to combat fly. + +Camp'd on a hundred hills, and trench'd in form, +Burgoyne's long legions view the gathering storm; +Uncounted nations round their general stand, +And wait the signal from his guiding hand. +Canadia crowds her Gallic colons there, +Ontario's yelling tribes torment the air, +Wild Huron sends his lurking hordes from far, +Insidious Mohawk swells the woodland war; +Scalpers and ax-men rush from Erie's shore, +And Iroquois augments the war whoop roar; +While all his ancient troops his train supply, +Half Europe's banners waving thro the sky; +Deep squadron'd horse support his endless flanks, +And park'd artillery frowns behind the ranks. +Flush'd with the conquest of a thousand fields, +And rich with spoils that all the region yields, +They burn with zeal to close the long campaign, +And crush Columbia on this final plain. + +His fellow chiefs inhale the hero's flame, +Nerves of his arm and partners in his fame: +Phillips, with treasured thunders poised and wheel'd +In brazen tubes, prepares to rake the field; +The trench-tops darken with the sable rows, +And, tipt with fire, the waving match-rope glows. +There gallant Reidesel in German guise, +And Specht and Breyman, prompt for action, rise; +His savage hordes the murderous Johnson leads, +Files thro the woods and treads the tangled weeds, +Shuns open combat, teaches where to run, +Skulk, couch the ambush, aim the hunter's gun, +Whirl the sly tomahawk, the war whoop sing, +Divide the spoils and pack the scalps they bring. + +Frazer in quest of glory seeks the field;-- +False glare of glory, what hast thou to yield? +How long, deluding phantom, wilt thou blind, +Mislead, debase, unhumanize mankind? +Bid the bold youth, his headlong sword who draws, +Heed not the object, nor inquire the cause; +But seek adventuring, like an errant knight, +Wars not his own, gratuitous in fight, +Greet the gored field, then plunging thro the fire, +Mow down his men, with stupid pride expire, +Shed from his closing eyes the finish'd flame, +And ask, for all his crimes, a deathless name? +And when shall solid glory, pure and bright, +Alone inspire us, and our deeds requite? +When shall the applause of men their chiefs pursue +In just proportion to the good they do, +On virtue's base erect the shrine of fame, +Define her empire, and her code proclaim? + +Unhappy Frazer! little hast thou weigh'd +The crirneful cause thy valor comes to aid. +Far from thy native land, thy sire, thy wife, +Love's lisping race that cling about thy life, +Thy soul beats high, thy thoughts expanding roam +On battles past, and laurels yet to come: +Alas, what laurels? where the lasting gain? +A pompous funeral on a desert plain! +The cannon's roar, the muffled drums proclaim, +In one short blast, thy momentary fame, +And some war minister per-hazard reads +In what far field the tool of placemen bleeds. + +Brave Heartly strode in youth's o'erweening pride; +Housed in the camp he left his blooming bride, +The sweet Lucinda; whom her sire from far, +On steeds high bounding o'er the waste of war, +Had guided thro the lines, and hither led, +That fateful morn, the plighted chief to wed. +He deem'd, deluded sire! the contest o'er, +That routed rebels dared the fight no more; +And came to mingle, as the tumult ceased, +The victor's triumph with the nuptial feast. +They reach'd his tent; when now with loud alarms +The morn burst forth and roused the camp to arms; +Conflicting passions seized the lover's breast, +Bright honor call'd, and bright Lucinda prest:-- +And wilt thou leave me for that clangorous call? +Traced I these deserts but to see thee fall? +I know thy valorous heart, thy zeal that speeds +Where dangers press and boldest battle bleeds. +My father said blest Hymen here should join +With sacred Love to make Lucinda thine; +But other union these dire drums foredoom, +The dark dead union of the eternal tomb. +On yonder plain, soon sheeted o'er with blood, +Our nuptial couch shall prove a crimson clod; +For there this night thy livid corse must lie, +I'll seek it there, and on that bosom die. +Yet go; tis duty calls; but o'er thy head +Let this white plume its floating foliage spread; +That from the rampart, thro the troubled air, +These eyes may trace thee toiling in the war. +She fixt the feather on his crest above, +Bound with the mystic knot, the knot of love; +He parted silent, but in silent prayer +Bade Love and Hymen guard the timorous fair. + +Where Saratoga show'd her champaign side, +That Hudson bathed with still untainted tide, +The opposing pickets push'd their scouting files, +Wheel'd skirmisht, halted, practised all their wiles; +Each to mislead, insnare, exhaust their foes, +And court the conquest ere the armies close. + +Now roll like winged storms the solid lines, +The clarion thunders and the battle joins, +Thick flames in vollied flashes load the air, +And echoing mountains give the noise of war; +Sulphureous clouds rise reddening round the height, +And veil the skies, and wrap the sounding fight. +Soon from the skirts of smoke, where thousands toil, +Ranks roll away and into light recoil; +Starke pours upon them in a storm of lead; +His hosted swains bestrew the field with dead, +Pierce with strong bayonets the German reins, +Whelm two battalions in their captive chains, +Bid Baum, with wounds enfeebled, quit the field, +And Breyman next his gushing lifeblood yield. + +This Frazer sees, and thither turns his course, +Bears down before them with Britannia's force, +Wheels a broad column on the victor flank, +And springs to vengeance thro the foremost rank. +Lincoln, to meet the hero, sweeps the plain; +His ready bands the laboring Starke sustain; +Host matching host, the doubtful battle burns, +And now the Britons, now their foes by turns +Regain the ground; till Frazer feels the force +Of a rude grapeshot in his flouncing horse; +Nor knew the chief, till struggling from the fall, +That his gored thigh had first received the ball. +He sinks expiring on the slippery soil; +Shock'd at the sight, his baffled troops recoil; +Where Lincoln, pressing with redoubled might, +Broke thro their squadrons and confirmed the flight; +When this brave leader met a stunning blow, +That stopt his progress and avenged the foe. +He left the field; but prodigal of life, +Unwearied Francis still prolong'd the strife; +Till a chance carabine attained his head, +And stretch'd the hero mid the vulgar dead. +His near companions rush with ardent gait, +Swift to revenge, but soon to share his fate; +Brown, Adams, Coburn, falling side by side, +Drench the chill sod with all their vital tide. + +Firm on the west bold Herkimer sustains +The gather'd shock of all Canadia's trains; +Colons and wildmen post their skulkers there, +Outflank his pickets and assail his rear, +Drive in his distant scouts with hideous blare, +And press, on three sides close, the hovering war. +Johnson's own shrieks commence the deafening din, +Rouse every ambush and the storm begin. +A thousand thickets, thro each opening glen, +Pour forth their hunters to the chase of men; +Trunks of huge trees, and rocks and ravines lend +Unnumber'd batteries and their files defend; +They fire, they squat, they rise, advance and fly, +And yells and groans alternate rend the sky. +The well aim'd hatchet cleaves the helmless head, +Mute showers of arrows and loud storms of lead +Rain thick from hands unseen, and sudden fling +A deep confusion thro the laboring wing. + +But Herkimer undaunted quits the stand, +Breaks in loose files his disencumbered band, +Wheels on the howling glens each light-arm'd troop, +And leads himself where Johnson tones his whoop, +Pours thro his copse a well directed fire; +The semisavage sees his tribes retire, +Then follows thro the brush in full horse speed, +And gains the hilltop where the Hurons lead; +Here turns his courser; when a grateful sight +Recals his stragglers, and restrains his flight. +For Herkimer no longer now sustains +The loss of blood that his faint vitals drains: +A ball had pierced him ere he changed his field; +The slow sure death his prudence had conceal'd, +Till dark derouted foes should yield to flight, +And his firm friends could finish well the fight. + +Lopt from his horse the hero sinks at last; +The Hurons ken him, and with hallooing blast +Shake the vast wilderness; the tribes around +Drink with broad ears and swell the rending sound, +Rush back to vengeance with tempestuous might, +Sweep the long slopes from every neighboring height, +Full on their check'd pursuers; who regain, +From all their woods, the first contested plain. +Here open fight begins; and sure defeat +Had forced that column to a swift retreat, +But Arnold, toiling thro the distant smoke, +Beheld their plight, a small detachment took, +Bore down behind them with his field-park loud, +And hail'd his grapeshot thro the savage crowd; +Strow'd every copse with dead, and chased afar +The affrighted relics from the skirts of war. + +But on the centre swells the heaviest charge, +The squares develop and the lines enlarge. +Here Kosciusko's mantling works conceal'd +His batteries mute, but soon to scour the field; +Morgan with all his marksmen flanks the foe, +Hull, Brooks and Courtlandt in the vanguard glow; +Here gallant Dearborn leads his light-arm'd train, +Here Scammel towers, here Silly shakes the plain. + +Gates guides the onset with his waving brand, +Assigns their task to each unfolding band, +Sustains, inspirits, prompts the warrior's rage, +Now bids the flank and now the front engage, +Points the stern riflers where their slugs to pour, +And tells the unmasking batteries when to roar. +For here impetuous Powell wheels and veers +His royal guards, his British grenadiers; +His Highland broadswords cut their wasting course, +His horse-artillery whirls its furious force. +Here Specht and Reidesel to battle bring +Their scattering yagers from each folding wing; +And here, concentred in tremendous might, +Britain's whole park, descending to the fight, +Roars thro the ranks; tis Phillips leads the train, +And toils and thunders o'er the shuddering plain. + +Burgoyne, secure of victory, from his height, +Eyes the whole field and orders all the fight, +Marks where his veterans plunge their fiercest fire, +And where his foes seem halting to retire, +Already sees the starry staff give way. +And British ensigns gaining on the day; +When from the western wing, in steely glare, +All-conquering Arnold surged the tide of war. +Columbia kindles as her hero comes; +Her trump's shrill clangor and her deafening drums +Redoubling sound the charge; they rage, they burn, +And hosted Europe trembles in her turn. +So when Pelides' absence check'd her fate, +All Ilion issued from her guardian gate; +Her huddling squadrons like a tempest pour'd, +Each man a hero and each dart a sword, +Full on retiring Greece tumultuous fall, +And Greece reluctant seeks her sheltering wall; +But Pelius' son rebounding o'er the plain, +Troy backward starts and seeks her towers again. + +Arnold's dread falchion, with terrific sway, +Rolls on the ranks and rules the doubtful day, +Confounds with one wide sweep the astonish'd foes, +And bids at last the scene of slaughter close. +Pale rout begins, Britannia's broken train +Tread back their steps and scatter from the plain, +To their strong camp precipitate retire, +And wide behind them streams the roaring fire. + +Meantime, the skirts of war as Johnson gored, +His kindred cannibals desert their lord; +They scour the waste for undistinguish'd prey, +Howl thro the night the horrors of the day, +Scalp every straggler from all parties stray'd, +Each wounded wanderer thro the moonlight glade; +And while the absent armies give them place, +Each camp they plunder and each world disgrace. + +One deed shall tell what fame great Albion draws +From these auxiliars in her barbarous cause, +Lucinda's fate; the tale, ye nations, hear; +Eternal ages, trace it with a tear. +Long from the rampart, thro the imbattled field, +She spied her Heartly where his column wheel'd, +Traced him with steadfast eye and tortured breast, +That heaved in concert with his dancing crest; +And oft, with head advanced and hand outspread, +Seem'd from her Love to ward the flying lead; +Till, dimm'd by distance and the gathering cloud; +At last he vanish'd in the warrior crowd. +She thought he fell; and wild with fearless air, +She left the camp to brave the woodland war, +Made a long circuit, all her friends to shun, +And wander'd wide beneath the falling sun; +Then veering to the field, the pickets past, +To gain the hillock where she miss'd him last. +Fond maid, he rests not there; from finish'd fight +He sought the camp, and closed the rear of flight. + +He hurries to his tent;--oh rage! despair! +No glimpse, no tidings of the frantic fair; +Save that some carmen, as acamp they drove, +Had seen her coursing for the western grove. +Faint with fatigue and choked with burning thirst, +Forth from his friends with bounding leap he burst, +Vaults o'er the palisade with eyes on flame, +And fills the welkin with Lucinda's name, +Swift thro the wild wood paths phrenetic springs,-- +Lucind! Lucinda! thro the wild wood rings. +All night he wanders; barking wolves alone +And screaming night-birds answer to his moan; +For war had roused them from their savage den; +They scent the field, they snuff the walks of men. + +The fair one too, of every aid forlorn, +Had raved and wander'd, till officipus morn +Awaked the Mohawks from their short repose, +To glean the plunder, ere their comrades rose. +Two Mohawks met the maid,--historian, hold!-- +Poor Human Nature! must thy shame be told? +Where then that proud preeminence of birth, +Thy Moral Sense? the brightest boast of earth. +Had but the tiger changed his heart for thine, +Could rocks their bowels with that heart combine, +Thy tear had gusht, thy hand relieved her pain, +And led Lucinda to her lord again. + +She starts, with eyes upturn'd and fleeting breath, +In their raised axes views her instant death, +Spreads her white hands to heaven in frantic prayer, +Then runs to grasp their knees, and crouches there. +Her hair, half lost along the shrubs she past, +Rolls in loose tangles round her lovely waist; +Her kerchief torn betrays the globes of snow +That heave responsive to her weight of woe. +Does all this eloquence suspend the knife? +Does no superior bribe contest her life? +There does: the scalps by British gold are paid; +A long-hair'd scalp adorns that heavenly head; +Arid comes the sacred spoil from friend or foe, +No marks distinguish, and no man can know. + +With calculating pause and demon grin, +They seize her hands, and thro her face divine +Drive the descending ax; the shriek she sent +Attain'd her lover's ear; he thither bent +With all the speed his wearied limbs could yield, +Whirl'd his keen blade, and stretch'd upon the field +The yelling fiends; who there disputing stood +Her gory scalp, their horrid prize of blood. +He sunk delirious on her lifeless clay, +And past, in starts of sense, the dreadful day. + +Are these thy trophies, Carleton! these the swords +Thy hand unsheath'd and gave the savage hordes, +Thy boasted friends, by treaties brought from far, +To aid thy master in his murderous war? + +But now Britannia's chief, with proud disdain +Coop'd in his camp, demands the field again. +Back to their fate his splendid host he drew, +Swell'd high their rage, and led the charge anew; +Again the batteries roar, the lightnings play, +Again they fall, again they roll away; +For now Columbia, with rebounding might, +Foil'd quick their columns, but confined their flight. +Her wings, like fierce tornados, gyring ran, +Crusht their wide flanks and gain'd their flying van; +Here Arnold charged; the hero storm'd and pour'd +A thousand thunders where he turn' +No pause, no parley; onward far he fray'd, +Dispersed whole squadrons every bound he made, +Broke thro their rampart, seized theircampand stores +And pluck'd the standard from their broken towers. + +Aghast, confounded in the midway field, +They drop their arms; the banded nations yield. +When sad Burgoyne, in one disastrous day, +Sees future crowns and former wreaths decay, +His banners furl'd, his long battalions wheel'd +To pile their muskets on the battle field; +While two pacific armies shade one plain, +The mighty victors and the captive train. + + + + +Book VII. + + + + +Argument. + + + Coast of France rises in vision. Louis, to humble the British power, + forms an alliance with the American states. This brings France, Spain + and Holland into the war, and rouses Hyder Ally to attack the English + in India. The vision returns to America, where the military operations + continue with various success. Battle of Monmouth. Storming of + Stonypoint by Wayne. Actions of Lincoln, and surrender of Charleston. + Movements of Cornwallis. Actions of Greene, and battle of Eutaw. French + army arrives, and joins the American. They march to besiege the English + army of Cornwallis in York and Gloster. Naval battle of Degrasse and + Graves. Two of their ships grappled and blown up. Progress of the + siege. A citadel mined and blown up. Capture of Cornwallis and his + army. Their banners furled and muskets piled on the field of battle. + + +Thus view'd the Pair; when lo, in eastern skies, +From glooms unfolding, Gallia's coasts arise. +Bright o'er the scenes of state a golden throne, +Instarr'd with gems and hung with purple, shone; +Young Bourbon there in royal splendor sat, +And fleets and moving armies round him wait. +For now the contest, with increased alarms, +Fill'd every court and roused the world to arms; +As Hesper's hand, that light from darkness brings, +And good to nations from the scourge of kings, +In this dread hour bade broader beams unfold, +And the new world illuminate the old. + +In Europe's realms a school of sages trace +The expanding dawn that waits the Reasoning Race; +On the bright Occident they fix their eyes, +Thro glorious toils where struggling nations rise; +Where each firm deed, each new illustrious name +Calls into light a field of nobler fame: +A field that feeds their hope, confirms the plan +Of well poized freedom and the weal of man. +They scheme, they theorize, expand their scope, +Glance o'er Hesperia to her utmost cope; +Where streams unknown for other oceans stray, +Where suns unseen their waste of beams display, +Where sires of unborn nations claim their birth, +And ask their empires in those wilds of earth. +While round all eastern climes, with painful eye, +In slavery sunk they see the kingdoms lie, +Whole states exhausted to enrich a throne, +Their fruits untasted and their rights unknown; +Thro tears of grief that speak the well taught mind, +They hail the æra that relieves mankind. + +Of these the first, the Gallic sages stand, +And urge their king to lift an aiding hand. +The cause of humankind their souls inspired, +Columbia's wrongs their indignation fired; +To share her fateful deeds their counsel moved, +To base in practice what in theme they proved: +That no proud privilege from birth can spring, +No right divine, nor compact form a king; +That in the people dwells the sovereign sway, +Who rule by proxy, by themselves obey; +That virtues, talents are the test of awe, +And Equal Rights the only source of law. +Surrounding heroes wait the monarch's word, +In foreign fields to draw the patriot sword, +Prepared with joy to join those infant powers, +Who build republics on the western shores. + +By honest guile the royal ear they bend, +And lure him on, blest Freedom to defend; +That, once recognised, once establisht there, +The world might learn her profer'd boon to share. +But artful arguments their plan disguise, +Garb'd in the gloss that suits a monarch's eyes. +By arms to humble Britain's haughty power, +From her to sever that extended shore, +Contents his utmost wish. For this he lends +His powerful aid, and calls the opprest his friends. +The league proposed, he lifts his arm to save, +And speaks the borrow'd language of the brave: + +Ye states of France, and ye of rising name +Who work those distant miracles of fame, +Hear and attend; let heaven the witness bear, +We wed the cause, we join the righteous war. +Let leagues eternal bind each friendly land, +Given by our voice, and stablisht by our hand; +Let that brave people fix their infant sway, +And spread their blessings with the bounds of day. +Yet know, ye nations; hear, ye Powers above, +Our purposed aid no views of conquest move; +In that young world revives no ancient claim +Of regions peopled by the Gallic name; +Our envied bounds, already stretch'd afar, +Nor ask the sword, nor fear encroaching war; +But virtue, coping with the tyrant power +That drenches earth in her best children's gore, +With nature's foes bids former compact cease; +We war reluctant, and our wish is peace; +For man's whole race the sword of France we draw; +Such is our will, and let our will be law. + +He spoke; his moving armies veil'd the plain, +His fleets rode bounding on the western main; +O'er lands and seas the loud applauses rung, +And war and union dwelt on every tongue. + +The other Bourbon caught the splendid strain, +To Gallia's arms he joins the powers of Spain; +Their sails assemble; Crillon lifts the sword, +Minorca bows and owns her ancient lord. +But while dread Elliott shakes the Midland wave, +They strive in vain the Calpian rock to brave. +Batavia's states with equal speed prepare +Thro western isles to meet the naval war; +For Albion there rakes rude the tortured main, +And foils the force of Holland, France and Spain. + +Where old Indostan still perfumes the skies, +To furious strife his ardent myriads rise; +Fierce Hyder there, unconquerably bold, +Bids a new flag its horned moons unfold, +Spreads o'er Carnatic kings his splendid force, +And checks the Britons in their waiting course. + +Europe's pacific powers their counsels join, +The laws of trade to settle and define. +The imperial Moscovite around him draws +Each Baltic state to join the righteous cause; +Whose arm'd Neutrality the way prepares +To check the ravages of future wars; +Till by degrees the wasting sword shall cease, +And commerce lead to universal peace. + +Thus all the ancient world with anxious eyes +Enjoy the lights that gild Atlantic skies, +Wake to new life, assume a borrow'd flame, +Enlarge the lustre and partake the fame. +So mounts of ice, that polar heavens invade, +Tho piled unseen thro night's long wintry shade. +When morn at last illumes their glaring throne, +Give back the day and imitate the sun. + +But still Columbus, on his war-beat shore, +Sees Albion's fleets her new battalions pour; +The states unconquer'd still their terrors wield, +And stain with mingled gore the embattled field. +On Pennsylvania's various plains they move, +And adverse armies equal slaughter prove; +Columbia mourns her Nash in combat slain, +Britons around him press the gory plain; +Skirmish and cannonade and distant fire +Each power diminish and each nation tire. +Till Howe from fruitless toil demands repose, +And leaves despairing in a land of foes +His wearied host; who now, to reach their fleet, +O'er Jersey hills commence their long retreat, +Tread back the steps their chief had led before, +And ask in vain the late abandon'd shore, +Where Hudson meets, the main; for on their rear +Columbia moves; and checks their swift career. + +But where green Monmouth lifts his grassy height, +They halt, they face, they dare the coming fight. +Howe's proud successor, Clinton, hosting there, +To tempt once more the desperate chance of war, +Towers at their head, in hopes to work relief, +And mend the errors of his former chief. +Here shines his day; and here with loud acclaim +Begins and ends his little task of fame. +He vaults before them with his balanced blade, +Wheels the bright van, and forms the long parade; +Where Britons, Hessians crowd the glittering field, +And all their powers for ready combat wield. +As the dim sun, beneath the skirts of even, +Crimsons the clouds that sail the western heaven; +So, in red wavy rows, where spread the train +Of men and standards, shone the fateful plain. + +They shone, till Washington obscured their light, +And his long ranks roll'd forward to the fight. +He points the charge; the mounted thunders roar, +And rake the champaign to the distant shore. +Above the folds of smoke that veil the war, +His guiding sword illumes the fields of air; +And vollied flames, bright bursting o'er the plain, +Break the brown clouds, discovering far the slain: +Till flight begins; the smoke is roll'd away, +And the red standards open into day. +Britons and Germans hurry from the field, +Now wrapt in dust, and now to sight reveal'd; +Behind, swift Washington his falchion drives, +Thins the pale ranks, but saves submissive lives. +Hosts captive bow and move behind his arm, +And hosts before him wing the sounding storm; +When the glad sea salutes their fainting sight, +And Albion's fleet wide thundering aids their flight; +They steer to sad Newyork their hasty way, +And rue the toils of Monmouth's mournful day. + +But Hudson still, with his interior tide, +Laves a rude rock that bears Britannia's pride, +Swells round the headland with indignant roar, +And mocks her thunders from his murmuring shore; +When a firm cohort starts from Peekskill plain, +To crush the invaders and the post regain. +Here, gallant Hull, again thy sword is tried, +Meigs, Fleury, Butler, laboring side by side, +Wayne takes the guidance, culls the vigorous band, +Strikes out the flint, and bids the nervous hand +Trust the mute bayonet and midnight skies, +To stretch o'er craggy walls the dark surprise. +With axes, handspikes on the shoulder hung, +And the sly watchword whisper'd from the tongue, +Thro different paths the silent march they take, +Plunge, climb the ditch, the palisado break, +Secure each sentinel, each picket shun, +Grope the dim postern where the byways run. +Soon the roused garrison perceives its plight; +Small time to rally and no means of flight, +They spring confused to every post they know, +Point their poized cannon where they hear the foe, +Streak the dark welkin with the flames they pour, +And rock the mountain with convulsive roar. + +The swift assailants still no fire return, +But, tow'rd the batteries that above them burn, +Climb hard from crag to crag; and scaling higher +They pierce the long dense canopy of fire +That sheeted all the sky; then rush amain, +Storm every outwork, each dread summit gain, +Hew timber'd gates, the sullen drawbridge fall, +File thro and form within the sounding wall. +The Britons strike their flag, the fort forgo, +Descend sad prisoners to the plain below. +A thousand veterans, ere the morning rose, +Received their handcuffs from five hundred foes; +And Stonypoint beheld, with dawning day, +His own starr'd standard on his rampart play. + +From sack'd Savanna, whelm'd in hostile fires, +A few raw troops brave Lincoln now retires; 2l +With rapid march to suffering Charleston goes, +To meet the myriads of concentring foes, +Who shade the pointed strand. Each fluvial flood +Their gathering fleets and floating batteries load, +Close their black sails, debark the amphibious host, +And with their moony anchors fang the coast. + +The bold beleaguer'd post the hero gains, +And the hard siege with various fate sustains. +Cornwallis, towering at the British van, +In these fierce toils his wild career began; +He mounts the forky streams, and soon bestrides +The narrow neck that parts converging tides, +Sinks the deep trench, erects the mantling tower, +Lines with strong forts the desolated shore, +Hems on all sides the long unsuccour'd place, +With mines and parallels contracts the space; +Then bids the battering floats his labors crown, +And pour their bombard on the shuddering town. + +High from the decks the mortar's bursting fires +Sweep the full streets, and splinter down the spires. +Blaze-trailing fuses vault the night's dim round, +And shells and langrage lacerate the ground; +Till all the tented plain, where heroes tread, +Is torn with crags and cover'd with the dead. +Each shower of flames renews the townsmen's woe, +They wail the fight, they dread the cruel foe. +Matrons in crowds, while tears bedew their charms, +Babes at their sides and infants in their arms, +Press round their Lincoln and his hand implore, +To save them trembling from the tyrant's power. +He shares their anguish with a moistening eye, +And bids the balls rain thicker thro the sky; +Tries every aid that art and valor yield, +The sap, the countermine, the battling field, +The bold sortie, by famine urged afar, +That dreadful daughter of earth-wasting War. +But vain the conflict now; on all the shore +The foes in fresh brigades around him pour; +He yields at last the well contested prize, +And freedom's banners quit the southern skies. + +The victor Britons soon the champaign tread, +And far anorth their fire and slaughter spread; +Thro fortless realms, where unarm'd peasants fly, +Cornwallis bears his bloody standard high; +O'er Carolina rolls his growing force, +And thousands fall and thousands aid his course; +While in his march athwart the wide domain, +Colonial dastards join his splendid train. +So mountain streams thro slopes of melting snow +Swell their foul waves and flood the world below. + +Awhile the Patriarch saw, with heaving sighs, +These crimson flags insult the saddening skies, +Saw desolation whelm his favorite coast, +His children scattered and their vigor lost, +Dekalb in furious combat press the plain, +Morgan and Smallwood every shock sustain, +Gates, now no more triumphant, quit the field, +Indignant Davidson his lifeblood yield, +Blount, Gregory, Williamson, with souls of fire +But slender force, from hill to hill retire; +When Greene in lonely greatness takes the ground, +And bids at last the trump of vengeance sound. + +A few firm patriots to the chief repair, +Raise the star standard and demand the war. +But o'er the regions as he turns his eyes, +What foes develop! and what forts arise! +Rawdon with rapid marches leads their course, +From state to state Cornwallis whirls their force, +Impetuous Tarleton like a torrent pours, +And fresh battalions land along the shores; +Where, now resurgent from his captive chain, +Phillips wide storming shakes the field again; +And traitor Arnold, lured by plunder o'er, +Joins the proud powers his valor foil'd before. + +Greene views the tempest with collected soul, +Arid fates of empires in his bosom roll; +So small his force, where shall he lift the steel? +(Superior hosts o'er every canton wheel) +Or how behold their wanton carnage spread, +Himself stand idle and his country bleed? +Fixt in a moment's pause the general stood, +And held his warriors from the field of blood; +Then points the British legions where to steer, +Marks to their chief a rapid wild career, +Wide o'er Virginia lets him foeless roam, +To search for pillage and to find his doom, +With short-lived glory feeds his sateless flame, +But leaves the victory to a nobler name, +Gives to great Washington to meet his way, +Nor claims the honors of so bright a day. + +Now to the conquer'd south he turns his force, +Renerves the nation by his rapid course; +Forts fall around him, hosts before him fly, +And captive bands his growing train supply; +A hundred leagues of coast, in one campaign, +Return reconquer'd to their lords again. +At last Britannia's vanguard, near the strand, +Veers on her foe to make one vigorous stand. +Her gallant Stuart here amass'd from far +The veteran legions of the Georgian war, +To aid her hard-pusht powers, and quick restore +The British name to that extended shore. +He checks their flight, and chooses well their field, +Flank'd with a marsh, by lofty woods concealed; +Where Eutaw's fountains, tinged of old with gore, +Still murmuring swell'd amid the bones they bore, +Destined again to foul their pebbly stream, +The mournful monuments of human fame; +There Albion's columns, ranged in order bright, +Stand like a fiery wall and wait the shock of fight. + +Swift on the neighboring hill as Greene arose, +He view'd, with rapid glance, the glittering foes, +Disposed for combat all his ardent train, +To charge, change front, each echelon sustain; +Roused well their rage, superior force to prove, +Waved his bright blade and bade the onset move. +As hovering clouds, when morning beams arise, +Hang their red curtains round our eastern skies, +Unfold a space to hail the promised sun, +And catch their splendors from his rising throne; +Thus glow'd the opposing fronts, whose steely glare +Glanced o'er the shuddering interval of war. + +From Albion's left the cannonade began, +And pour'd thick thunders on Hesperia's van, +Forced in her dexter guards, that skirmisht wide +To prove what powers the forest hills might hide; +They break, fall back, with measured quickstep tread, +Form close, and flank the solid squares they led. +Now roll, with kindling haste, the long stark lines, +From wing to wing the sounding battle joins; +Batteries and field-parks and platoons of fire, +In mingled shocks their roaring blasts exspire. +Each front approaching fast, with equal pace, +Devours undaunted their dividing space; +Till, dark beneath the smoke, the meeting ranks +Slope their strong bayonets, with short firm shanks +Protruded from their tubes; each bristling van, +Steel fronting steel, and man encountering man, +In dreadful silence tread. As, wrapt from sight, +The nightly ambush moves to secret fight; +So rush the raging files, and sightless close +In plunging thrust with fierce conflicting foes. +They reach, they strike, they stagger o'er the slain, +Deal doubtful blows, or closing clench their man, +Intwine their twisting limbs, the gun forgo, +Wrench off the bayonet and dirk the foe; +Then struggling back, reseize the musket bare, +Club the broad breech, and headlong whirl to war +Ranks crush on ranks with equal slaughter gored; +Warm dripping streams from every lifted sword +Stain the thin carnaged corps who still maintain, +With mutual shocks, the vengeance of the plain. +At last where Williams fought and Campbell fell, +Unwonted strokes the British line repel. +The rout begins; the shattered wings afar +Roll back in haste and scatter from the war; +They drop their arms, they scour the marshy field, +Whole squadrons fall and faint battalions yield. + +The great Observer, fixt in his midsky, +View'd the whole combat, saw them fall and fly: +He mark'd where Greene with every onset drove, +Saw death and victory with his presence move, +Beneath his arm saw Marion, Sumter, Gaine, +Pickens and Sumner shake the astonish'd plain; +He saw young Washington, the child of fame, +Preserve in fight the honors of his name. +Lee, Jackson, Hampton, Pinckney, matcht in might, +Roll'd on the storm and hurried fast the flight: +While numerous chiefs, that equal trophies raise, +Wrought, not unseen, the deeds of deathless praise. + +As Europe now the newborn states beheld +The shock sustain of many a hard-fought field; +Swift o'er the main, with high-spread sails, advance +Our brave auxiliars from the coast of France. +On the tall decks their curious chiefs explore, +With optic tube, our camp-encumber'd shore; +And, as the lessening wave behind them flies, +Wide scenes of conflict open on their eyes. +Rochambeau foremost with his gleamy brand +Points to each field and singles every band, +Sees Washington the power of nations guide, +And longs to toil and conquer by his side. +Two brother chiefs, Viominil the name, +Brothers in birth but twins in generous fame, +Behold with steadfast eye the plains disclose, +Uncase their arms and claim the promised foes. +Biron, beneath his sail, in armor bright, +Frown'd o'er the wave impatient for the fight; +A fiery steed beside the hero stood, +And his blue blade waved forward o'er the crowd. + +With eager haste descending on the coast, +Thro the glad states they march their veteran host, +From sea-nursed Newport file o'er western roads, +Pitch many a camp, and bridge a hundred floods, +Pass the full towns, where joyful crowds admire +Their foreign speech, gay mien and gilt attire, +Applaud their generous deeds, the zeal that draws +Their swords untried in freedom's doubtful cause. +Thro Hartford plains, on Litchfield hills they gleam, +Wave their white flags o'er Hudson's loaded stream, +Band after band with Delaware's current pour, +Shade Schuylkill's wave and Elk's indented shore, +Join their new friends, where allied banners lead, +Demand the foe and bid the war proceed. + +Again Columbus turn'd his anxious eye +Where Britain's banner waved along the sky; +And, graced with spoils of many fields of blood, +Cornwallis boastful on a bulwark stood. +Where York and Gloster's rocky towers bestride +Their parent stream, Virginia's midmost tide, +He camp'd his hundred nations, to regain +Their force, exhausted in the long campaign; +Paused for a moment on a scene so vast, +To plan the future and review the past. +Thro vanquisht provinces and towns in flame +He mark'd his recent monuments of fame, +His checker'd marches, long and various toils, +And camp well stored with wide collected spoils. + +High glittering to the sun his hands unfold +A map new drafted on a sheet of gold; +There in delusive haste his burin graved +A country conquer'd and a race enslaved. +Its middle realm, by fairer figures known +And rich with fruits, lay bounded for his own; +Deep thro the centre spreads a branching bay, +Full sails ascend and golden rivers stray; +Bright palaces arise relieved in gold, +And gates and streets the crossing lines unfold. +James furrows o'er the plate with turgid tide, +Young Richmond roughens on his masted side; +Reviving Norfolk from her ashes springs, +A golden phoenix on refulgent wings; +Potowmak's yellow waves reluctant spread, +And Vernon rears his rich and radiant head, +Tis here the chief his pointed graver stays, +The bank to burnish with a purer blaze, +Gives all his art, on this bright hill to trace +His future seat and glory of his race; +Deems his long line of lords the realm shall own, +The kings predestined to Columbia's throne. + +But while his mind thus quafft its airy food, +And gazing thousands round the rampart stood, +Whom future ease and golden dreams employ, +The songs of triumph and the feast of joy; +Sudden great Washington arose in view, +And allied flags his stately steps pursue; +Gaul's veteran host and young Hesperia's pride +Bend the long march concentring at his side, +Stream over Chesapeak, like sheets of flame, +And drive tempestuous to the field of fame. + +Far on the wild expanse, where ocean lies, +And scorns all confines but incumbent skies, +Scorns to retain the imprinted paths of men +To guide their wanderings or direct their ken; +Where warring vagrants, raging as they go, +Ask of the stars their way to find the foe, +Columbus saw two hovering fleets advance, +And rival ensigns o'er their pinions dance. +Graves, on the north, with Albion's flag unfurl'd, +Waves proud defiance to the watery world; +Degrasse, from southern isles, conducts his train, +And shades with Gallic sheets the moving main. + +Now Morn, unconscious of the coming fray +That soon shall storm the crystal cope of day, +Glows o'er the heavens, and with her orient breeze +Fans her fair face and curls the summer seas. +The swelling sails, as far as eye can sweep, +Look thro the skies and awe the shadowy deep, +Lead their long bending lines; and, ere they close, +To count, recognise, circumvent their foes, +Each hauls his wind, the weathergage to gain +And master all the movements of the plain; +Or bears before the breeze with loftier gait, +And, beam to beam, begins the work of fate. + +As when the warring winds, from each far pole, +Their adverse storms across the concave roll, +Thin fleecy vapors thro the expansion run, +Veil the blue vault and tremble o'er the sun, +Till the dark folding wings together drive, +And, ridged with fire and rock'd with thunder, strive; +So, hazing thro the void, at first appear +White clouds of canvass floating on the air, +Then frown the broad black decks, the sails are stay'd, +The gaping portholes cast a frightful shade, +Flames, triple tier'd, and tides of smoke, arise. +And fulminations rock the seas and skies. + +From van to rear the roaring deluge runs, +The storm disgorging from a thousand guns, +Each like a vast volcano, spouting wide +His hissing hell-dogs o'er the shuddering tide, +Whirls high his chainshot, cleaves the mast and strews +The shiver'd fragments on the staggering foes; +Whose gunwale sides with iron globes are gored, +And a wild storm of splinters sweeps the board. +Husht are the winds of heaven; no more the gale +Breaks the red rolls of smoke nor flaps the sail; +A dark dead calm continuous cloaks the glare, +And holds the clouds of sulphur on the war, +Convolving o'er the space that yawns and shines, +With frequent flash, between the laboring lines. +Nor sun nor sea nor skyborn lightning gleams, +But flaming Phlegethon's asphaltic steams +Streak the long gaping gulph; where varying glow +Carbonic curls above, blue flakes of fire below. + +Hither two hostile ships to contact run, +Both grappling, board to board and gun to gun; +Each thro the adverse ports their contents pour, +Rake the lower decks, the interior timbers bore, +Drive into chinks the illumined wads unseen, +Whose flames approach the unguarded magazine. +Above, with shrouds afoul and gunwales mann'd, +Thick halberds clash; and, closing hand to hand, +The huddling troops, infuriate from despair, +Tug at the toils of death, and perish there; +Grenados, carcasses their fragments spread, +And pikes and pistols strow the decks with dead. +Now on the Gallic board the Britons rush, +The intrepid Gauls the rash adventurers crush; +And now, to vengeance Stung, with frantic air, +Back on the British maindeck roll the war. +There swells the carnage; all the tar-beat floor +Is clogg'd with spatter'd brains and glued with gore; +And down the ship's black waist fresh brooks of blood +Course o'er their clots, and tinge the sable flood. +Till War, impatient of the lingering strife +That tires and slackens with the waste of life, +Opes with engulphing gape the astonish'd wave, +And whelms the combat whole, in one vast grave. +For now the imprison'd powder caught the flames, +And into atoms whirl'd the monstrous frames +Of both the entangled ships; the vortex wide +Roars like an Ætna thro the belching tide, +And blazing into heaven, and bursting high, +Shells, carriages and guns obstruct the sky; +Cords, timbers, trunks of men the welkin sweep, +And fall on distant ships, or shower along the deep. + +The matcht armadas still the fight maintain, +But cautious, distant; lest the staggering main +Drive their whole lines afoul, and one dark day +Glut the proud ocean with too rich a prey. +At last, where scattering fires the cloud disclose, +Hulls heave in sight and blood the decks o'erflows; +Here from the field tost navies rise to view, +Drive hack to vengeance and the roar renew, +There shatter'd ships commence their flight afar, +Tow'd thro the smoke, hard struggling from the war; +And some, half seen amid the gaping wave, +Plunge in the whirl they make, and gorge their grave. + +Soon the dark smoky volumes roll'd away, +And a long line ascended into day; +The pinions swell'd, Britannia's cross arose +And flew the terrors of triumphing foes; +When to Virginia's bay, new shocks to brave, +The Gallic powers their conquering banners wave. +Glad Chesapeak unfolds his bosom wide, +And leads their prows to York's contracting tide; +Where still dread Washington directs his way, +And seas and continents his voice obey; +While brave Cornwallis, mid the gathering host, +Perceives his glories gone, his promised empire lost. + +Columbus here with silent joy beheld +His favorite sons the fates of nations wield. +Here joyous Lincoln rose in arms again, +Nelson and Knox moved ardent o'er the plain; +Scammel alert with force unusual trod, +Prepared to seal their victory with his blood; +Cobb, Dearborn, Laurens, Tilghman, green in years +But ripe in glory, tower'd amid their peers; +Death-daring Hamilton with splendor shone, +And claim'd each post of danger for his own, +Skill'd every arm in war's whole hell to wield, +An Ithacus in camp, an Ajax in the field. + +Their Gallic friends an equal ardor fires; +Brisk emulation every troop inspires: +Where Tarleton turns, with hopes of flight elate, +Brave Biron moves and drives him back to fate, +Hems in his host, to wait, on Gloster plains, +Their finish'd labors and their destined chains. + +Two British forts the growing siege outflank, +Rake its wide works and awe the tide-beat bank; +Swift from the lines two chosen bands advance, +Our light-arm'd scouts, the grenadiers of France; +These young Viominil conducts to fame, +And those Fayette's unerring guidance claim. +No cramm'd cartouch their belted back attires, +No grains of sleeping thunder wait their fires; +The flint, the ramrod spurn'd, away they cast; +The strong bright bayonet, imbeaded fast, +Stands beaming from the bore; with this they tread, +Nor heed from high-wall'd foes their showers of lead. +Each rival band, tho wide and distant far, +Springs simultaneous to this task of war; +For here a twofold force each hero draws, +His own proud country and the general cause; +And each with twofold energy contends, +His foes to vanquish and outstrip his friends. +They summon all their zeal, and wild and warm +O'er flaming ramparts pour the maddening storm, +The mounted cannons crush, and lead the foe +Two trains of captives to the plain below; +An equal prize each gallant troop ameeds, +Alike their numbers and alike their deeds. + +A strong high citadel still thundering stood, +And stream'd her standard o'er the field of blood, +Check'd long the siege with fulminating blare, +Scorn'd all the steel and every globe of war, +Defied fell famine, heapt her growing store, +And housed in bombproof all the host she bore. +No rude assault can stretch the scale so high, +In vain the battering siege-guns round her ply; +Mortars well poized their deafening deluge rain, +Load the red skies and shake the shores in vain; +Her huge rock battlements rebound the blow, +And roll their loose crags on the men below. + +But while the fusing fireballs scorch the sky, +Their mining arts the staunch besiegers ply, +Delve from the bank of York, and gallery far, +Deep subterranean, to the mount of war; +Beneath the ditch, thro rocks and fens they go, +Scoop the dark chamber plumb beneath the foe; +There lodge their tons of powder and retire, +Mure the dread passage, wave the fatal fire, +Send a swift messenger to warn the foe +To seek his safety and the post forgo. +A taunting answer comes; he dares defy +To spring the mine and all its Ætnas try; +When a black miner seized the sulphur'd brand, +Shriek'd high for joy, and with untrembling hand +Touch'd quick the insidious train; lest here the chief +Should change his counsel and afford relief: +For hard the general's task, to speak the doom +That sends a thousand heroes to the tomb; +Heroes who know no wrong; who thoughtless speed +Where kings command or where their captains lead, +--Burst with the blast, the reeling mountain roars, +Heaves, labors, boils, and thro the concave pours +His flaming contents high; he chokes the air +With all his warriors and their works of war; +Guns, bastions, magazines confounded fly, +Vault wide their fresh explosions o'er the sky, +Encumber each far camp, and plough profound +With their rude fragments every neighboring ground. + +Britain's brave leader, where he sought repose, +And deem'd his hill-fort still repulsed the foes, +Starts at the astounding earthquake, and descries +His chosen veterans whirling down the skies. +Their mangled members round his balcon fall, +Scorch'd in the flames, and dasht on every wall: +Sad field of contemplation! Here, ye great, +Kings, priests of God, and ministers of state, +Review your system here! behold and scan +Your own fair deeds, your benefits to man! +You will not leave him to his natural toil, +To tame these elements and till the soil. +To reap, share, tithe you what his hand has sown, +Enjoy his treasures and increase your own, +Build up his virtues on the base design'd, +The well-toned harmonies of humankind. +You choose to check his toil, and band his eyes +To all that's honest and to all that's wise; +Lure with false fame, false morals and false lore, +To barter fields of corn for fields of gore, +To take by bands what single thieves would spare, +And methodise his murders into war. + +Now the prest garrison fresh danger warms; +They rush impetuous to each post of arms, +Man the long trench, each embrasure sustain, +And pour their langrage on the allied train; +Whose swift approaches, crowding on the line, +Each wing envelop and each front confine. +O'er all sage Washington his arm extends, +Points every movement, every work defends, +Bids closer quarters, bloodier strokes proceed, +New batteries blaze and heavier squadrons bleed. +Line within line fresh parallels enclose; +Here runs a zigzag, there a mantlet grows, +Round the pent foe approaching breastworks rise, +And bombs, like meteors, vault the flaming skies. +Night, with her hovering wings, asserts in vain +The shades, the silence of her rightful reign; +High roars her canopy with fiery flakes, +And War stalks wilder thro the glare he makes. + +With dire dismay the British chief beheld +The foe advance, his veterans shun the field, +Despair and slaughter where he turns his eye, +No hope in combat and no power to fly; +Degrasse victorious shakes the shadowy tide, +Imbodied nations all the champaign hide, +Fosses and batteries, growing on the sight, +Still pour new thunders and increase the fight; +Shells rain before him, rending every mound, +Crags, gunstones, balls o'erturn the tented ground, +From post to post his driven ranks retire, +The earth in crimson and the skies on fire. + +Death wantons proud in this decisive round, +For here his hand its favorite victim found; +Brave Scammel perisht here. Ah! short, my friend, +Thy bright career, but glorious to its end. +Go join thy Warren's ghost, your fates compare, +His that commenced, with thine that closed the war; +Freedom, with laurel'd brow but tearful eyes, +Bewails her first and last, her twinlike sacrifice. + +Now grateful truce suspends the burning war, +And groans and shouts promiscuous load the air; +When the tired Britons, where the smokes decay, +Quit their strong station and resign the day. +Slow files along the immeasurable train, +Thousands on thousands redden all the plain, +Furl their torn bandrols, all their plunder yield. +And pile their muskets on the battle field. +Their wide auxiliar nations swell the crowd, +And the coop'd navies, from the neighboring flood, +Repeat surrendering signals, and obey +The landmen's fate on this concluding day. + +Cornwallis first, their late all-conquering lord, +Bears to the victor chief his conquer'd sword, +Presents the burnisht hilt, and yields with pain +The gift of kings, here brandisht long in vain. +Then bow their hundred banners, trailing far +Their wearied wings from all the skirts of war. +Battalion'd infantry and squadron'd horse +Dash the silk tassel and the golden torse; +Flags from the forts and ensigns from the fleet +Roll in the dust, and at Columbia's feet +Prostrate the pride of thrones; they firm the base +Of Freedom's temple, while her arms they grace. +Here Albion's crimson Cross the soil o'erspreads, +Her Lion crouches and her Thistle fades; +Indignant Erin rues her trampled Lyre, +Brunswick's pale Steed forgets his foamy fire, +Proud Hessia's Castle lies in dust o'erthrown, +And venal Anspach quits her broken Crown. + +Long trains of wheel'd artillery shade the shore, +Quench their blue matches and forget to roar; +Along the encumber'd plain, thick planted rise +High stacks of muskets glittering to the skies, +Numerous and vast. As when the toiling swains +Heap their whole harvest on the stubbly plains, +Gerb after gerb the bearded shock expands, +Shocks, ranged in rows, hill high the burden'd lands; +The joyous master numbers all the piles, +And o'er his well-earn'd crop complacent smiles: +Such growing heaps this iron harvest yield, +So tread the victors this their final field. + +Triumphant Washington, with brow serene, +Regards unmoved the exhilarating scene, +Weighs in his balanced thought the silent grief +That sinks the bosom of the fallen chief. +With all the joy that laurel crowns bestow, +A world reconquer'd and a vanquished foe. +Thus thro extremes of life, in every state, +Shines the clear soul, beyond all fortune great; +While smaller minds, the dupes of fickle chance, +Slight woes o'erwhelm and sudden joys entrance. +So the full sun, thro all the changing sky, +Nor blasts nor overpowers the naked eye; +Tho transient splendors, borrowed from his light, +Glance on the mirror and destroy the sight. + +He bids brave Lincoln guide with modest air +The last glad triumph of the finish'd war; +Who sees, once more, two armies shade one plain, +The mighty victors and the captive train. + + + + +Book VIII. + + + + +Argument. + + + + Hymn to Peace. Eulogy on the heroes slain in the war; in which the + Author finds occasion to mention his Brother. Address to the patriots + who have survived the conflict; exhorting them to preserve + liberty they have established. The danger of losing it by inattention + illustrated in the rape of the Golden Fleece. Freedom succeeding to + Despotism in the moral world, like Order succeeding to Chaos in the + physical world. Atlas, the guardian Genius of Africa, denounces to + Hesper the crimes of his people in the slavery of the Afripans. The + Author addresses his countrymen on that subject, and on the principles + of their government. + + Hesper, recurring to his object of showing Columbus the importance of + his discoveries, reverses the order of time, and exhibits the continent + again in its savage state. He then displays the progress of arts in + America. Fur-trade. Fisheries. Productions. Commerce. Education. + Philosophical discoveries. Painting. Poetry. + + +Hail, holy Peace, from thy sublime abode +Mid circling saints that grace the throne of God! +Before his arm around our embryon earth +Stretch'd the dim void, and gave to nature birth. +Ere morning stars his glowing chambers hung, +Or songs of gladness woke an angel's tongue, +Veil'd in the splendors of his beamful mind, +In blest repose thy placid form reclined, +Lived in his life, his inward sapience caught, +And traced and toned his universe of thought. +Borne thro the expanse with his creating voice +Thy presence bade the unfolding worlds rejoice, +Led forth the systems on their bright career, +Shaped all their curves and fashion'd every sphere, +Spaced out their suns, and round each radiant goal, +Orb over orb, compell'd their train to roll, +Bade heaven's own harmony their force combine. +Taught all their host symphonious strains to join, +Gave to seraphic harps their sounding lays, +Their joys to angels, and to men their praise. + +From scenes of blood, these verdant shores that stain, +From numerous friends in recent battle slain, +From blazing towns that scorch the purple sky, +From houseless hordes their smoking walls that fly, +From the black prison ships, those groaning graves, +From warring fleets that vex the gory waves, +From a storm'd world, long taught thy flight to mourn, +I rise, delightful Peace, and greet thy glad return. + +For now the untuneful trump shall grate no more; +Ye silver streams, no longer swell with gore, +Bear from your war-beat banks the guilty stain +With yon retiring navies to the main. +While other views, unfolding on my eyes, +And happier themes bid bolder numbers rise; +Bring, bounteous Peace, in thy celestial throng. +Life to my soul, and rapture to my song; +Give me to trace, with pure unclouded ray, +The arts and virtues that attend thy sway, +To see thy blissful charms, that here descend, +Thro distant realms and endless years extend. + +Too long the groans of death and battle's bray +Have rung discordant thro my turgid lay: +The drum's rude clang, the war wolfs hideous howl +Convulsed my nerves and agonized my soul, +Untuned the harp for all but misery's pains, +And chased the Muse from corse-encumber'd plains. +Let memory's balm its pious fragrance shed +On heroes' wounds and patriot warriors dead; +Accept, departed Shades, these grateful sighs, +Your fond attendants thro your homeward skies. + +And thou, my earliest friend, my Brother dear, +Thy fall untimely still renews my tear. +In youthful sports, in toils, in taste allied, +My kind companion and my faithful guide, +When death's dread summons, from our infant eyes, +Had call'd our last loved parent to the skies. +Tho young in arms, and still obscure thy name, +Thy bosom panted for the deeds of fame; +Beneath Montgomery's eye, when by thy steel +In northern wilds the frequent savage fell. +Fired by his voice, and foremost at his call, +To mount the breach or scale the flamy wall, +Thy daring hand had many a laurel gain'd, +If years had ripen'd what thy fancy feign'd. +Lamented Youth! when thy great leader bled, +Thro the same wound thy parting spirit fled, +Join'd the long train, the self-devoted band, +The gods, the saviors of their native land. + +On fame's high pinnacle their names shall shine, +Unending ages greet the group divine, +Whose holy hands our banners first unfurl'd, +And conquer'd freedom for the grateful world. + +And you, their peers, whose steel avenged their blood, +Whose breasts with theirs our sacred rampart stood, +Illustrious relics of a thousand fields! +To you at last the foe reluctant yields. +But tho the Muse, too prodigal of praise, +Dares with the dead your living worth to raise, +Think not, my friends, the patriot's task is done, +Or Freedom safe, because the battle's won. +Unnumber'd foes, far different arms that wield, +Wait the weak moment when she quits her shield, +To plunge in her bold breast the insidious dart, +Or pour keen poison round her thoughtless heart. +Perhaps they'll strive her votaries to divide, +From their own veins to draw the vital tide; +Perhaps, by cooler calculation shown, +Create materials to construct a throne, +Dazzle her guardians with the glare of state, +Corrupt with power, with borrowed pomp inflate, +Bid thro the land the soft infection creep, +Whelm all her sons in one lethargic sleep, +Crush her vast empire in its brilliant birth, +And chase the goddess from the ravaged earth. + +The Dragon thus, that watch'd the Colchian fleece, +Foil'd the fierce warriors of wide-plundering Greece; +Warriors of matchless might and wondrous birth, +Jove's sceptred sons and demigods of earth. +High on the sacred tree, the glittering prize +Hangs o'er its guard, and tires the warriors' eyes; +First their hurl'd spears his spiral folds assail, +Their spears fall pointless from his flaky mail; +Onward with dauntless swords they plunge amain; +He shuns their blows, recoils his twisting train, +Darts forth his forky tongue, heaves high in air +His fiery crest, and sheds a hideous glare, +Champs, churns his poisonous juice, and hissing loud +Spouts thick the stifling tempest o'er the crowd; +Then, with one sweep of convoluted train, +Rolls back all Greece, and besoms wide the plain, +O'erturns the sons of gods, dispersing far +The pirate horde, and closes quick the war. +From his red jaws tremendous triumph roars, +Dark Euxine trembles to its distant shores, +Proud Jason starts, confounded in his might, +Leads back his peers, and dares no more the fight. +But the sly Priestess brings her opiate spell, +Soft charms that hush the triple hound of hell, +Bids Orpheus tune his all-enchanting lyre, +And join to calm the guardian's sleepless ire. +Soon from the tepid ground blue vapors rise, +And sounds melodious move along the skies; +A settling tremor thro his folds extends, +His crest contracts, his rainbow heck unbends, +O'er all his hundred hoops the languor crawls, +Each curve develops, every volute falls, +His broad back flattens as he spreads the plain, +And sleep consigns him to his lifeless reign. +Flusht at the sight the pirates seize the spoil, +And ravaged Colchis rues the insidious toil. + +Yes! fellow freemen, sons of high renown, +Chant your loud peans, weave your civic crown; +But know, the goddess you've so long adored, +Tho now she scabbards your avenging sword, +Calls you to vigil ance, to manlier cares, +To prove in peace the men she proved in wars: +Superior task! severer test of soul! +Tis here bold virtue plays her noblest role +And merits most of praise. The warrior's name, +Tho peal'd and chimed on all the tongues of fame, +Sounds less harmonious to the grateful mind +Than his who fashions and improves mankind. + +And what high meed your new vocation waits! +Freedom, parturient with a hundred states, +Confides them to your hand; the nascent prize +Claims all your care, your soundest wisdom tries. +Ah nurture, temper, train your infant charge, +Its force develop and its life enlarge, +Unfold each day some adolescent grace, +Some right recognise or some duty trace; +Mould a fair model for the realms of earth, +Call moral nature to a second birth, +Reach, renovate the world's great social plan, +And here commence the sober sense of man, + +For lo, in other climes and elder states, +What strange inversion all his works awaits! +From age to age, on every peopled shore, +Stalks the fell Demon of despotic power, +Sweeps in his march the mounds of art away. +Blots with his breath the trembling disk of day, +Treads down whole nations every stride he takes, +And wraps their labors in his fiery flakes. + +As Anarch erst around his regions hurl'd +The wrecks, long crush'd, of time's anterior world; +While nature mourn'd, in wild confusion tost, +Her suns extinguisht and her systems lost; +Light, life and instinct shared the dreary trance, +And gravitation fled the field of chance; +No laws remain'd of matter, motion, space; +Time lost his count, the universe his place; +Till Order came, in her cerulean robes, +And launch'd and rein'd the renovated globes, +Stock'd with harmonious worlds the vast Inane, +Archt her new heaven and fixt her boundless reign: +So kings convulse the moral frame, the base +Of all the codes that can accord the race; +And so from their broad grasp, their deadly ban, +Tis yours to snatch this earth, to raise regenerateman. + +My friends, I love your fame, I joy to raise +The high-toned anthem of my country's praise; +To sing her victories, virtues, wisdom, weal, +Boast with loud voice the patriot pride I feel; +Warm wild I sing; and, to her failings blind, +Mislead myself, perhaps mislead mankind. +Land that I love! is this the whole we owe? +Thy pride to pamper, thy fair face to show; +Dwells there no blemish where such glories shine? +And lurks no spot in that bright sun of thine? +Hark! a dread voice, with heaven-astounding strain, +Swells Wee a thousand thunders o'er the main, +Rolls and reverberates around thy hills, +And Hesper's heart with pangs paternal fills. +Thou hearst him not; tis Atlas, throned sublime. +Great brother guardian of old Afric's clime; +High o'er his coast he rears his frowning form, +Overlooks and calms his sky-borne fields of storm, +Flings off the clouds that round his shoulders hung, +And breaks from clogs of ice his trembling tongue; +While far thro space with rage and grief he glares, +Heaves his hoar head and shakes the heaven he bears: +--Son of my sire! O latest brightest birth +That sprang from his fair spouse, prolific earth! +Great Hesper, say what sordid ceaseless hate +Impels thee thus to mar my elder state. +Our sire assign'd thee thy more glorious reign, +Secured and bounded by our laboring main; +That main (tho still my birthright name it bear) +Thy sails o'ershadow, thy brave children share; +I grant it thus; while air surrounds the ball, +Let breezes blow, let oceans roll for all. +But thy proud sons, a strange ungenerous race, +Enslave my tribes, and each fair world disgrace, +Provoke wide vengeance on their lawless land, +The bolt ill placed in thy forbearing hand.-- +Enslave my tribes! then boast their cantons free, +Preach faith and justice, bend the sainted knee, +Invite all men their liberty to share, +Seek public peace, defy the assaults of war, +Plant, reap, consume, enjoy their fearless toil, +Tame their wild floods, to fatten still their soil, +Enrich all nations with their nurturing store, +And rake with venturous fluke each wondering shore.-- + +Enslave my tribes! what, half mankind imban, +Then read, expound, enforce the rights of man! +Prove plain and clear how nature's hand of old +Cast all men equal in her human mould! +Their fibres, feelings, reasoning powers the same, +Like wants await them, like desires inflame. +Thro former times with learned book they tread, +Revise past ages and rejudge the dead, +Write, speak, avenge, for ancient sufferings feel, +Impale each tyrant on their pens of steel, +Declare how freemen can a world create, +And slaves and masters ruin every state.-- +Enslave my tribes! and think, with dumb disdain, +To scape this arm and prove my vengeance vain! +But look! methinks beneath my foot I ken +A few chain'd things that seem no longer men; +Thy sons perchance! whom Barbary's coast can tell +The sweets of that loved scourge they wield so well. +Link'd in a line, beneath the driver's goad, +See how they stagger with their lifted load; +The shoulder'd rock, just wrencht from off my hill +And wet with drops their straining orbs distil, +Galls, grinds them sore, along the rarnpart led, +And the chain clanking counts the steps they tread. + +By night close bolted in the bagnio's gloom, +Think how they ponder on their dreadful doom, +Recal the tender sire, the weeping bride, +The home, far sunder'd by a waste of tide, +Brood all the ties that once endear'd them there, +But now, strung stronger, edge their keen despair. +Till here a fouler fiend arrests their pace: +Plague, with his burning breath and bloated face, +With saffron eyes that thro the dungeon shine, +And the black tumors bursting from the groin, +Stalks o'er the slave; who, cowering on the sod, +Shrinks from the Demon and invokes his God, +Sucks hot contagion with his quivering breath, +And, rack'd with rending torture, sinks in death. + +Nor shall these pangs atone the nation's crime; +Far heavier vengeance, in the march of time, +Attends them still; if still they dare debase +And hold inthrall'd the millions of my race; +A vengeance that shall shake the world's deep frame, +That heaven abhors, and hell might shrink to name. +Nature, long outraged, delves the crusted sphere, +And moulds the mining mischief dark and drear; +Europa too the penal shock shall find, +The rude soul-selling monsters of mankind: + +Where Alps and Andes at their bases meet, +In earth's mid caves to lock their granite feet, +Heave their broad spines, expand each breathing lobe, +And with their massy members rib the globe, +Her cauldron'd floods of fire their blast prepare; +Her wallowing womb of subterranean war +Waits but the fissure that my wave shall find, +To force the foldings of the rocky rind, +Crash your curst continent, and whirl on high +The vast avulsion vaulting thro the sky, +Fling far the bursting fragments, scattering wide +Rocks, mountains, nations o'er the swallowing tide. +Plunging and surging with alternate sweep, +They storm the day-vault and lay bare the deep, +Toss, tumble, plough their place, then slow subside, +And swell each ocean as their bulk they hide; +Two oceans dasht in one! that climbs and roars, +And seeks in vain the exterminated shores, +The deep drencht hemisphere. Far sunk from day, +It crumbles, rolls, it churns the settling sea, +Turns up each prominence, heaves every side, +To pierce once more the landless length of tide; +Till some poized Pambamarca looms at last +A dim lone island in the watery waste, +Mourns all his minor mountains wreck'd and hurl'd, +Stands the sad relic of a ruin'd world, +Attests the wrath our mother kept in store, +And rues her judgments on the race she bore. +No saving Ark around him rides the main, +Nor Dove weak-wing'd her footing finds again; +His own bald Eagle skims alone the sky, +Darts from all points of heaven her searching eye, +Kens, thro the gloom, her ancient rock of rest, +And finds her cavern'd crag, her solitary nest. + +Thus toned the Titan his tremendous knell, +And lash'd his ocean to a loftier swell; +Earth groans responsive, and with laboring woes +Leans o'er the surge and stills the storm he throws. + +Fathers and friends, I know the boding fears +Of angry genii and of rending spheres +Assail not souls like yours; whom Science bright +Thro shadowy nature leads with surer light; +For whom she strips the heavens of love and hate, +Strikes from Jove's hand the brandisht bolt of fate, +Gives each effect its own indubious cause, +Divides her moral from her physic laws, +Shows where the virtues find their nurturing food, +And men their motives to be just and good. + +You scorn the Titan's threat; nor shall I strain +The powers of pathos in a task so vain +As Afric's wrongs to sing; for what avails +To harp for you these known familiar tales? +To tongue mute misery, and re-rack the soul +With crimes oft copied from that bloody scroll +Where Slavery pens her woes; tho tis but there +We learn the weight that mortal life can be. +The tale might startle still the accustom'd ear, +Still shake the nerve that pumps the pearly tear, +Melt every heart, and thro the nation gain +Full many a voice to break the barbarous chain. +But why to sympathy for guidance fly, +(Her aids uncertain and of scant supply) +When your own self-excited sense affords +A guide more sure, and every sense accords? +Where strong self-interest, join'd with duty, lies, +Where doing right demands no sacrifice, +Where profit, pleasure, life-expanding fame +League their allurements to support the claim, +Tis safest there the impleaded cause to trust; +Men well instructed will be always just. + +From slavery then your rising realms to save, +Regard the master, notice not the slave; +Consult alone for freemen, and bestow +Your best, your only cares, to keep them so. +Tyrants are never free; and, small and great, +All masters must be tyrants soon or late; +So nature works; and oft the lordling knave +Turns out at once a tyrant and a slave, +Struts, cringes, bullies, begs, as courtiers must, +Makes one a god, another treads in dust, +Fears all alike, and filches whom he can, +But knows no equal, finds no friend in man. + +Ah! would you not be slaves, with lords and kings, +Then be not masters; there the danger springs. +The whole crude system that torments this earth, +Of rank, privation, privilege of birth, +False honor, fraud, corruption, civil jars, +The rage of conquest and the curse of wars, +Pandora's total shower, all ills combined +That erst o'erwhelm'd and still distress mankind, +Box'd up secure in your deliberate hand, +Wait your behest, to fix or fly this land. + +Equality of Right is nature's plan; +And following nature is the march of man. +Whene'er he deviates in the least degree, +When, free himself, he would be more than free, +The baseless column, rear'd to bear his bust, +Falls as he mounts, and whelms him in the dust. + +See Rome's rude sires, with autocratic gait, +Tread down their tyrant and erect their state; +Their state secured, they deem it wise and brave +That every freeman should command a slave, +And, flusht with franchise of his camp and town, +Rove thro the world and hunt the nations down; +Master and man the same vile spirit gains, +Rome chains the world, and wears herself the chains. + +Mark modern Europe with her feudal codes, +Serfs, villains, vassals, nobles, kings and gods, +All slaves of different grades, corrupt and curst +With high and low, for senseless rank athirst, +Wage endless wars; not fighting to be free, +But _cujum pecus_, whose base herd they'll be. + +Too much of Europe, here transplanted o'er, +Nursed feudal feelings on your tented shore, +Brought sable serfs from Afric, call'd it gain, +And urged your sires to forge the fatal chain. +But now, the tents o'erturn'd, the war dogs fled, +Now fearless Freedom rears at last her head +Matcht with celestial Peace,--my friends, beware +To shade the splendors of so bright a pair; +Complete their triumph, fix their firm abode, +Purge all privations from your liberal code, +Restore their souls to men, give earth repose, +And save your sons from slavery, wars and woes. + +Based on its rock of Right your empire lies, +On walls of wisdom let the fabric rise; +Preserve your principles, their force unfold, +Let nations prove them and let kings behold. +EQUALITY, your first firm-grounded stand; +Then FREE ELECTION; then your FEDERAL BAND; +This holy Triad should forever shine +The great compendium of all rights divine, +Creed of all schools, whence youths by millions draw +Their themes of right, their decalogues of law; +Till men shall wonder (in these codes inured) +How wars were made, how tyrants were endured. + +Then shall your works of art superior rise, +Your fruits perfume a larger length of skies, +Canals careering climb your sunbright hills, +Vein the green slopes and strow their nurturing rills, +Thro tunnel'd heights and sundering ridges glide, +Rob the rich west of half Kenhawa's tide, +Mix your wide climates, all their stores confound, +And plant new ports in every midland mound. +Your lawless Missisippi, now who slimes +And drowns and desolates his waste of climes, +Ribb'd with your dikes, his torrent shall restrain, +And ask your leave to travel to the main; +Won from his wave while rising cantons smile, +Rear their glad nations and reward their toil. + +Thus Nile's proud flood to human hands of yore +Raised and resign'd his tide-created shore, +Call'd from his Ethiop hills their hardy swains, +And waved their harvests o'er his newborn plains; +Earth's richest realm from his tamed current sprung; +There nascent science toned her infant tongue, +Taught the young arts their tender force to try, +To state the seasons and unfold the sky; +Till o'er the world extended and refined, +They rule the destinies of humankind. + +Now had Columbus well enjoy'd the sight +Of armies vanquisht and of fleets in flight, +From all Hesperia's heaven the darkness flown, +And colon crowds to sovereign sages grown. +To cast new glories o'er the changing clime, +The guardian Power reversed the flight of time, +Roll'd back the years that led their course before, +Stretch'd out immense the wild uncultured shore; +Then shifts the total scene, and rears to view +Arts and the men that useful arts pursue. +As o'er the canvass when the painter's mind +Glows with a future landscape well design'd, +While Panorama's wondrous aid he calls, +To crowd whole realms within his circling walls, +Lakes, fields and forests, ports and navies rise, +A new creation to his kindling eyes; +He smiles o'er all; sand in delightful strife +The pencil moves and Calls the whole to life. +So while Columbia's patriarch stood sublime, +And saw rude nature clothe the trackless clime; +The green banks heave, the winding currents pour, +The bays and harbors cleave the yielding shore, +The champaigns spread, the solemn groves arise, +And the rough mountains lengthen round the skies; +Thro all their bounds he traced, with skilful ken, +The unform'd seats and future walks of men; +Mark'd where the field should bloom, the pennon play, +Great cities grow and empires claim their sway; +When, sudden waked by Hesper's waving hand, +They rose obedient round the cultured land. + +In western tracts, where still the wildmen tread, +From sea to sea an inland commerce spread; +On the dim streams and thro the gloomy grove +The trading bauds their cumbrous burdens move; +Furs, peltry, drugs, and all the native store +Of midland realms descended to the shore. + +Where summer suns, along the northern coast, +With feeble force dissolve the chains of frost, +Prolific waves the scaly nations trace, +And tempt the toils of man's laborious race. +Tho rich Brazilian strands, beneath the tide, +Their shells of pearl and sparkling pebbles hide, +While for the gaudy prize a venturous train +Plunge the dark deep and brave the surging main, +Drag forth the shining gewgaws into air, +To stud a sceptre or emblaze a star; +Far wealthier stores these genial tides display, +And works less dangerous with their spoils repay. +The Hero saw the hardy crews advance, +Cast the long line and aim the barbed lance; +Load the deep floating barks, and bear abroad +To every land the life-sustaining food; +Renascent swarms by nature's care supplied, +Repeople still the shoals and fin the fruitful tide. + +Where southern streams thro broad savannas bend, +The rice-clad vales their verdant rounds extend; +Tobago's plant its leaf expanding yields, +The maize luxuriant clothes a thousand fields; +Steeds, herds and flocks o'er northern regions rove, +Embrown the hill and wanton thro the grove. +The woodlands wide their sturdy honors bend, +The pines, the liveoaks to the shores descend, +There couch the keels, the crooked ribs arise, +Hulls heave aloft and mastheads mount the skies; +Launcht on the deep o'er every wave they +Feed tropic isles and Europe's looms supply. + +To nurse the arts and fashion freedom's lore +Young schools of science rise along the shore; +Great without pomp their modest walls expand, +Harvard and Yale and Princeton grace the land, +Penn's student halls his youths with gladness greet, +On James's bank Virginian Muses meet, +Manhattan's mart collegiate domes command, +Bosom'd in groves, see growing Dartmouth stand; +Bright o'er its realm reflecting solar fires, +On yon tall hill Rhode Island's seat aspires. + +Thousands of humbler name around them rise, +Where homebred freemen seize the solid prize; +Fixt in small spheres, with safer beams to shine, +They reach the useful and refuse the fine, +Found, on its proper base, the social plan, +The broad plain truths, the common sense of man, +His obvious wants, his mutual aids discern, +His rights familiarize, his duties learn, +Feel moral fitness all its force dilate, +Embrace the village and comprise the state. +Each rustic here who turns the furrow'd soil, +The maid, the youth that ply mechanic toil, +In equal rights, in useful arts inured, +Know their just claims, and see their claims secured; +They watch their delegates, each law revise, +Its faults designate and its merits prize, +Obey, but scrutinize; and let the test +Of sage experience prove and fix the best. + +Here, fired by virtue's animating flame, +The preacher's task persuasive sages claim, +To mould religion to the moral mind, +In bands of peace to harmonize mankind, +To life, to light, to promised joys above +The soften'd soul with ardent hope to move. +No dark intolerance blinds the zealous throng, +No arm of power attendant on their tongue; +Vext Inquisition, with her flaming brand, +Shuns their mild march, nor dares approach the land. +Tho different creeds their priestly robes denote, +Their orders various and their rites remote, +Yet one their voice, their labors all combined, +Lights of the world and friends of humankind. +So the bright galaxy o'er heaven displays +Of various stars the same unbounded blaze; +Where great and small their mingling rays unite, +And earth and skies exchange the friendly light. + +And lo, my son that other sapient band, +The torch of science flamiflg in their hand! +Thro nature's range their searching souls aspire, +Or wake to life the canvass and the lyre. +Fixt in sublimest thought, behold them rise +World after world unfolding to their eyes, +Lead, light, allure them thro the total plan, +And give new guidance to the paths of man. + +Yon meteor-mantled hill see Franklin tread, +Heaven's awful thunders tolling o'er his head, +Convolving clouds the billowy skies deform, +And forky flames emblaze the blackening storm, +See the descending streams around him burn, +Glance on his rod and with his finger turn; +He bids conflicting fulminants expire +The guided blast, and holds the imprison'd fire. +No more, when doubling storms the vault o'erspread, +The livid glare shall strike thy race with dread, +Nor towers nor temples, shuddering with the sound, +Sink in the flames and shake the sheeted ground. +His well tried wires, that every tempest wait, +Shall teach mankind to ward the bolts of fate, +With pointed steel o'ertop the trembling spire, +And lead from untouch'd walls the harmless flre; +Fill'd with his fame while distant climes rejoice, +Wherever lightning shines or thunder rears its voice. + +And see sage Rittenhouse, with ardent eye, +Lift the long tube and pierce the starry sky; +Clear in his view the circling planets roll, +And suns and satellites their course control. +He marks what laws the widest wanderers bind, +Copies creation in his forming mind, +Sees in his hall the total semblance rise, +And mimics there the labors of the skies. +There student youths without their tubes behold +The spangled heavens their mystic maze unfold, +And crowded schools their cheerful chambers grace +With all the spheres that cleave the vast of space. + +To guide the sailor in his wandering way, +See Godfrey's glass reverse the beams of day. +His lifted quadrant to the eye displays +From adverse skies the counteracting rays; +And marks, as devious sails bewilder'd roll, +Each nice gradation from the steadfast pole. + +West with his own great soul the canvass warms, +Creates, inspires, impassions human forms, +Spurns critic rules, and seizing safe the heart, +Breaks down the former frightful bounds of Art; +Where ancient manners, with exclusive reign, +From half mankind withheld her fair domain. +He calls to life each patriot, chief or sage, +Garb'd in the dress and drapery of his age. +Again bold Regulus to death returns, +Again her falling Wolfe Britannia mourns; +Lahogue, Boyne, Cressy, Nevilcross demand +And gain fresh lustre from his copious hand; +His Lear stalks wild with woes, the gods defies, +Insults the tempest and outstorms the skies; +Edward in arms to frowning combat moves, +Or, won to pity by the queen he loves, +Spares the devoted Six, whose deathless deed +Preserves the town his vengeance doom'd to bleed. + +With rival force, see Copley's pencil trace +The air of action and the charms of face. +Fair in his tints unfold the scenes of state, +The senate listens and the peers debate; +Pale consternation every heart appals, +In act to speak, when death-struck Chatham fails. +He bids dread Calpe cease to shake the waves, +While Elliott's arm the host of Bourbon saves; +O'er sail-wing'd batteries sinking in the flood, +Mid flames and darkness, drench'd in hostile blood, +Britannia's sons extend their generous hand +To rescue foes from death, and bear them to the land. + +Fired with the martial deeds that bathed in gore +His brave companions on his native shore, +Trumbull with daring hand their fame recals; +He shades with night Quebec's beleagured walls, +Thro flashing flames, that midnight war supplies, +The assailants yield, their great Montgomery dies. +On Bunker height, thro floods of hostile fire, +His Putnam toils till all the troops retire, +His Warren, pierced with balls, at last lies low, +And leaves a victory to the wasted foe. +Britannia too his glowing tint shall claim, +To pour new splendor on her Calpean fame; +He leads her bold sortie, and from their towers +O'erturns the Gallic and Iberian powers. + +See rural seats of innocence and ease, +High tufted towers and walks of waving trees, +The white wates dashing on the Craggy shores, +Meandring streams and meads of mingled flowers, +Where nature's sons their wild excursions tread, +In just design from Taylor's pencil spread. + +Stuart and Brown the moving portrait raise, +Each rival stroke the force of life conveys; +Heroes and beauties round their tablets stand, +And rise unfading from their plastic hand; +Each breathing form preserves its wonted grace, +And all the Soul stands speaking in the face. + +Two kindred arts the swelling statue heave, +Wake the dead wax, and teach the stone to live. +While the bold chissel claims the rugged strife, +To rouse the sceptred marble into life, + +See Wright's fair hands the livelier fire control, +In waxen forms she breathes impassion'd soul; +The pencil'd tint o'er moulded substance glows, +And different powers the peerless art compose. +Grief, rage and fear beneath her fingers start, +Roll the wild eye and pour the bursting heart; +The world's dead fathers wait her wakening call; +And distant ages fill the storied hall. + +To equal fame ascends thy tuneful throng, +The boast of genius and the pride of song; +Caught from the cast of every age and clime, +Their lays shall triumph o'er the lapse of time. + +With lynx-eyed glance thro nature far to pierce, +With all the powers and every charm of verse, +Each science opening in his ample mind, +His fancy glowing and his taste refined, +See Trumbull lead the train. His skilful hand +Hurls the keen darts of satire round the land. +Pride, knavery, dullness feel his mortal stings, +And listening virtue triumphs while he sings; +Britain's foil'd sons, victorious now no more, +In guilt retiring from the wasted shore, +Strive their curst cruelties to hide in vain; +The world resounds them in his deathless strain. + +On wings of faith to elevate the soul +Beyond the bourn of earth's benighted pole, +For Dwight's high harp the epic Muse sublime +Hails her new empire in the western clime. +Tuned from the tones by seers seraphic sung, +Heaven in his eye and rapture on his tongue, +His voice revives old Canaan's promised land, +The long-fought fields of Jacob's chosen band. +In Hanniel's fate, proud faction finds its doom, +Ai's midnight flames light nations to their tomb, +In visions bright supernal joys are given, +And all the dark futurities of heaven. + +While freedom's cause his patriot bosom warms, +In counsel sage, nor inexpert in arms, +See Humphreys glorious from the field retire, +Sheathe the glad sword and string the soothing lyre; +That lyre which erst, in hours of dark despair, +Roused the sad realms to finish well the war. +O'er fallen friends, with all the strength of woe, +Fraternal sighs in his strong numbers flow; +His country's wrongs, her duties, dangers, praise, +Fire his full soul and animate his lays: +Wisdom and War with equal joy shall own +So fond a votary and so brave a son. + + + + +Book IX. + + + +Argument. + + + Vision suspended. Night scene, as contemplated from the mount of + vision. Columbus inquires the reason of the slow progress of science, + and its frequent interruptions. Hesper answers, that all things in the + physical as well as the moral and intellectual world are progressive in + like manner. He traces their progress from the birth of the universe to + the present state of the earth and its inhabitants; asserts the future + advancement of society, till perpetual peace shall be established. + Columbus proposes his doubts; alleges in support of them the successive + rise and downfal of ancient nations; and infers future and periodical + convulsions. Hesper, in answer, exhibits the great distinction between + the ancient and modern state of the arts and of society. Crusades. + Commerce. Hanseatic League. Copernicus. Kepler. Newton, Galileo. + Herschel. Descartes. Bacon. Printing Press. Magnetic Needle. + Geographical discoveries. Federal system in America. A similar system + to be extended over the whole earth. Columbus desires a view of this. + + +But now had Hesper from the Hero's sight +Veil'd the vast world with sudden shades of night. +Earth, sea and heaven, where'er he turns his eye, +Arch out immense, like one surrounding sky +Lamp'd with reverberant fires. The starry train +Paint their fresh forms beneath the placid main; +Fair Cynthia here her face reflected laves, +Bright Venus gilds again her natal waves, +The Bear redoubling foams with fiery joles, +And two dire dragons twine two arctic poles. +Lights o'er the land, from cities lost in shade, +New constellations, new galaxies spread, +And each high pharos double flames provides, +One from its fires, one fainter from the tides. + +Centred sublime in this bivaulted sphere, +On all sides void, unbounded, calm and clear, +Soft o'er the Pair a lambent lustre plays, +Their seat still cheering with concentred rays; +To converse grave the soothing shades invite. +And on his Guide Columbus fixt his sight: +Kind messenger of heaven, he thus began, +Why this progressive laboring search of man? +If men by slow degrees have power to reach +These opening truths that long dim ages teach, +If, school'd in woes and tortured on to thought, +Passion absorbing what experience taught, +Still thro the devious painful paths they wind, +And to sound wisdom lead at last the mind, +Why did not bounteous nature, at their birth, +Give all their science to these sons of earth, +Pour on their reasoning powers pellucid day, +Their arts, their interests clear as light display? +That error, madness and sectarian strife +Might find no place to havock human life. + +To whom the guardian Power: To thee is given +To hold high converse and inquire of heaven, +To mark untraversed ages, and to trace +Whate'er improves and what impedes thy race. +Know then, progressive are the paths we go +In worlds above thee, as in thine below +Nature herself (whose grasp of time and place +Deals out duration and impalms all space) +Moves in progressive march; but where to tend, +What course to compass, how the march must end, +Her sons decide not; yet her works we greet +Imperfect in their parts, but in their whole complete. + +When erst her hand the crust of Chaos thirl'd, +And forced from his black breast the bursting world, +High swell'd the huge existence crude and crass, +A formless dark impermeated mass; +No light nor heat nor cold nor moist nor dry, +But all concocting in their causes lie. +Millions of periods, such as these her spheres +Learn since to measure and to call their years, +She broods the mass; then into motion brings +And seeks and sorts the principles of things, +Pours in the attractive and repulsive force, +Whirls forth her globes in cosmogyral course, +By myriads and by millions, scaled sublime, +To scoop their skies, and curve the rounds of time. + +She groups their systems, lots to each his place, +Strow'd thro immensity, and drown'd in space, +All yet unseen; till light at last begun, +And every system found a centred sun, +Call'd to his neighbor and exchanged from far +His infant gleams with every social star; +Rays thwarting rays and skies o'erarching skies +Robed their dim planets with commingling dyes, +Hung o'er each heaven their living lamps serene, +And tinged with blue the frore expanse between: +Then joyous Nature hail'd the golden morn, +Drank the young beam, beheld her empire born. + +Lo the majestic movement! there they trace +Their blank infinitudes of time and space, +Vault with careering curves her central goal, +Pour forth her day and stud her evening stole, +Heedless of count; their numbers still unknown, +Unmeasured still their progress round her throne; +For none of all her firstborn sons, endow'd +With heavenly sapience and pretensions proud, +No seraph bright, whose keen considering eye +And sunbeam speed ascend from sky to sky, +Has yet explored or counted all their spheres, +Or fixt or found their past record of years. +Nor can a ray from her remotest sun, +Shot forth when first their splendid morn begun, +Borne straight, continuous thro the void of space, +Doubling each thousand years its rapid pace +And hither posting, yet have reach'd this earth, +To bring the tidings of its master's birth. + +And mark thy native orb! tho later born, +Tho still unstored with light her silver horn, +As seen from sister planets, who repay +Far more than she their borrow'd streams of day, +Yet what an age her shell-rock ribs attest! +Her sparry spines, her coal-encumber'd breast! +Millions of generations toil'd and died +To crust with coral and to salt her tide, +And millions more, ere yet her soil began, +Ere yet she form'd or could have nursed her man. + +Then rose the proud phenomenon, the birth +Most richly wrought, the favorite child of earth; +But frail at first his frame, with nerves ill strung, +Unform'd his footsteps, long untoned his tongue, +Unhappy, unassociate, unrefined, +Unfledged the pinions of his lofty mind, +He wander'd wild, to every beast a prey, +More prest with wrants, and feebler far than they; +For countless ages forced from place to place, +Just reproduced but scarce preserved his race. +At last, a soil more fixt and streams more sweet +Inform the wretched migrant where to seat; +Euphrates' flowery banks begin to smile, +Fruits fringe the Ganges, gardens grace the Nile; +Nile, ribb'd with dikes, a length of coast creates, +And giant Thebes begins her hundred gates, +Mammoth of human works! her grandeur known +These thousand lustres by its wrecks alone; +Wrecks that humiliate still all modern states, +Press the poized earth with their enormous weights, +Refuse to quit their place, dissolve their frame +And trust, like Ilion, to the bards their fame. +Memphis amass'd her piles, that still o'erclimb +The clouds of heaven, and task the tooth of time; +Belus and Brama tame their vagrant throngs, +And Homer, with his monumental songs, +Builds far more durable his splendid throne +Than all the Pharaohs with their hills of stone. + +High roll'd the round of years that hung sublime +These wondrous beacons in the night of time; +Studs of renown! that to thine eyes attest +The waste of ages that beyond them rest; +Ages how fill'd with toils! how gloom'd with woes! +Trod with all steps that man's long march compose, +Dim drear disastrous; ere his foot could gain +A height so brilliant o'er the bestial train. + +In those blank periods, where no man can trace +The gleams of thought that first illumed his race, +His errors, twined with science, took their birth, +And forged their fetters for this child of earth. +And when, as oft, he dared expand his view, +And work with nature on the line she drew, +Some monster, gender'd in his fears, unmann'd +His opening soul, and marr'd the works he plann'd. +Fear, the first passion of his helpless state, +Redoubles all the woes that round him wait, +Blocks nature's path and sends him wandering wide, +Without a guardian and without a guide. + +Beat by the storm, refresht by gentle rain, +By sunbeams cheer'd or founder'd in the main, +He bows to every force he can't control, +Indows them all with intellect and soul, +With passions various, turbulent and strong, +Rewarding virtue and avenging wrong, +Gives heaven and earth to their supernal doom, +And swells their sway beyond the closing tomb. +Hence rose his gods, that mystic monstrous lore +Of blood-stain'd altars and of priestly power, +Hence blind credulity on all dark things, +False morals hence, and hence the yoke of kings. + +Yon starry vault that round him rolls the spheres, +And gives to earth her seasons, days and years, +The source designates and the clue imparts +Of all his errors and of all his arts. +There spreads the system that his ardent thought +First into emblems, then to spirits wrought; +Spirits that ruled all matter and all mind, +Nourish'd or famish'd, kill'd or cured mankind, +Bade him neglect the soil whereon he fed, +Work with hard hand for that which was not bread, +Erect the temple, darken deep the shrine, +Yield the full hecatomb with awe divine, +Despise this earth, and claim with lifted eyes +His health and harvest from the meteor'd skies. + +Accustom'd thus to bow the suppliant head, +And reverence powers that shake his heart with dread, +His pliant faith extends with easy ken +From heavenly hosts to heaven-anointed men; +The sword, the tripod join their mutual aids, +To film his eyes with more impervious shades, +Create a sceptred idol, and enshrine +The Robber Chief in attributes divine, +Arm the new phantom with the nation's rod, +And hail the dreadful delegate of God. +Two settled slaveries thus the race control, +Engross their labors and debase their soul; +Till creeds and crimes and feuds and fears compose +The seeds of war and all its kindred woes. + +Unfold, thou Memphian dungeon! there began +The lore of Mystery, the mask of man; +There Fraud with Science leagued, in early times, +Plann'd a resplendent course of holy crimes, +Stalk'd o'er the nations with gigantic pace, +With sacred symbols charm'd the cheated race, +Taught them new grades of ignorance to gain, +And punish truth with more than mortal pain,-- +Unfold at last thy cope! that man may see +The mines of mischief he has drawn from thee. +--Wide gapes the porch with hieroglyphics hung, +And mimic zodiacs o'er its arches flung; +Close labyrinth'd here the feign'd Omniscient dwells, +Dupes from all nations seek the sacred cells; +Inquiring strangers, with astonish'd eyes, +Dive deep to read these subterranean skies, +To taste that holiness which faith bestows, +And fear promulgates thro its world of woes. +The bold Initiate takes his awful stand, +A thin pale taper trembling in his hand; +Thro hells of howling monsters lies the road, +To season souls and teach the ways of God. + +Down the crampt corridor, far sunk from day, +On hands and bended knees he gropes his way, +Swims roaring streams, thro dens of serpents crawls, +Descends deep wells and clambers flaming walls; +Now thwart his lane a lake of sulphur gleams, +With fiery waves and suffocating steams; +He dares not shun the ford; for full in view +Fierce lions rush behind and force him thro. +Long ladders heaved on end, with banded eyes +He mounts, and mounts, and seems to gain the skies; +Then backward falling, tranced with deadly fright, +Finds his own feet and stands restored to light. +Here all dread sights of torture round him rise; +Lash'd on a wheel, a whirling felon flies; +A wretch, with members chain'd and liver bare, +Writhes and disturbs the vulture feasting there: +One strains to roll his rock, recoiling still; +One, stretch'd recumbent o'er a limpid rill, +Burns with devouring thirst; his starting eyes, +Swell'd veins and frothy lips and piercing cries +Accuse the faithless eddies, as they shrink +And keep him panting still, still bending o'er the brink. + +At last Elysium to his ravisht eyes +Spreads flowery fields and opens golden skies; +Breathes Orphean music thro the dancing groves, +Trains the gay troops of Beauties, Graces, Loves, +Lures his delirious sense with sweet decoys, +Fine fancied foretaste of eternal joys, +Fastidious pomp or proud imperial state,-- +Illusions all, that pass the Ivory Gate! + +Various and vast the fraudful drama grows, +Feign'd are the pleasures, as unfelt the woes; +Where sainted hierophants, with well taught mimes, +Play'd first the role for all succeeding times; +Which, vamp'd and varied as the clime required, +More trist or splendid, open or retired, +Forms local creeds, with multifarious lore, +Creates the God and bids the world adore. + +Lo at the Lama's feet, as lord of all, +Age following age in dumb devotion fall; +The youthful god, mid suppliant kings enshrined, +Dispensing fate and ruling half mankind, +Sits with contorted limbs, a silent slave, +An early victim of a secret grave; +His priests by myriads famish every clime +And sell salvation in the tones they chime. + +See India's Triad frame their blood-penn'd codes, +Old Ganges change his gardens for his gods, +Ask his own waves from their celestial hands, +And choke his channel with their sainted sands. +Mad with the mandates of their scriptured word, +And prompt to snatch from hell her dear dead lord, +The wife, still blooming, decks her sacred urns, +Mounts the gay pyre, and with his body burns. + +Shrined in his golden fane the Delphian stands, +Shakes distant thrones and taxes unknown lands. +Kings, consuls, khans from earth's whole regions come, +Pour in their wealth, and then inquire their doom; +Furious and wild the priestess rends her veil, +Sucks, thro the sacred stool, the maddening gale, +Starts reddens foams and screams and mutters loud, +Like a fell fiend, her oracles of God. +The dark enigma, by the pontiff scroll'd +In broken phrase, and close in parchment roll'd, +From his proud pulpit to the suppliant hurl'd, +Shall rive an empire and distract the world. + +And where the mosque's dim arches bend on high, +Mecca's dead prophet mounts the mimic sky; +Pilgrims, imbanded strong for mutual aid, +Thro dangerous deserts that their faith has made, +Train their long caravans, and famish'd come +To kiss the shrine and trembling touch the tomb, +By fire and sword the same fell faith extend, +And howl their homilies to earth's far end. + +Phenician altars reek with human gore, +Gods hiss from caverns or in cages roar, +Nile pours from heaven a tutelary flood, +And gardens grow the vegetable god. +Two rival powers the magian faith inspire, +Primeval Darkness and immortal Fire; +Evil and good in these contending rise, +And each by turns the sovereign of the skies. +Sun, stars and planets round the earth behold +Their fanes of marble and their shrines of gold; +The sea, the grove, the harvest and the vine +Spring from their gods and claim a birth divine; +While heroes, kings and sages of their times, +Those gods on earth, are gods in happier climes; +Minos in judgment sits, and Jove in power, +And Odin's friends are feasted there with gore. + +Man is an infant still; and slow and late +Must form and fix his adolescent state, +Mature his manhood, and at last behold +His reason ripen and his force unfold. +From that bright eminence he then shall cast +A look of wonder on his wanderings past, +Congratulate himself, and o'er the earth +Firm the full reign of peace predestined at his birth. + +So Hesper taught; and farther had pursued +A theme so grateful as a world renew'd; +But dubious thoughts disturb'd the Hero's breast, +Who thus with modest mien the Seer addrest: +Say, friend of man, in this unbounded range, +Where error vagrates and illusions change, +What hopes to see his baleful blunders cease, +And earth commence that promised age of peace? +Like a loose pendulum his mind is hung, +From wrong to wrong by ponderous passion swung, +It vibrates wide, and with unceasing flight +Sweeps all extremes and scorns the mean of right. +Tho in the times you trace he seems to gain +A steadier movement and a path more plain, +And tho experience will have taught him then +To mark some dangers, some delusions ken, +Yet who can tell what future shocks may spread +New shades of darkness round his lofty head, +Plunge him again in some broad gulph of woes, +Where long and oft he struggled, wreck'd and rose? + +What strides he took in those gigantic times +That sow'd with cities all his orient climes! +When earth's proud floods he tamed, made many a shore, +And talk'd with heaven from Babel's glittering tower! +Did not his Babylon exulting say, +I sit a queen, for ever stands my sway? +Thebes, Memphis, Nineveh, a countless throng, +Caught the same splendor and return'd the song; +Each boasted, promised o'er the world to rise, +Spouse of the sun, eternal as the skies. +Where shall we find them now? the very shore +Where Ninus rear'd his empire is no more: +The dikes decay'd, a putrid marsh regains +The sunken walls, the tomb-encumber'd plains, +Pursues the dwindling nations where they shrink, +And skirts with slime its deleterious brink. +The fox himself has fled his gilded den, +Nor holds the heritage he won from men; +Lapwing and reptile shun the curst abode, +And the foul dragon, now no more a god, +Trails off his train; the sickly raven flies; +A wide strong-stencht Avernus chokes the skies. +So pride and ignorance fall a certain prey +To the stanch bloodhound of despotic sway. + +Then past a long drear night, with here and there +A doubtful glimmering from a single star; +Tyre, Carthage, Syracuse the gleam increase, +Till dawns at last the effulgent morn of Greece, +Here all his Muses meet, all arts combine +To nerve his genius and his works refine; +Morals and laws and arms, and every grace +That e'er adorn'd or could exalt the race, +Wrought into science and arranged in rules, +Swell the proud splendor of her cluster'd schools, +Build and sustain the state with loud acclaim, +And work those deathless miracles of fame +That stand unrivall'd still; for who shall dare +Another field with Marathon compare? +Who speaks of eloquence or sacred song, +But calls on Greece to modulate his tongue? +And where has man's fine form so perfect shone +In tint or mould, in canvass or in stone? + +Yet from that splendid height o'erturn'd once more, +He dasht in dust the living lamp he bore. +Dazzled with her own glare, decoy'd and sold +For homebred faction and barbaric gold, +Greece treads on Greece, subduing and subdued, +New crimes inventing, all the old renew'd, +Canton o'er canton climbs; till, crush'd and broke, +All yield the sceptre and resume the yoke. + +Where shall we trace him next, the migrant man, +To try once more his meliorating plan? +Shall not the Macedonian, where he strides +O'er Asian worlds and Nile's neglected tides, +Prepare new seats of glory, to repay +The transient shadows with perpetual day? +His heirs erect their empires, and expand +The beams of Greece thro each benighted land; +Seleucia spreads o'er ten broad realms her sway, +And turns on eastern climes the western ray; +Palmyra brightens earth's commercial zone, +And sits an emblem of her god the sun; +While fond returning to that favorite shore +Where Ammon ruled and Hermes taught of yore, +All arts concentrate, force and grace combine +To rear and blend the useful with the fine, +Restore the Egyptian glories, and retain, +Where science dawn'd, her great resurgent reign. + +From Egypt chased again, he seeks his home, +More firmly fixt in sage considerate Rome. +Here all the virtues long resplendent shone +All that was Greek, barbarian and her own; +She school'd him sound, and boasted to extend +Thro time's long course and earth's remotest end +His glorious reign of reason; soon to cease +The clang of arms, and rule the world in peace. +Great was the sense he gain'd, and well defined +The various functions of his tutor'd mind; +Could but his sober sense have proved his guide, +And kind experience pruned the shoots of pride. + +A field magnificent before him lay; +Land after land received the spreading ray; +Franchise and friendship travell'd in his train, +Bandits of earth and pirates of the main +Rose into citizens, their rage resign'd. +And hail'd the great republic of mankind. +If ever then state slaughter was to pause, +And man from nature learn to frame his laws. +This was the moment; here the sunbeam rose +To hush the human storm and let the world repose. + +But drunk with pomp and sickening at the light, +He stagger d wild on this delirious height; +Forgot the plainest truths he learnt before, +And barter'd moral for material power. +From Calpe's rock to India's ardent skies, +O'er shuddering earth his talon'd Eagle flies, +To justice blind, and heedless where she drove, +As when she bore the brandisht bolt of Jove. + +Rome loads herself with chains, seals fast her eyes, +And tells the insulted nations when to rise; +And rise they do, like sweeping tempests driven, +Swarm following swarm, o'ershading earth and heaven, +Roll back her outrage, and indignant shed +The world's wide vengeance on her sevenfold head. +Then dwindling back to littleness and shade +Man soon forgets the gorgeous glare he made, +Sinks to a savage serf or monkish drone, +Roves in rude hordes or counts his beads alone, +Wars with his arts, obliterates his lore, +And burns the books that rear'd his race before. + +Shrouded in deeper darkness now he veers +The vast gyration of a thousand years, +Strikes out each lamp that would illume his way, +Disputes his food with every beast of prey; +Imbands his force to fence his trist abodes, +A wretched robber with his feudal codes. + +At length, it seems, some parsimonious rays +Collect from each far heaven a feeble blaze, +Dance o'er his Europe, and again excite +His numerous nations to receive the light. +But faint and slow the niggard dawn expands, +Diffused o'er various far dissunder'd lands, +Dreading, as well it may, to prove once more +The same sad chance so often proved before. + +And why not lapse again? Celestial Seer, +Forgive my doubts, and ah remove my fear! +Man is my brother; strong I feel the ties, +From strong solicitude my doubts arise; +My heart, while opening with the boundless scope +That swells before him and expands his hope, +Forebodes another fall; and tho at last +Thy world is planted and with light o'ercast, +Tho two broad continents their beams combine +Round his whole globe to stream his day divine, +Perchance some folly, yet uncured, may spread +A storm proportion'd to the lights they shed, +Veil both his continents, and leave again +Between them stretch'd the impermeable main; +All science buried, sails and cities lost, +Their lands uncultured, as their seas uncrost. +Till on thy coast, some thousand ages hence, +New pilots rise, bold enterprise commence, +Some new Columbus (happier let him be, +More wise and great and virtuous far than me) +Launch on the wave, and tow'rd the rising day +Like a strong eaglet steer his untaught way, +Gird half the globe, and to his age unfold +A strange new world, the world we call the old. +From Finland's glade to Calpe's storm-beat head +He'll find some tribes of scattering wildmen spread; +But one vast wilderness will shade the soil, +No wreck of art, no sign of ancient toil +Tell where a city stood; nor leave one trace +Of all that honors now, and all that shames the race. + +If such the round we run, what hope, my friend, +To see our madness and our miseries end?-- +Here paused the Patriarch: mild the Saint return'd, +And as he spoke, fresh glories round him burn'd: +My son, I blame not but applaud thy grief; +Inquiries deep should lead to slow belief. +So small the portion of the range of man +His written stories reach or views can span, +That wild confusion seems to clog his march, +And the dull progress made illudes thy search. +But broad beyond compare, with steadier hand +Traced o'er his earth, his present paths expand. +In sober majesty and matron grace +Sage Science now conducts her filial race; +And if, while all their arts around them shine, +They culture more the solid than the fine, +Tis to correct their fatal faults of old, +When, caught by tinsel, they forgot the gold; +When their strong brilliant imitative lines +Traced nature only in her gay designs, +Rear'd the proud column, toned her chanting lyre, +Warm'd the full senate with her words of fire, +Pour'd on the canvass every pulse of life, +And bade the marble rage with human strife. + +These were the arts that nursed unequal sway, +That priests would pamper and that kings would pay, +That spoke to vulgar sense, and often stole +The sense of right and freedom from the soul. +While, circumscribed in some concentred clime, +They reach'd but one small nation at a time, +Dazzled that nation, pufft her local pride, +Proclaim'd her hatred to the world beside, +Drew back returning hatred from afar, +And sunk themselves beneath the storms of war. + +As, when the sun moves o'er the flaming zone, +Collecting clouds attend his fervid throne, +Superior splendors, in his morn display'd, +Prepare for noontide but a heavier shade; +Thus where the brilliant arts alone prevail'd, +Their shining course succeeding storms assail'd; +Pride, wrong and insult hemm'd their scanty reign, +A Nile their stream, a Hellespont their main, +Content with Tiber's narrow shores to wind, +They fledged their Eagle but to fang mankind; +Ere great inventions found a tardy birth, +And with their new creations blest the earth. + +Now sober'd man a steadier gait assumes, +Broad is the beam that breaks the Gothic glooms. +At once consenting nations lift their eyes, +And hail the holy dawn that streaks the skies; +Arabian caliphs rear the spires of Spain, +The Lombards keel their Adriatic main, +Great Charles, invading and reviving all, +Plants o'er with schools his numerous states of Gaul; +And Alfred opes the mines whence Albion draws +The ore of all her wealth,--her liberty and laws. + +Ausonian cities interchange and spread +The lights of learning on the wings of trade; +Bologna's student walls arise to fame, +Germania, thine their rival honors claim; +Halle, Gottinge, Upsal, Kiel and Leyden smile, +Oxonia, Cambridge cheer Britannia's isle; +Where, like her lark, gay Chaucer leads the lay, +The matin carol of his country's day. + +Blind War himself, that erst opposed all good, +And whelm'd meek Science in her votaries' blood, +Now smooths, by means unseen, her modest way, +Extends her limits and secures her sway. +From Europe's world his mad crusaders pour +Their banded myriads on the Asian shore; +The mystic Cross, thro famine toil and blood, +Leads their long marches to the tomb of God. +Thro realms of industry their passage lies, +And labor'd affluence feasts their curious eyes; +Till fields of slaughter whelm the broken host, +Their pride appall'd, their warmest zealots lost, +The wise remains to their own shores return, +Transplant all arts that Hagar's race adorn, +Learn from long intercourse their mutual ties, +And find in commerce where their interest lies. + +From Drave's long course to Biscay's bending shores, +Where Adria sleeps, to where the Bothnian roars, +In one great Hanse, for earth's whole trafic known, +Free cities rise, and in their golden zone +Bind all the interior states; nor princes dare +Infringe their franchise with voracious war. +All shield them safe, and joy to share the gain +That spreads o'er land from each surrounding main, +Makes Indian stuffs, Arabian gums their own, +Plants Persian gems on every Celtic crown, +Pours thro their opening woodlands milder day, +And gives to genius his expansive play. + +This blessed moment, from the towers of Thorn +New splendor rises; there the sage is born! +The sage who starts these planetary spheres, +Deals out their task to wind their own bright years, +Restores his station to the parent Sun, +And leads his duteous daughters round his throne. +Each mounts obedient on her wheels of fire, +Whirls round her sisters, and salutes the sire, +Guides her new car, her youthful coursers tries, +Curves careful paths along her alter'd skies, +Learns all her mazes thro the host of even, +And hails and joins the harmony of heaven. +--Fear not, Copernicus! let loose the rein, +Launch from their goals, and mark the moving train; +Fix at their sun thy calculating eye, +Compare and count their courses round their sky. +Fear no disaster from the slanting force +That warps them staggering in elliptic course; +Thy sons with steadier ken shall aid the search, +And firm and fashion their majestic march, +Kepler prescribe the laws no stars can shun, +And Newton tie them to the eternal sun. + +By thee inspired, his tube the Tuscan plies, +And sends new colonies to stock the skies, +Gives Jove his satellites, and first adorns +Effulgent Phosphor with his silver horns. +Herschel ascends himself with venturous wain, +And joins and flanks thy planetary train, +Perceives his distance from their elder spheres, +And guards with numerous moons the lonely round he steers. + +Yes, bright Copernicus, thy beams, far hurl'd, +Shall startle well this intellectual world, +Break the delusive dreams of ancient lore, +New floods of light on every subject pour, +Thro Physic Nature many a winding trace, +And seat the Moral on her sister's base. +Descartes with force gigantic toils alone, +Unshrines old errors and propounds his own; +Like a blind Samson, gropes their strong abodes, +Whelms deep in dust their temples and their gods, +Buries himself with those false codes they drew, +And makes his followers frame and fix the true. + +Bacon, with every power of genius fraught, +Spreads over worlds his mantling wings of thought, +Draws in firm lines, and tells in nervous tone +All that is yet and all that shall be known, +Withes Proteus Matter in his arms of might, +And drags her tortuous secrets forth to light, +Bids men their unproved systems all forgo, +Informs them what to learn, and how to know, +Waves the first flambeau thro the night that veils +Egyptian fables and Phenician tales, +Strips from all-plundering Greece the cloak she wore, +And shows the blunders of her borrow'd lore. + +One vast creation, lately borne abroad, +Cheers the young nations like a nurturing God, +Breathes thro them all the same wide-searching soul. +Forms, feeds, refines and animates the whole, +Guards every ground they gain, and forward brings +Glad Science soaring on cerulean wings, +Trims her gay plumes, directs her upward course, +Props her light pinions and sustains her force, +Instructs all men her golden gifts to prize, +And catch new glories from her beamful eyes,-- +Tis the prolific Press; whose tablet, fraught +By graphic Genius with his painted thought, +Flings forth by millions the prodigious birth, +And in a moment stocks the astonish'd earth. + +Genius, enamor'd of his fruitful bride, +Assumes new force and elevates his pride. +No more, recumbent o'er his finger'd style, +He plods whole years each copy to compile, +Leaves to ludibrious winds the priceless page, +Or to chance fires the treasure of an age; +But bold and buoyant, with his sister Fame, +He strides o'er earth, holds high his ardent flame, +Calls up Discovery with her tube and scroll, +And points the trembling magnet to the pole. +Hence the brave Lusitanians stretch the sail, +Scorn guiding stars, and tame the midsea gale; +And hence thy prow deprest the boreal wain, +Rear'd adverse heavens, a second earth to gain, +Ran down old Night, her western curtain thirl'd, +And snatch'd from swaddling shades an infant world. + +Rome, Athens, Memphis, Tyre! had you butknown +This glorious triad, now familiar grown, +The Press, the Magnet faithful to its pole, +And earth's own Movement round her steadfast goal, +Ne'er had your science, from that splendid height, +Sunk in her strength, nor seen succeeding night. +Her own utility had forced her sway, +All nations caught the fast-extending ray, +Nature thro all her kingdoms oped the road, +Resign'd her secrets and her wealth bestow'd; +Her moral codes a like dominion rear'd, +Freedom been born and folly disappear'd, +War and his monsters sunk beneath her ban, +And left the world to reason and to man. + +But now behold him bend his broader way, +Lift keener eyes and drink diviner day, +All systems scrutinize, their truths unfold, +Prove well the recent, well revise the old, +Reject all mystery, and define with force +The point he aims at in his laboring course,-- +To know these elements, learn how they wind +Their wondrous webs of matter and of mind, +What springs, what guides organic life requires, +To move, rule, rein its ever-changing gyres, +Improve and utilise each opening birth, +And aid the labors of this nurturing earth. + +But chief their moral soul he learns to trace, +That stronger chain which links and leads the race; +Which forms and sanctions every social tie, +And blinds or clears their intellectual eye. +He strips that soul from every filmy shade +That schools had caught, that oracles had made, +Relumes her visual nerve, develops strong +The rules of right, the subtle shifts of wrong; +Of civil power draws clear the sacred line, +Gives to just government its right divine, +Forms, varies, fashions, as his lights increase, +Till earth is fill'd with happiness and peace. + +Already taught, thou know'st the fame that waits +His rising seat in thy confederate states. +There stands the model, thence he long shall draw +His forms of policy, his traits of law; +Each land shall imitate, each nation join +The well-based brotherhood, the league divine, +Extend its empire with the circling sun, +And band the peopled globe beneath its federal zone. + +As thus he spoke, returning tears of joy +Suffused the Hero's cheek and pearl'd his eye: +Unveil, said he, my friend, and stretch once more +Beneath my view that heaven-illumined shore; +Let me behold her silver beams expand, +To lead all nations, lighten every land, +Instruct the total race, and teach at last +Their toils to lessen and their chains to cast, +Trace and attain the purpose of their birth, +And hold in peace this heritage of earth. +The Seraph smiled consent, the Hero's eye +Watch'd for the daybeam round the changing sky. + + + + +Book X. + + + +Argument + + + The vision resumed, and extended over the whole earth. Present + character of different nations. Future progress of society with respect + to commerce; discoveries; inland navigation; philosophical, med + and political knowledge. Science of government. Assimilation and final + union of all languages. Its effect on education, and on the advancement + of physical and moral science. The physical precedes the moral, as + Phosphor precedes the Sun. View of a general Congress from all nations, + assembled to establish the political harmony of mankind. Conclusion. + + +Hesper again his heavenly power display'd, +And shook the yielding canopy of shade. +Sudden the stars their trembling fires withdrew. +Returning splendors burst upon the view, +Floods of unfolding light the skies adorn, +And more than midday glories grace the morn. +So shone the earth, as if the sideral train, +Broad as full suns, had sail'd the ethereal plain; +When no distinguisht orb could strike the sight, +But one clear blaze of all-surrounding light +O'erflow'd the vault of heaven. For now in view +Remoter climes and future ages drew; +Whose deeds of happier fame, in long array, +Call'd into vision, fill the newborn day. + +Far as seraphic power could lift the eye, +Or earth or ocean bend the yielding sky, +Or circling sutis awake the breathing gale, +Drake lead the way, or Cook extend the sail; +Where Behren sever'd, with adventurous prow, +Hesperia's headland from Tartaria's brow; +Where sage Vancouvre's patient leads were hurl'd, +Where Deimen stretch'd his solitary world; +All lands, all seas that boast a present name, +And all that unborn time shall give to fame, +Around the Pair in bright expansion rise, +And earth, in one vast level, bounds the skies. + +They saw the nations tread their different shores, +Ply their own toils and wield their local powers, +Their present state in all its views disclose, +Their gleams of happiness, their shades of woes, +Plodding in various stages thro the range +Of man's unheeded but unceasing change. +Columbus traced them with experienced eye, +And class'd and counted all the flags that fly; +He mark'd what tribes still rove the savage waste, +What cultured realms the sweets of plenty taste; +Where arts and virtues fix their golden reign, +Or peace adorns, or slaughter dyes the plain. + +He saw the restless Tartar, proud to roam, +Move with his herds and pitch a transient home; +Tibet's long tracts and China's fixt domain, +Dull as their despots, yield their cultured grain; +Cambodia, Siam, Asia's myriad isles +And old Indostan, with their wealthy spoils +Attract adventures masters, and o'ershade +Their sunbright ocean with the wings of trade. +Arabian robbers, Syrian Kurds combined, +Create their deserts and infest mankind; +The Turk's dim Crescent, like a day-struck star, +As Russia's Eagle shades their haunts of war, +Shrinks from insulted Europe, who divide +The shatter'd empire to the Pontic tide. +He mark'd impervious Afric, where alone +She lies encircled with the verdant zone +That lines her endless coast, and still sustains +Her northern pirates and her eastern swains, +Mourns her interior tribes purloined away, +And chain'd and sold beyond Atlantic day. +Brazilla's wilds, Mackensie's savage lands +With bickering strife inflame their furious bands; +Atlantic isles and Europe's cultured shores +Heap their vast wealth, exchange their growing stores, +All arts inculcate, new discoveries plan, +Tease and torment but school the race of man. +While his own federal states, extending far, +Calm their brave sons now breathing from the war, +Unfold their harbors, spread their genial soil, +And welcome freemen to the cheerful toil. + +A sight so solemn, as it varied sound, +Fill'd his fond heart with reveries profound; +He felt the infinitude of thoughts that pass +And guide and govern that enormous mass. +The cares that agitate, the creeds that blind, +The woes that waste the many-master'd kind, +The distance great that still remains to trace, +Ere sober sense can harmonize the race, +Held him suspense, imprest with reverence meek, +And choked his utterance as he wish'd to speak: +When Hesper thus: The paths they here pursue, +Wide as they seem unfolding to thy view, +Show but a point in that long circling course +Which cures their weakness and confirms their force, +Lends that experience which alone can close +The scenes of strife, and give the world repose. +Yet here thou seest the same progressive plan +That draws for mutual succour man to man, +From twain to tribe, from tribe to realm dilates, +In federal union groups a hundred states, +Thro all their turns with gradual scale ascends, +Their powers; their passions and their interest blends; +While growing arts their social virtues spread, +Enlarge their compacts and unlock their trade; +Till each remotest clan, by commerce join'd, +Links in the chain that binds all humankind, +Their bloody banners sink in darkness furl'd, +And one white flag of peace triumphant walks the world. + +As infant streams, from oozing earth at first +With feeble force and lonely murmurs burst, +From myriad unseen fountains draw the rills +And curl contentious round their hundred hills, +Meet, froth and foam, their dashing currents swell, +O'er crags and rocks their furious course impel, +Impetuous plunging plough the mounds of earth, +And tear the fostering flanks that gave them birth; +Mad with the strength they gain, they thicken deep +Their muddy waves and slow and sullen creep, +O'erspread whole regions in their lawless pride, +Then stagnate long, then shrink and curb their tide; +Anon more tranquil grown, with steadier sway, +Thro broader banks they shape their seaward way, +From different climes converging, join and spread +Their mingled waters in one widening bed, +Profound, transparent; till the liquid zone +Bands half the globe and drinks the golden sun, +Sweeps onward still the still expanding plain, +And moves majestic to the boundless main. +Tis thus Society's small sources rise; +Thro passions wild her infant progress lies; +Fear, with its host of follies, errors, woes, +Creates her obstacles and forms her foes; +Misguided interest, local pride withstand, +Till long-tried ills her growing views expand, +Till tribes and states and empires find their place, +Whose mutual wants her widest walks embrace; +Enlightened interest, moral sense at length +Combine their aids to elevate her strength, +Lead o'er the world her peace-commanding sway. +And light her steps with everlasting day. + +From that mark'd stage of man we now behold, +More rapid strides his coming paths unfold; +His continents are traced, his islands found, +His well-taught sails on all his billows bound, +His varying wants their new discoveries ply, +And seek in earth's whole range their sure supply. + +First of his future stages, thou shalt see +His trade unfetter'd and his ocean free. +From thy young states the code consoling springs, +To strip from vulture War his naval wings; +In views so just all Europe's powers combine, +And earth's full voice approves the vast design. +Tho still her inland realms the combat wage +And hold in lingering broils the unsettled age, +Yet no rude shocks that shake the crimson plain +Shall more disturb the labors of the main; +The main that spread so wide his travell'd way, +Liberal as air, impartial as the day, +That all thy race the common wealth might share, +Exchange their fruits and fill their treasures there, +Their speech assimilate, their counsels blend, +Till mutual interest fix the mutual friend. +Now see, my son, the destined hour advance; +Safe in their leagues commercial navies dance, +Leave their curst cannon on the quay-built strand, +And like the stars of heaven a fearless course command. + +The Hero look'd; beneath his wondering eyes +Gay streamers lengthen round the seas and skies; +The countless nations open all their stores, +Load every wave and crowd the lively shores; +Bright sails in mingling mazes streak the air, +And commerce triumphs o'er the rage of war. + +From Baltic streams, from Elba's opening side, +From Rhine's long course and Texel's laboring tide, +From Gaul, from Albion, tired of fruitless fight, +From green Hibernia, clothed in recent light, +Hispania's strand that two broad oceans lave, +From Senegal and Gambia's golden wave, +Tago the rich, and Douro's viny shores, +The sweet Canaries and the soft Azores, +Commingling barks their mutual banners hail, +And drink by turns the same distending gale. +Thro Calpe's strait that leads the Midland main, +From Adria, Pontus, Nile's resurgent reign, +The sails look forth and wave their bandrols high +And ask their breezes from a broader sky. +Where Asia's isles and utmost shorelands bend, +Like rising suns the sheeted masts ascend; +Coast after coast their flowing flags unrol, +From Deimen's rocks to Zembla's ice-propt pole, +Where Behren's pass collapsing worlds divides, +Where California breaks the billowy tides, +Peruvian streams their golden margins boast, +Or Chili bluffs or Plata flats the coast. +Where, clothed in splendor, his Atlantic way +Spreads the blue borders of Hesperian day, +From all his havens, with majestic sweep, +The swiftest boldest daughters of the deep +Swarm forth before him; till the cloudlike train +From pole to pole o'ersheet the whitening main. + +So some primeval seraph, placed on high, +From heaven's sublimest point o'erlooke'd the sky, +When space unfolding heard the voice of God, +And suns and stars and systems roll'd abroad, +Caught their first splendors from his beamful eye, +Began their years and vaulted round their sky; +Their social spheres in bright confusion play, +Exchange their beams and fill the newborn day. + +Nor seas alone the countless barks behold; +Earth's inland realms their naval paths unfold. +Her plains, long portless, now no more complain +Of useless rills and fountains nursed in vain; +Canals curve thro them many a liquid line, +Prune their wild streams, their lakes and oceans join. +Where Darien hills o'erlook the gulphy tide, +Cleft in his view the enormous banks divide; +Ascending sails their opening pass pursue, +And waft the sparkling treasures of Peru. +Moxoe resigns his stagnant world of fen, +Allures, rewards the cheerful toils of men, +Leads their long new-made rivers round his reign, +Drives off the stench and waves his golden grain, +Feeds a whole nation from his cultured shore, +Where not a bird could skim the skies before. + +From Mohawk's mouth, far westing with the sun, +Thro all the midlands recent channels run, +Tap the redundant lakes, the broad hills brave, +And Hudson marry with Missouri's wave. +From dim Superior, whose uncounted sails +Shade his full seas and bosom all his gales, +New paths unfolding seek Mackensie's tide, +And towns and empires rise along their side; +Slave's crystal highways all his north adorn, +Like coruscations from the boreal morn. +Proud Missisippi, tamed and taught his road, +Flings forth irriguous from his generous flood +Ten thousand watery glades; that, round him curl'd, +Vein the broad bosom of the western world. + +From the red banks of Arab's odorous tide +Their Isthmus opens, and strange waters glide; +Europe from all her shores, with crowded sails, +Looks thro the pass and calls the Asian gales. +Volga and Obi distant oceans join. +Delighted Danube weds the wasting Rhine; +Elbe, Oder, Neister channel many a plain, +Exchange their barks and try each other's main. +All infant streams and every mountain rill +Choose their new paths, some useful task to fill, +Each acre irrigate, re-road the earth, +And serve at last the purpose of their birth. + +Earth, garden'd all, a tenfold burden brings; +Her fruits, her odors, her salubrious springs +Swell, breathe and bubble from the soil they grace, +String with strong nerves the renovating race, +Their numbers multiply in every land, +Their toils diminish and their powers expand; +And while she rears them with a statelier frame +Their soul she kindles with diviner flame, +Leads their bright intellect with fervid glow +Thro all the mass of things that still remains to know. + +He saw the aspiring genius of the age +Soar in the Bard and strengthen in the Sage: +The Bard with bolder hand assumes the lyre, +Warms the glad nations with unwonted fire, +Attunes to virtue all the tones that roll +Their tides of transport thro the expanding soul. +For him no more, beneath their furious gods, +Old ocean crimsons and Olympus nods, +Uprooted mountains sweep the dark profound, +Or Titans groan beneath the rending ground, +No more his clangor maddens up the mind +To crush, to conquer and enslave mankind, +To build on ruin'd realms the shrines of fame, +And load his numbers with a tyrant's name. +Far nobler objects animate his tongue, +And give new energies to epic song; +To moral charms he bids the world attend, +Fraternal states their mutual ties extend, +O'er cultured earth the rage of conquest cease, +War sink in night and nature smile in peace. +Soaring with science then he learns to string +Her highest harp, and brace her broadest wing, +With her own force to fray the paths untrod, +With her own glance to ken the total God, +Thro heavens o'ercanopied by heavens behold +New suns ascend and other skies unfold, +Social and system'd worlds around him shine, +And lift his living strains to harmony divine. + +The Sage with steadier lights directs his ken, +Thro twofold nature leads the walks of men, +Remoulds her moral and material frames, +Their mutual aids, their sister laws proclaims, +Disease before him with its causes flies, +And boasts no more of sickly soils and skies; +His well-proved codes the healing science aid, +Its base establish and its blessing spread, +With long-wrought life to teach the race to glow, +And vigorous nerves to grace the locks of snow. + +From every shape that varying matter gives, +That rests or ripens, vegetates or lives, +His chymic powers new combinations plan, +Yield new creations, finer forms to man, +High springs of health for mind and body trace, +Add force and beauty to the joyous race, +Arm with new engines his adventurous hand, +Stretch o'er these elements his wide command, +Lay the proud storm submissive at his feet, +Change, temper, tame all subterranean heat, +Probe laboring earth and drag from her dark side +The mute volcano, ere its force be tried; +Walk under ocean, ride the buoyant air, +Brew the soft shower, the labor'd land repair, +A fruitful soil o'er sandy deserts spread, +And clothe with culture every mountain's head. + +Where system'd realms their mutual glories lend, +And well-taught sires the cares of state attend, +Thro every maze of man they learn to wind, +Note each device that prompts the Proteus mind, +What soft restraints the tempered breast requires, +To taste new joys and cherish new desires, +Expand the selfish to the social flame, +And rear the soul to deeds of nobler fame. + +They mark, in all the past records of praise, +What partial views heroic zeal could raise; +What mighty states on others' ruins stood, +And built unsafe their haughty seats in blood; +How public virtue's ever borrow'd name +With proud applauses graced the deeds of shame, +Bade each imperial standard wave sublime, +And wild ambition havoc every clime; +From chief to chief the kindling spirit ran, +Heirs of false fame and enemies of man. + +Where Grecian states in even balance hung, +And warm'd with jealous fires the patriot's tongue, +The exclusive ardor cherish'd in the breast +Love to one land and hatred to the rest. +And where the flames of civil discord rage, +And Roman arms with Roman arms engage, +The mime of virtue rises still the same, +To build a Cesar's as a Pompey's name. + +But now no more the patriotic mind, +To narrow views and local laws confined, +Gainst neighboring lands directs the public rage. +Plods for a clan or counsels for an age; +But soars to loftier thoughts, and reaches far +Beyond the power, beyond the wish of war; +For realms and ages forms the general aim, +Makes patriot views and moral views the same, +Works with enlighten'd zeal, to see combined +The strength and happiness of humankind. + +Long had Columbus with delighted eyes +Mark'd all the changes that around him rise, +Lived thro descending ages as they roll, +And feasted still the still expanding soul; +When now the peopled regions swell more near, +And a mixt noise tumultuous stuns his ear. +At first, like heavy thunders roll'd in air, +Or the rude shock of cannonading war, +Or waves resounding on the craggy shore, +Hoarse roll'd the loud-toned undulating roar. +But soon the sounds like human voices rise, +All nations pouring undistinguisht cries; +Till more distinct the wide concussion grown +Rolls forth at times an accent like his own. +By turns the tongues assimilating blend, +And smoother idioms over earth ascend; +Mingling and softening still in every gale, +O'er discord's din harmonious tones prevail. +At last a simple universal sound +Winds thro the welkin, sooths the world around, +From echoing shores in swelling strain replies, +And moves melodious o'er the warbling skies. + +Such wild commotions as he heard and view'd, +In fixt astonishment the Hero stood, +And thus besought the Guide: Celestial friend, +What good to man can these dread scenes intend? +Some sore distress attends that boding sound +That breathed hoarse thunder and convulsed the ground. +War sure hath ceased; or have my erring eyes +Misread the glorious visions of the skies? +Tell then, my Seer, if future earthquakes sleep, +Closed in the conscious caverns of the deep, +Waiting the day of vengeance, when to roll +And rock the rending pillars of the pole. +Or tell if aught more dreadful to my race +In these dark signs thy heavenly wisdom trace; +And why the loud discordance melts again +In the smooth glidings of a tuneful strain. + +The guardian god replied: Thy fears give o'er; +War's hosted hounds shall havoc earth no more; +No sore distress these signal sounds foredoom, +But give the pledge of peaceful years to come; +The tongues of nations here their accents blend. +Till one pure language thro the world extend. + +Thou know'st the tale of Babel; how the skies +Fear'd for their safety as they felt him rise, +Sent unknown jargons mid the laboring bands, +Confused their converse and unnerved their hands, +Dispersed the bickering tribes and drove them far, +From peaceful toil to violence and war; +Bade kings arise with bloody flags unfurl'd, +Bade pride and conquest wander o'er the world, +Taught adverse creeds, commutual hatreds bred, +Till holy homicide the climes o'erspread. +--For that fine apologue, writh mystic strain, +Gave like the rest a golden age to man, +Ascribed perfection to his infant state, +Science unsought and all his arts innate; +Supposed the experience of the growing race +Must lead him retrograde and cramp his pace, +Obscure his vision as his lights increast, +And sink him from an angel to a beast. + +Tis thus the teachers of despotic sway +Strive in all times to blot the beams of day, +To keep him curb'd, nor let him lift his eyes +To see where happiness, where misery lies. +They lead him blind, and thro the world's broad waste +Perpetual feuds, unceasing shadows cast, +Crush every art that might the mind expand, +And plant with demons every desert land; +That, fixt in straiten'd bounds, the lust of power +May ravage still and still the race devour, +An easy prey the hoodwink'd hordes remain, +And oceans roll and shores extend in vain. + +Long have they reign'd; till now the race at last +Shake off their manacles, their blinders cast, +Overrule the crimes their fraudful foes produce, +By ways unseen to serve the happiest use, +Tempt the wide wave, probe every yielding soil, +Fill with their fruits the hardy hand of toil, +Unite their forces, wheel the conquering car, +Deal mutual death, but civilize by war. + +Dear-bought the experiment and hard the strife +Of social man, that rear'd his arts to life. +His Passions wild that agitate the mind, +His Reason calm, their watchful guide designed, +While yet unreconciled, his march restrain, +Mislead the judgment and betray the man. +Fear, his first passion, long maintain'd the sway, +Long shrouded in its glooms the mental ray, +Shook, curb'd, controll'd his intellectual force, +And bore him wild thro many a devious course. +Long had his Reason, with experienced eye, +Perused the book of earth and scaled the sky, +Led fancy, memory, foresight in her train, +And o'er creation stretch'd her vast domain; +Yet would that rival Fear her strength appal; +In that one conflict always sure to fall, +Mild Reason shunn'd the foe she could not brave, +Renounced her empire and remained a slave. + +But deathless, tho debased, she still could find +Some beams of truth to pour upon the mind; +And tho she dared no moral code to scan, +Thro physic forms she learnt to lead the man; +To strengthen thus his opening orbs of sight, +And nerve and clear them for a stronger light. +That stronger light, from nature's double codes, +Now springs expanding and his doubts explodes; +All nations catch it, all their tongues combine +To hail the human morn and speak the day divine. + +At this blest period, when the total race +Shall speak one language and all truths embrace, +Instruction clear a speedier course shall find, +And open earlier on the infant mind. +No foreign terms shall crowd with barbarous rules +The dull unmeaning pageantry of schools; +Nor dark authorities nor names unknown +Fill the learnt head with ignorance not its own; +But wisdom's eye with beams unclouded shine, +And simplest rules her native charms define; +One living language, one unborrow'd dress +Her boldest flights with fullest force express; +Triumphant virtue, in the garb of truth, +Win a pure passage to the heart of youth, +Pervade all climes where suns or oceans roll, +And warm the world with one great moral soul, +To see, facilitate, attain the scope +Of all their labor and of all their hope. + +As early Phosphor, on his silver throne, +Fair type of truth and promise of the sun, +Smiles up the orient in his dew-dipt ray, +Illumes the front of heaven and leads the day; +Thus Physic Science, with exploring eyes, +First o'er the nations bids her beauties rise, +Prepares the glorious way to pour abroad +Her Sister's brighter beams, the purest light of God. +Then Moral Science leads the lively mind +Thro broader fields and pleasures more refined; +Teaches the temper'd soul, at one vast view, +To glance o'er time and look existence thro, +See worlds and worlds, to being's formless end, +With all their hosts on her prime power depend, +Seraphs and suns and systems, as they rise, +Live in her life and kindle from her eyes, +Her cloudless ken, her all-pervading soul +Illume, sublime and harmonize the whole; +Teaches the pride of man its breadth to bound +In one small point of this amazing round, +To shrink and rest where nature fixt its fate, +A line its space, a moment for its date; +Instructs the heart an ampler joy to taste, +And share its feelings with each human breast, +Expand its wish to grasp the total kind +Of sentient soul, of cogitative mind; +Till mutual love commands all strife to cease, +And earth join joyous in the songs of peace. + +Thus heard Columbus, eager to behold +The famed Apocalypse its years unfold; +The soul stood speaking thro his gazing eyes, +And thus his voice: Oh let the visions rise! +Command, celestial Guide, from each far pole, +John's vision'd morn to open on my soul, +And raise the scenes, by his reflected light, +Living and glorious to my longing sight. +Let heaven unfolding show the eternal throne, +And all the concave flame in one clear sun; +On clouds of fire, with angels at his side, +The Prince of Peace, the King of Salem ride, +With smiles of love to greet the bridal earth, +Call slumbering ages to a second birth, +With all his white-robed millions fill the train, +And here commence the interminable reign! +Such views, the Saint replies, for sense too bright, +Would seal thy vision in eternal night; +Man cannot face nor seraph power display +The mystic beams of such an awful day. +Enough for thee, that thy delighted mind +Should trace the temporal actions of thy kind; +That time's descending veil should ope so far +Beyond the reach of wretchedness and war, +Till all the paths in nature's sapient plan +Fair in thy presence lead the steps of man, +And form at last, on earth's extended ball, +Union of parts and happiness of all. +To thy glad ken these rolling years have shown +The boundless blessings thy vast labors crown, +That, with the joys of unborn ages blest, +Thy soul exulting may retire to rest, +But see once more! beneath a change of skies, +The last glad visions wait thy raptured eyes. + +Eager he look'd. Another train of years +Had roll'd unseen, and brighten'd still their spheres; +Earth more resplendent in the floods of day +Assumed new smiles, and flush'd around him lay. +Green swell the mountains, calm the oceans roll, +Fresh beams of beauty kindle round the pole; +Thro all the range where shores and seas extend, +In tenfold pomp the works of peace ascend. +Robed in the bloom of spring's eternal year, +And ripe with fruits the same glad fields appear; +O'er hills and vales perennial gardens run, +Cities unwall'd stand sparkling to the sun; +The streams all freighted from the bounteous plain +Swell with the load and labor to the main, +Whose stormless waves command a steadier gale +And prop the pinions of a bolder sail: +Sway'd with the floating weight each ocean toils, +And joyous nature's full perfection smiles. + +Fill'd with unfolding fate, the vision'd age +Now leads its actors on a broader stage; +When clothed majestic in the robes of state, +Moved by one voice, in general congress meet +The legates of all empires. Twas the place +Where wretched men first firm'd their wandering pace; +Ere yet beguiled, the dark delirious hordes +Began to fight for altars and for lords; +Nile washes still the soil, and feels once more +The works of wisdom press his peopled shore. + +In this mid site, this monumental clime, +Rear'd by all realms to brave the wrecks of time +A spacious dome swells up, commodious great, +The last resort, the unchanging scene of state. +On rocks of adamant the walls ascend, +Tall columns heave and sky-like arches bend; +Bright o'er the golden roofs the glittering spires +Far in the concave meet the solar fires; +Four blazing fronts, with gates unfolding high, +Look with immortal splendor round the sky: +Hither the delegated sires ascend, +And all the cares of every clime attend. + +As that blest band, the guardian guides of heaven, +To whom the care of stars and suns is given, +(When one great circuit shall have proved their spheres, +And time well taught them how to wind their years) +Shall meet in general council; call'd to state +The laws and labors that their charge await; +To learn, to teach, to settle how to hold +Their course more glorious, as their lights unfold: +From all the bounds of space (the mandate known) +They wing their passage to the eternal throne; +Each thro his far dim sky illumes the road, +And sails and centres tow'rd the mount of God; +There, in mid universe, their seats to rear, +Exchange their counsels and their works compare: +So, from all tracts of earth, this gathering throng +In ships and chariots shape their course along, +Reach with unwonted speed the place assign'd +To hear and give the counsels of mankind. + +South of the sacred mansion, first resort +The assembled sires, and pass the spacious court. +Here in his porch earth's figured Genius stands, +Truth's mighty mirror poizing in his hands; +Graved on the pedestal and chased in gold, +Man's noblest arts their symbol forms unfold, +His tillage and his trade; with all the store +Of wondrous fabrics and of useful lore: +Labors that fashion to his sovereign sway +Earth's total powers, her soil and air and sea; +Force them to yield their fruits at his known call, +And bear his mandates round the rolling ball. +Beneath the footstool all destructive things, +The mask of priesthood and the mace of kings, +Lie trampled in the dust; for here at last +Fraud, folly, error all their emblems cast. +Each envoy here unloads his wearied hand +Of some old idol from his native land; +One flings a pagod on the mingled heap, +One lays a crescent, one a cross to sleep; +Swords, sceptres, mitres, crowns and globes and stars, +Codes of false fame and stimulants to wars +Sink in the settling mass; since guile began, +These are the agents of the woes of man. + +Now the full concourse, where the arches bend, +Pour thro by thousands and their seats ascend. +Far as the centred eye can range around, +Or the deep trumpet's solemn voice resound, +Long rows of reverend sires sublime extend, +And cares of worlds on every brow suspend. +High in the front, for soundest wisdom known, +A sire elect in peerless grandeur shone; +He open'd calm the universal cause, +To give each realm its limit and its laws, +Bid the last breath of tired contention cease, +And bind all regions in the leagues of peace; +Till one confederate, condependent sway +Spread with the sun and bound the walks of day, +One centred system, one all-ruling soul +Live thro the parts and regulate the whole. + +Here then, said Hesper, with a blissful smile, +Behold the fruits of thy long years of toil. +To yon bright borders of Atlantic day +Thy swelling pinions led the trackless way, +And taught mankind such useful deeds to dare, +To trace new seas and happy nations rear; +Till by fraternal hands their sails unfurl'd +Have waved at last in union o'er the world. + +Then let thy steadfast soul no more complain +Of dangers braved and griefs endured in vain, +Of courts insidious, envy's poison'd stings, +The loss of empire and the frown of kings; +While these broad views thy better thoughts compose +To spurn the malice of insulting foes; +And all the joys descending ages gain, +Repay thy labors and remove thy pain. + + + + +Notes. + + + +Tho it would be more convenient to the reader to find some of these notes, +especially the shorter ones, at the bottom of the pages to which they +refer, yet most of them are of such a length as would render that mode of +placing them disadvantageous to the symmetry of the pages and the general +appearance of the work. It seemed necessary that these should be collected +at the end of the Poem; and it was thought proper that the others should +not be separated from them. + +The notes will probably be found too voluminous for the taste of some +readers; but others would doubtless be better pleased to see them still +augmented, as several of the philosophical subjects and historical +references are left unexplained. Were I to offer apologies in this case, I +should hardly know on which side to begin. I will therefore only say that +in this appendage, as in the body of the work, I have aimed, as well as I +was able, at blending in due proportions the useful with the agreeable. + + + +No. 1. + + + _One gentle guardian once could shield the brave; + But now that guardian slumbers in the grave._ + + Book I. Line 105. + +The death of queen Isabella, which happened before the last return of +Columbus from America, was a subject of great sorrow to him. In her he lost +his only powerful friend in Spain, on whose influence he was accustomed to +rely in counteracting the perpetual intrigues of a host of enemies, whose +rank and fortune gave them a high standing at the court of Valladolid. +Their situation and connexions must havee commanded a weight of authority +not easily resisted by an individual foreigner, however illustrious from +his merit. + +It was a grievous reflection for Columbus that his services, tho great in +themselves and unequalled in their consequences to the world, had been +performed in an age and for a nation which knew not their value, as well as +for an ungrateful monarch who chose to disregard them. + + + +No. 2. + + + _As, awed to silence, savage lands gave place, + And hail'd with joy the sun-descended race._ + + Book I. Line 243. + +The original inhabitants of Hispaniola were worshippers of the sun. The +Europeans, when they first landed there, were supposed by them to be gods, +and consequently descended from the sun. See the subject of solar worship +treated more at large in a subsequent note. + + + +No. 3. + + + _High lanterned in his heaven the cloudless White + Heaves the glad sailor an eternal light;_ + + Book I. Line 333. + +The White Mountain of Newhampshire, tho eighty miles from the sea, is the +first land to be discovered in approaching that part of the coast of North +America. It serves as a landmark for a considerable length of coast, of +difficult navigation. + + + +No. 4. + + + _Whirl'd from the monstrous Andes' bursting sides, + Maragnon leads his congregating tides;_ + + Book I. Line 365. + +This river, from different circumstances, has obtained several different +names. It has been called Amazon, from an idea that some part of the +neighboring country was inhabited by a race of warlike women, resembling +what Herodotus relates of the Amazons of Scythia. It has been called +Orellana, from its having been discovered by a Spanish officer of that +name, who, on a certain expedition, deserted from the younger Pizarro on +one of the sources of this river, and navigated it from thence to the +ocean. Maragnon is the original name given it by the natives; which name I +choose to follow. + +If we estimate its magnitude by the length of its course and the quantity +of water it throws into the sea, it is much the greatest river that has +hitherto come to our knowledge. Its navigation is said by Condamine and +others to be uninterrupted for four thousand miles from the sea. Its +breadth, within the banks, is sixty geographical miles; it receives in its +course a variety of great rivers, besides those described in the text. Many +of these descend from elevated countries and mountains covered with snow, +the melting of which annually swells the Maragnon above its banks; when it +overflows and fertilizes a vast extent of territory. + + + +No. 5. + + + _He saw Xaraycts diamond lanks unfold, + And Paraguay's deep channel paved with gold._ + + Book I. Line 435. + +Some of the richest diamond mines are found on the banks of the lake +Xaraya. The river Paraguay is remarkable for the quantities of gold dust +found in its channel. The Rio de la Plata, properly so called, has +its source in the mountains of Potosi; and it was probably from this +circumstance that it received its name, which signifies River of Silver. +This river, after having joined the Paraguay, which is larger than itself, +retains its own name till it reaches the sea. Near the mouth, it is one +hundred and fifty miles wide; but in other respects it is far inferior to +the Maragnon. + + + +No. 6. + + + _Soon as the distant swell was seen to roll, + His ancient wishes reabsorb'd his soul;_ + + Book I. Line 449. + +The great object of Columbus, in most of his voyages, was to discover a +western passage to India. He navigated the Gulph of Mexico with particular +attention to this object, and was much disappointed in not finding a pass +into the South Sea. The view he is here supposed to have of that ocean +would therefore naturally recal his former desire of sailing to India. + + + +No. 7. + + + _This idle frith must open soon to fame, + Here a lost Lusitanian fix his name,_ + + Book I. Line 491. + +The straits of Magellan, so called from having been discovered by a +Portuguese navigator of that name, who first attempted to sail round the +world, and lost his life in the attempt. + + + +No. 8. + + + _Say, Palfrey, brave good man, was this thy doom? + Dwells here the secret of thy midsea tomb?_ + + Book I. Line 627. + +Colonel Palfrey of Boston was an officer of distinction in the American +army during the war of independence. Soon after the war he proposed to +visit Europe, and embarked for England; but never more was heard of. The +ship probably perished in the ice. His daughter, here alluded to, is now +the wife of William Lee, American consul at Bordeaux. + + + +No. 9. + + + _The beasts all whitening roam the lifeless plain, + And caves unfrequent scoop the couch for man._ + + Book I. Line 753. + +The color of animals is acquired partly from the food they eat, thro +successive generations, and partly from the objects with which they are +usually surrounded. Dr. Darwin has a curious note on this subject, in which +he remarks on the advantages that insects and other small animals derive +from their color, as a means of rendering them invisible to their more +powerful enemies; who thus find it difficult to distinguish them from other +objects where they reside. Some animals which inhabit cold countries turn +white in winter, when the earth is covered with snow; such as the snowbird +of the Alps. Others in snowy regions are habitually white; such as the +white bear of Russia. + + + +No. 10. + + + _A different cast the glowing zone demands, + In Paria's blooms, from Tombut's burning sands._ + + Book II. Line 97. + +Paria is a fertile country near the river Orinoco; the only part of the +continent of America that Columbus had seen. Tombut, in the same latitude, +is the most sterile part of Africa. America embraces a greater compass of +latitude by many degrees than the other continent; and yet its inhabitants +present a much less variety in their physical and moral character. When +shall we be able to account for this fact? + + + +No. 11. + + + _Yet when the hordes to happy nations rise, + And earth by culture warms the genial skies_, + + Book II. Line 119. + +Without entering into any discussion on the theory of heat and cold +(a point not yet settled in our academies) I would just observe, in +vindication of the expression in the text, that some solid matter, such for +instance as the surface of the earth, seems absolutely necessary to the +production of heat. At least it must be a matter more compact than that of +the sun's rays; and perhaps its power of producing heat is in proportion to +its solidity. + +The warmth communicated to the atmosphere is doubtless produced by the +combined causes of the earth and the sun; but the agency of the former is +probably more powerful in this operation than that of the latter, and its +presence more indispensable. For masses of matter will produce heat by +friction, without the aid of the sun; but no experiment has yet proved that +the rays of the sun are capable of producing heat without the aid of other +and more solid matter. The air is temperate in those cavities of the earth +where the sun is the most effectually excluded; whereas the coldest regions +yet known to us are the tops of the Andes, where the sun's rays have the +most direct operation, being the most vertical and the least obstructed by +vapors. Those regions are deprived of heat by being so far removed from +the broad surface of the earth; a body that appears requisite to warm the +surrounding atmosphere by its cooperation with the action of the sun. + +From these principles we may conclude that cultivation, in a woody country, +tends to warm the atmosphere and ameliorate a cold climate; as, by removing +the forests and marshes, it opens the earth to the sun, and allows them to +act in conjunction upon the air. + +According to the descriptions given of the middle parts of Europe by Cesar +and Tacitus, it appears that those countries were much colder in their days +than they are at present; cultivation seems to have softened that climate +to a great degree. The same effect begins to be perceived in North America. +Possibly it may in time become as apparent as the present difference in the +temperature of the two continents. + + + +No. 12. + + + _A ruddier hue and deeper shade shall gain, + And stalk, in statelier figures, on the plain._ + + Book II. Line 127. + +The complexion of the inhabitants of North America, who are descended from +the English and Dutch, is evidently darker, and their stature taller, than +those of the English and Dutch in Europe. + + + +No. 13. + + + _Like Memphian hieroglyphs, to stretch the span + Of memory frail in momentary man._ + + Book II. Line 287. + +We may reckon three stages of improvement in the graphic art, or the art of +communicating our thoughts to absent persons and to posterity by visible +signs. First, The invention of _painting ideas,_ or representing +actions, dates and other circumstances of historical fact, by the images of +material things, drawn usually on a flat surface, or sometimes carved or +moulded in a more solid form. This was the state at which the art had +arrived in Egypt before the introduction of letters, and in Mexico before +the arrival of the Spaniards. The Greeks in Egypt called it hieroglyphic. + +Second, The invention of _painting sounds,_ which we do by the use +of letters, or the alphabet, and which we call writing. This was a vast +improvement; as it simplified in a wonderful degree the communication of +thought. For ideas are infinite in number and variety; while the simple +sounds we use to convey them to the ear are few, distinct and easy to be +understood. It would indeed be impossible to express all our ideas by +distinct and visible images. And even if the writer were able to do this, +not many readers could be made to understand him; since it would be +necessary that every new idea should have a new image invented and agreed +upon between the writer and the reader, before it could be used. Which +preliminary could not be settled without the writer should see and converse +with the reader. And he might as well, in this case, convey his ideas by +oral speech; so that his writing could be of little use beyond a certain +routine of established signs. + +The number of simple sounds in human language, used in discourse, is not +above eighteen or twenty; and these are so varied in the succession in +which they are uttered, as to express an inconceivable and endless variety +of thought and sentiment. Then, by the help of an alphabet of about +twenty-six letters or visible signs, these sounds are translated from the +ear to the eye; and we are able, by thus painting the sound, to arrest its +fleeting nature, render it permanent, and talk with distant nations and +future ages, without any previous convention whatever, even supposing them +to be ignorant of the language in which we write. This is the present state +of the art, as commonly practised in all the countries where an alphabet +is used. It is called the art of writing; and to understand it is called +reading. + +Third, Another invention, which is still in its infancy, is the art of +_painting phrases,_ or sentences; commonly called shorthand writing. +This is yet but little used, and only by a few dexterous persons, who make +it a particular study. Probably the true principles on which it ought to be +founded are yet to be discovered. But it may be presumed, that in this part +of the graphic art there remains to the ingenuity of future generations a +course of improvements totally inconceivable to the present; by which the +whole train of impressions now made upon the mind by reading a long and +well written treatise may be conveyed by a few strokes of the pen, and be +received at a glance of the eye. This desideratum would be an abridgment +of labor in our mental acquisitions, of which we cannot determine the +consequences. It might make, in the progress of human knowledge, an epoch +as remarkable as that which was made by the invention of alphabetical +writing, and produce as great a change in the mode of transmitting the +history of events. + +One consequence of the invention of alphabetical writing seems to have been +to throw into oblivion all previous historical facts; and it has thus +left an immense void, which the imagination knows not how to fill, in +contemplating the progress of our race. How many important discoveries, +which still remain to our use, must have taken their origin in that space +of time which is thus left a void to us! A vast succession of ages, and +ages of improvement, must have preceded (for example) the invention of the +wheel. The wheel must have been in common use, we know not how long, before +alphabetical writing; because we find its image employed in painting ideas, +during the first stage of the graphic art above described. The wheel +was likewise in use before the mysteries of Ceres or those of Isis were +established; as is evident from its being imagined as an instrument +of punishment in hell, in the case of Ixion, as represented in those +mysteries. The taming of the ox and the horse, the use of the sickle +and the bow and arrow, a considerable knowledge of astronomy, and its +application to the purposes of agriculture and navigation, with many other +circumstances, which show a prodigious improvement, must evidently have +preceded the date of the zodiac; a date fixed by Dupuis, with a great +degree of probability, at about seventeen thousand years from our time. +This epoch would doubtless carry us back many thousand years beyond that of +the alphabet; the invention of which was sufficient of itself to obliterate +the details of previous history, as the event has proved. + +How far the loss of these historical details is to be regretted, as an +impediment to our progress in useful knowledge, I will not decide; but +in one view, which I am going to state, it may be justly considered as a +misfortune. + +The art of painting ideas, being arrested in the state in which the use of +the alphabet found it, went into general disuse for common purposes; and +the works then extant, as well as the knowledge of writing in that mode, +being no longer intelligible to the people, became objects of deep and +laborious study, and known only to the learned; that is, to the men of +leisure and contemplation. These men consequently ran it into mystery; +making it a holy object, above the reach of vulgar inquiry. On this +ground they established, in the course of ages, a profitable function +or profession, in the practice of which a certain portion of men of the +brightest talents could make a reputable living; taking care not to +initiate more than a limited number of professors; no more than the people +could maintain as priests. This mode of writing then assumed the name of +hieroglyphic, or sacred painting, to distinguish it from that which had +now become the vulgar mode of writing, by the use of the alphabet. This is +perhaps the source of that ancient, vast and variegated system of false +religion, with all its host of errors and miseries, which has so long and +so grievously weighed upon the character of human nature. + +In noticing the distinction of the three stages in the graphic art above +described, I have not mentioned the wonderful powers we derive from it +in the language of the mathematics and the language of music. In each of +these, though its effects are already astonishing, there is no doubt but +great improvements are still to be made. Our present mode of writing +in these, as in literature, belongs to the _second_ or _alphabetical_ +stage of the graphic art. The ten ciphers, and the other signs used in +the mathematical sciences, form the alphabet in which the language of +those sciences is written. The few musical notes, and the other signs +which accompany them, furnish an alphabet for writing the language of +music. + +The mode of writing in China is still different from any of those I have +mentioned. The Chinese neither paint ideas nor sounds: but they make a +character for every word; which character must vary according to the +different inflections and uses of that word. The characters must therefore +be insupportably numerous, and be still increasing as the language is +enriched with new words by the augmentation and correction of ideas. + +The English language is supposed to contain about twelve thousand distinct +words, and the Italian about seventeen thousand, in the present state of +our sciences. I know not how many the Chinese may contain; but if we were +to write our languages in the Chinese method, it would be the business of a +whole life for a man to learn his mother tongue, so as to read and write it +for his ordinary purposes. + +As the Chinese have not adopted an alphabet, but have adhered to an +invariable state of the graphic art, which is probably more ancient by +several thousand years than our present method, may we not venture to +conjecture that the traces of their very ancient history have been, for +that reason, better preserved? and that their pretensions to a very high +antiquity, which we have been used to think extravagant and ridiculous, are +really not without foundation? If so, we might then allow a little more +latitude to ourselves, and conclude that we are in fact as old as they, and +might have been as sensible of it, if we had adhered to our ancient +method of writing; and not changed it for a new one which, while it +has facilitated the progress of our science, has humbled our pride of +antiquity, by obliterating the dates of those labors and improvements of +our early progenitors, to which we are indebted for more of the rudiments +of our sciences and our arts than we usually imagine. + +It is much to be regretted, that the Spanish devastation in Mexico and Peru +was so universal as to leave us but few monuments of the history of the +human mind in those countries, which presented a state of manners so +remarkably different from what can be found in any other part of the world. +The pictorial writing of the Mexicans, tho sometimes called hieroglyphic, +does not appear to merit that name, as it was not exclusively appropriated +by the priests to sacred purposes. Indeed it could not be so appropriated +till a more convenient method could be discovered and adopted for common +purposes. For a thing cannot become sacred, in this sense of the word, +until it ceases to be common. + + + + +No. 14. + + + _No Bovadilla seize the tempting spoil, + No dark Ovando, no religious Boyle,_ + + Book II. Line 303. + +Bovadilla and Ovando are mentioned in the Introduction as the enemies and +successors of Columbus in the government of Hispaniola. They began +that system of cruelty towards the natives which in a few years almost +depopulated that island, and was afterwards pursued by Cortez, Pizarro and +others, in all the first settlements in Spanish America. + +Boyle was a fanatical priest who accompanied Ovando, and, under pretence of +christianizing the natives by the sword, gave the sanction of the church to +the most shocking and extensive scenes of slaughter. + + + +No. 15. + + + _He gains the shore. Behold his fortress rise, + His fleet high flaming suffocates the skies._ + + Book II. Line 329. + +The conduct of Cortez, when he first landed on the coast of Mexico, was as +remarkable for that hardy spirit of adventure, to which success gives the +name of policy, as his subsequent operations were for cruelty and perfidy. +As soon as his army was on shore, he dismantled his fleet of such articles +as would be useful in building a new one; he then set fire to his ships, +and burnt them in presence of his men; that they might fight their battles +with more desperate courage, knowing that it would be impossible to save +themselves from a victorious enemy by flight. He constructed a fort, in +which the iron and the rigging were preserved. + + + +No. 16. + + + _With cheerful rites their pure devotions pay + To the bright orb that gives the changing day._ + + Book II. Line 421. + +It is worthy of remark, that the countries where the worship of the sun has +made the greatest figure are Egypt and Peru; the two regions of the earth +the most habitually deprived of rain, and probably of clouds, which in +other countries so frequently obstruct his rays and seem to dispute his +influence. Tho in the rude ages of society it is certainly natural in all +countries to pay adoration to the sun, as one of the visible agents of +those changes in the atmosphere which most affect the people's happiness, +yet it is reasonable to suppose that this adoration would be more unmixed, +and consequently more durable, in climates where the agency of the sun +appears unrivalled and supreme. + +On the supposition that Greece and Western Asia, regions whose early +traditions are best known to us, derived their first theological ideas +from Egypt, it is curious to observe how the pure heliosebia of Egypt +degenerated in those climates in proportion as other visible agents seemed +to exert their influence in human affairs. Greece is a mountainous country, +subject to a great deal of lightning and other meteors, whose effects are +tremendous and make stronger impressions on rude savages than the gentle +energies of the sun. + +The Greeks therefore, having forgotten the source of their religious +system, ceased to consider the sun as their supreme god; his agency being, +in their opinion, subject to a more potent divinity, the Power of the air +or Jupiter, whom they styled the Thunderer. So that Apollo, the god of +light, became, in their mythology, the subject and offspring of the +supreme god of the atmosphere. This religion became extremely confused +and complicated with new fables, according to the temperature and other +accidents of the different climates thro which it passed. The god of +thunder obtained the supreme veneration generally in Europe: known in the +south by the name of Jupiter or Zeus and in the north by that of Thor. + +Europe in general has an uneven surface and a vapory sky, liable to great +concussions in the lower regions of the atmosphere which border the +habitation of man. There is no wonder that in such a region the god of the +air should appear more powerful than the god of light. This disposition of +the elements has given a gloomy cast to the mind, and in the north more +than in the south. The Thor of the Celtic nations was more tremendous, more +feared and less beloved, than the Jupiter of the Greeks and Romans; he was +worshipped accordingly with more bloody sacrifices. But in all Europe, +Western Asia and the northwestern coast of Africa, where the earth is +uneven and the climate variable, their religion was more gloomy and their +gods more ferocious than among the ancient Egyptians. + +A like difference is observed in the religions of the two countries in +America where civilization was most advanced before the arrival of the +Spaniards. Peru enjoyed a climate of great serenity and regularity. Of +all the sensible agents that operated on the earth and air, the sun was +apparently the most uniform and energetic. The worship of the sun was +therefore the most predominant and durable; and it inspired a mildness of +manners analogous to his mild and beneficent influence. In Mexico and other +uneven countries, where storms and earthquakes were frequent, the sun, +altho he was reckoned among their deities, was not considered so powerful +as those of a more boisterous and maleficent nature. The Mexican worship +was therefore addressed chiefly to ferocious beings, enemies to human +happiness, who delighted in the tears and blood of their votaries. The +difference in the moral cast of religion in Peru and Mexico, as well as in +Egypt and Greece, must have been greatly owing to climate. Indeed in what +else should it be found? since the origin of religious ideas must have +been in the energies of those visible agents which form the distinctive +character of climates. + + + +No. 17. + + + _Long is the tale; but tho their labors rest + By years obscured, in flowery fiction drest,_ + + Book II. Line 455. + +The traditions respecting these founders of the Peruvian empire are indeed +obscure; but they excite in us the same sort of veneration that we feel +for the most amiable and distinguished characters of remote antiquity. The +honest zeal of Garcilasso de la Vega in collecting these traditions into +one body of history, as a probable series of facts, is to be applauded; +since he has there presented us with one of the most striking examples of +the _beau ideal_ in political character, that can be found in the +whole range of literature. He treats his subject with more natural +simplicity, tho with less talent, than Plutarch or Xenophon, when they +undertake a similar task, that of drawing traditional characters to fill up +the middle space between fable and history. + +With regard to the true position that the portrait of Manco Capac ought to +hold in this middle space, how near it should stand to history and how +near to fable, we should find it difficult to say, and perhaps useless to +inquire. Plutarch has gravely given us the lives and actions of several +heroes who are evidently more fabulous than Capac, and of others who should +be placed on the same line with him. The existence of Theseus, Romulus +and Numa is more doubtful and their actions less probable than his. The +character of Capac, in regard to its reality, stands on a parallel with +that of the Lycurgus of Plutarch and the Cyrus of Xenophon; not purely +historical nor purely fabulous, but presented to us as a compendium of +those talents and labors which might possibly be crowded into the capacity +of one mind, and be achieved in one life, but which more probably belong +to several generations; the talents and labors that could reduce a great +number of ferocious tribes into one peaceable and industrious state. + +Garcilasso was himself an Inca by maternal descent, born and educated +at Cusco after the Spanish conquest. He writes apparently with the most +scrupulous regard to truth, with little judgment and no ornament. He +discovers a credulous zeal to throw a lustre on his remote ancestor Manco +Capac, not by inventing new incidents, but by collecting with great +industry all that had been recorded in the annals of the family. And their +manner of recording events, tho not so perfect as that of writing, was not +so liable to error as traditions merely oral, like those of the Caledonian +and other Celtic bards, with respect to the ancient heroes of their +countries. + +His account states, that about four centuries previous to the discovery of +that country by the Spaniards, the natives of Peru were as rude savages +as any in America. They had no fixed habitations, no ideas of permanent +property; they wandered naked like the beasts, and like them depended on +the events of each day for a subsistence. At this period Manco Capac and +his wife Mauna Oella appeared on a small island in the lake Titiaca, near +which the city of Cusco was afterwards built. These persons, to establish a +belief of their divinity in the minds of the people, were clothed in white +garments of cotton, and declared themselves descended from the sun, who +was their father and the god of that country. They affirmed that he was +offended at their cruel and perpetual wars, their barbarous modes of +worship, and their neglecting to make the best use of the blessings he was +constantly bestowing, in fertilizing the earth and producing vegetation; +that he pitied their wretched state, and had sent his own children to +instruct them and to establish a number of wise regulations, by which they +might be rendered happy. + +By some uncommon method of persuasion, these persons drew together a few +of the savage tribes, laid the foundation of the city of Cusco, and +established what is called the kingdom of the Sun, or the Peruvian empire. +In the reign of Manco Capac, the dominion was extended about eight leagues +from the city; and at the end of four centuries it was established fifteen +hundred miles on the coast of the Pacific ocean, and from that ocean to +the Andes. During this period, thro a succession of twelve monarchs, the +original constitution, established by the first Inca, remained unaltered; +and this constitution, with the empire itself, was at last overturned by an +accident which no human wisdom could foresee or prevent. + +For a more particular detail of the character and institutions of this +extraordinary personage the reader is referred to a subsequent note, in +which he will find a dissertation on that subject. + +In the passage preceding this reference, I have alluded to the fabulous +traditions relating to these children of the sun. In the remainder of the +second and thro the whole of the third book, I have given what may be +supposed a probable narrative of their real origin and actions. The space +allowed to this episode may appear too considerable in a poem whose +principal object is so different. But it may be useful to exhibit in action +the manners and sentiments of savage tribes, whose aliment is war; that the +contrast may show more forcibly the advantages of civilized life, whose +aliment is peace. + + + +No. 18. + + + _Long robes of white my shoulders must embrace, + To speak my lineage of ethereal race;_ + + Book II. Line 553. + +As the art of spinning is said to have been invented by Oella, it is no +improbable fiction to imagine that they first assumed these white garments +of cotton as an emblem of the sun, in order to inspire that reverence +for their persons which was necessary to their success. Such a dress may +likewise be supposed to have continued in the family as a badge of royalty. + + + +No. 19. + + + DISSERTATION ON THE INSTITUTIONS OF MANCO CAPAC. + + For the end of Book II. + +Altho the original inhabitants of America in general deserve to be classed +among the most unimproved savages that had been, discovered before those of +New Holland, yet the Mexican and Peruvian governments exhibited remarkable +exceptions, and seemed to be fast approaching to a state of civilization. +In the difference of national character between the people of these two +empires we may discern the influence of political systems on the human +mind, and infer the importance of the task which a legislator undertakes, +in attempting to reduce a barbarous people under the control of government +and laws. + +The Mexican constitution was formed to render its subjects brave and +powerful; but, while it succeeded in this object, it kept them far removed +from the real blessings of society. According to the Spanish accounts +(which for an obvious reason may however be suspected of exaggeration) +the manners of the Mexicans were uncommonly ferocious, and their religion +gloomy, sanguinary, and unrelenting. But the establishments of Manco Capac, +if we may follow Garcilasso in attributing the whole of the Peruvian +constitution to that wonderful personage, present the aspect of a most +benevolent and pacific system; they tended to humanize the world and render +his people happy; while his ideas of deity were so elevated as to bear a +comparison with the sublime doctrines of Socrates or Plato. + +The characters, whether real or fabulous, who are the most distinguished +as lawgivers among barbarous nations, are Moses, Lycurgus, Solon, Numa, +Mahomet, and Peter of Russia. Of these, only the two former and the two +latter appear really to deserve the character of lawgivers. Solon and Numa +possessed not the opportunity of showing their talents in the work of +original legislation. Athens and Rome were considerably civilized before +these persons arose. The most they could do was to correct and amend +constitutions already formed. Solon may be considered as a wise politician, +but by no means as the founder of a nation. The Athenians were too +far advanced in society to admit any radical change in their form of +government; unless recourse could have been had to the representative +system, by establishing an equality of rank, and instructing all the people +in their duties and their rights; a system which was never understood by +any ancient legislator. + +The institutions of Numa (if such a person as Numa really existed) were +more effective and durable. His religious ceremonies were, for many ages, +the most powerful check on the licentious and turbulent Romans, the greater +part of whom were ignorant slaves. By inculcating a remarkable reverence +for the gods, and making it necessary to consult the auspices when any +thing important was to be transacted, his object was to render the popular +superstition subservient to the views of policy, and thus to give the +senate a steady check upon the plebeians. But the constitutions of Rome and +Athens, notwithstanding the abundant applause that has been bestowed upon +them, were never fixed on any permanent principles; tho the wisdom of some +of their rulers, and the spirit of liberty that inspired the citizens, may +justly demand our admiration. + +Each of the other legislators above mentioned deserves a particular +consideration, as having acted in stations somewhat similar to that of the +Peruvian patriarch. Three objects are to be attended to by the legislator +of a barbarous people: First, That his system be such as is capable of +reducing the greatest number of men under one jurisdiction: Second, That it +apply to such principles in human nature for its support as are universal +and permanent, in order to insure the duration of the government: Third, +That it admit of improvements correspondent to any advancement in knowledge +or variation of circumstances that may happen to its subjects, without +endangering the principle of government by such innovations. So far as the +systems of such legislators agree with these fundamental principles; they +are worthy of respect; and so far as they deviate, they may be considered +as defective. + +To begin with Moses and Lycurgus: It is proper to observe that, in order to +judge of the merit of any institutions, we must take into view the peculiar +character of the people for whom they were framed. For want of this +attention, many of the laws of Moses and some of those of Lycurgus have +been ridiculed and censured. The Jews, when led by Moses out of Egypt, were +not only uncivilized, but having just risen to independence from a state +of servitude they united the manners of servants and savages; and their +national character was a compound of servility, ignorance, filthiness and +cruelty. Of their cruelty as a people we need no other proof than the +account of their avengers of blood, and the readiness with which the +whole congregation turned executioners, and stoned to death the devoted +offenders. The leprosy, a disease now scarcely known, was undoubtedly +produced by a want of cleanliness continued for successive generations. +In this view, their frequent ablutions, their peculiar modes of trial and +several other institutions, may be vindicated from ridicule and proved to +be wise regulations. + +The Spartan lawgiver has been censured for the toleration of theft and +adultery. Among that race of barbarians these habits were too general to +admit of total prevention or universal punishment. By vesting all property +in the commonwealth, instead of encouraging theft, he removed the +possibility of the crime; and, in a nation where licentiousness was +generally indulged, it was a great step towards introducing a purity of +manners, to punish adultery in all cases wherein it was committed without +the consent of all parties interested in its consequences. + +Until the institution of representative republics, which are of recent +date, it was found that those constitutions of government were best +calculated for immediate energy and duration, which were interwoven with +some religious system. The legislator who appears in the character of an +inspired person renders his political institutions sacred, and interests +the conscience as well as the judgment in their support. The Jewish +lawgiver had this advantage over the Spartan: he appeared not in the +character of a mere earthly governor, but as an interpreter of the divine +will. By enjoining a religious observance of certain rites he formed his +people to habitual obedience; by directing their cruelty against the +breakers of the laws he at least mitigated the rancor of private hatred; by +directing that real property should return to the original families in +the year of Jubilee he prevented too great an equality of wealth; and by +selecting a single tribe to be the interpreters of religion he prevented +its mysteries from being the subject of profane and vulgar investigation. +With a view of securing the permanence of his institutions, he prohibited +intercourse with foreigners by severe restrictions, and formed his people +to habits and a character disagreeable to other nations; so that any +foreign intercourse was prevented by the mutual hatred of both parties. + +To these institutions the laws of Lycurgus bear a striking resemblance. The +features of his constitution were severe and forbidding; it was however +calculated to inspire the most enthusiastic love of liberty and martial +honor. In no country was the patriotic passion more energetic than in +Sparta; no laws ever excluded the idea of separate property in an equal +degree, or inspired a greater contempt for the manners of other nations. +The prohibition of money, commerce and almost every thing desirable to +effeminate nations, excluded foreigners from Sparta; and while it inspired +the people with contempt for strangers it made them agreeable to each +other. By these means Lycurgus rendered the nation warlike; and to insure +the duration of the government he endeavored to interest the consciences +of his people by the aid of oracles, and by the oath he is said to have +exacted from them to obey his laws till his return, when he went into +perpetual exile. + +From this view of the Jewish and Spartan institutions, applied to +the principles before stated, they appear in the two first articles +considerably imperfect, and in the last totally defective. Neither of them +was calculated to bring any considerable territory or number of men under +one jurisdiction: from this circumstance alone they could not be rendered +permanent, as nations so restricted in their means of extension must be +constantly exposed to their more powerful neighbors. But the third object +of legislation, that of providing for the future progress of society, which +as it regards the happiness of mankind is the most important of the three, +was in both instances entirely neglected. These symptoms appear to have +been formed with an express design to prevent future improvement in +knowledge or enlargement of the human mind, and to fix those nations in +a state of ignorance and barbarism. To vindicate their authors from an +imputation of weakness or inattention in this particular, it may be urged +that they were each of them surrounded by nations more powerful than +their own; it was therefore perhaps impossible for them to commence an +establishment upon any other plan. + +The institutions of Mahomet are next to be considered. The first object of +legislation appears to have been better understood by him than by either of +the preceding sages; his jurisdiction was capable of being enlarged to any +extent of territory, and governing any number of nations that might be +subjugated by his enthusiastic armies; and his system of religion was +admirably calculated to attain this object. Like Moses, he convinced his +people that he acted as the vicegerent of God; but with this advantage, +adapting his religion to the natural feelings and propensities of mankind, +he multiplied his followers by the allurements of pleasure and the promise +of a sensual paradise. These circumstances were likewise sure to render his +constitution durable. His religious system was so easy to be understood, so +splendid and so inviting, there could be no danger that the people would +lose sight of its principles, and no necessity of future prophets to +explain its doctrines or reform the nation. To these advantages if we add +the exact and rigid military discipline, the splendor and sacredness of the +monarch, and that total ignorance among the people which such a system +will produce and perpetuate, the establishment must have been evidently +calculated for a considerable extent and duration. But the last and +most important end of government, that of mental improvement and social +happiness, was deplorably lost in the institution. There was probably more +learning and cultivated genius in Arabia, in the days of this extraordinary +man, than can now be found in all the Mahometan dominions. + +On the contrary, the enterprising mind of the Russian monarch appears to +have been wholly bent on the arts of civilization and the improvement of +society among his subjects. Established in a legal title to a throne which +already commanded a prodigious extent of country, he found the first object +of government already secured; and by applying himself with great sagacity +to the third object, that of improving his people, it was reasonable to +suppose that the second, the durability of his system, would become a +necessary consequence. He effected his purposes, important as they were, +merely by the introduction of the arts and the encouragement of politer +manners. The greatness of his character appears not so much in his +institutions, which he copied from other nations, as in the extraordinary +measures he followed to introduce them, the judgment he showed in selecting +and adapting them to the genius of his subjects, and the surprising +assiduity by which he raised a savage people to an elevated rank among +European nations. + +To the nature and operation of the several forms of government above +mentioned I will compare that of the Peruvian lawgiver. I have observed in +a preceding note that the knowledge we have of Manco Capac is necessarily +imperfect and obscure, derived thro traditions and family registers +(without the aid of writing) for four hundred years; from the time he is +supposed to have lived, till that of his historian and descendant, Inca +Garcilasso de la Vega. About an equal interval elapsed from the supposed +epoch of the first kings of Rome to that of their first historians; a +longer space from Lycurgus to Herodotus; probably not a shorter one from +the time of the great Cyrus to that of Xenophon, author of the elegant +romance on the actions of that hero. + +I recal the reader's attention to these comparisons, not with a view of +contending that our accounts of the actions ascribed to Capac are derived +from authentic records, and that he is a subject of real history, like +Mahomet or Peter; but to show that, our channels of information with regard +to him being equally respectable with those that have brought us acquainted +with the classical and venerable names of Lycurgus, Romulus, Numa and +Cyrus, we may be as correct in our reasonings from the modern as from the +ancient source of reference, and fancy ourselves treading a ground as +sacred on the tomb of the western patriarch, as on those more frequented +and less scrutinized in the east, consecrated to the demigods of Sparta, +Rome and Persia. + +It is probable that the savages of Peru before the time of Capac, among +other objects of adoration, paid homage to the sun. By availing himself +of this popular sentiment he appeared, like Moses and Mahomet, in the +character of a divine legislator endowed with supernatural powers. After +impressing these ideas on the minds of the people, drawing together a +number of the tribes and rendering them subservient to his benevolent +purposes, he applied himself to forming the outlines of a plan of policy +capable of founding and regulating an extensive empire, wisely calculated +for long duration, and well adapted to improve the knowledge, peace and +happiness of a considerable portion of mankind. In the allotment of the +lands as private property he invented a mode somewhat resembling the feudal +system of Europe: yet this system was checked in its operation by a law +similar to that of Moses which regulated landed possessions in the year of +Jubilee. He divided the lands into three parts; the first was consecrated +to the uses of religion, as it was from the sacerdotal part of his system +that he doubtless expected its most powerful support. The second portion +was set apart for the Inca and his family, to enable him to defray the +expenses of government and appear in the style of a monarch. The third and +largest portion was allotted to the people; which allotment was repeated +every year, and varied according to the number and exigences of each +family. + +As the Incan race appeared in the character of divinities, it seemed +necessary that a subordination of rank should be established, to render the +distinction between the monarch and his people more perceptible. With this +view he created a band of nobles, who were distinguished by personal and +hereditary honors. These were united to the monarch by the strongest ties +of interest; in peace they acted as judges and superintended the police of +the empire; in war they commanded in the armies. The next order of men were +the respectable landholders and cultivators, who composed the principal +strength of the nation. Below these was a class of men who were the +servants of the public and cultivated the public lands. They possessed +no property, and their security depended on their regular industry and +peaceable demeanor. Above all these orders were the Inca and his family. He +possessed absolute and uncontrolable power; his mandates were regarded as +the word of heaven, and the double guilt of impiety and rebellion attended +on disobedience. + +To impress the utmost veneration for the Incan family, it was a fundamental +principle that the royal blood should never be contaminated by any foreign +alliance. The mysteries of religion were preserved sacred by the high +priest of the royal family under the control of the king, and celebrated +with rites capable of making the deepest impression on the multitude. +The annual distribution of the lands, while it provided for the varying +circumstances of each family, was designed to strengthen the bands of +society by perpetuating that distinction of rank among the orders which is +supposed necessary to a monarchical government; the peasants could not vie +with their superiors, and the nobles could not be subjected by misfortune +to a subordinate station. A constant habit of industry was inculcated upon +all ranks by the force of example. The cultivation of the soil, which in +most other countries is considered as one of the lowest employments, was +here regarded as a divine art. Having had no knowledge of it before, and +being taught it by the children of their god, the people viewed it as a +sacred privilege, a national honor, to assist the sun in opening the bosom +of the earth to produce vegetation. That the government might be able to +exercise the endearing acts of beneficence, the produce of the public lands +was reserved in magazines, to supply the wants of the unfortunate and as a +resource in case of scarcity or invasion. + +These are the outlines of a government the most simple and energetic, and +at least as capable as any monarchy within our knowledge of reducing +great and populous countries under one jurisdiction; at the same time, +accommodating its principle of action to every stage of improvement, by +a singular and happy application to the passions of the human mind, it +encouraged the advancement of knowledge without being endangered by +success. + +In the traits of character which distinguish this institution we may +discern all the great principles of each of the legislators above +mentioned. The pretensions of Capac to divine authority were as artfully +contrived and as effectual in their consequences as those of Mahomet; his +exploding the worship of evil beings and objects of terror, forbidding +human sacrifices and accommodating the rites of worship to a god of justice +and benevolence, produced a greater change in the national character of his +people than the laws of Moses did in his; like Peter he provided for the +future improvement of society, while his actions were never measured on the +contracted scale which limited the genius of Lycurgus. + +Thus far we find that altho the political system of Capac did not embrace +that extensive scope of human nature which is necessary in forming +republican institutions, and which can be drawn only from long and well +recorded experience of the passions and tendencies of social man, yet +it must be pronounced at least equal to those of the most celebrated +monarchical law-givers, whether ancient or modern. But in some things his +mind seems to have attained an elevation with which few of theirs will bear +a comparison; I mean in his religious institutions, and the exalted ideas +he had formed of the agency and attributes of supernatural beings. + +From what source he could have drawn these ideas it is difficult to form a +satisfactory conjecture. The worship of the sun is so natural to an early +state of society, in a mild climate with a clear atmosphere, that it may be +as reasonable to suppose it would originate in Peru as in Egypt or Persia; +where we find that a similar worship did originate and was wrought into +a splendid system; whence it was probably extended, with various +modifications, over most of the ancient world. + +Or if we reject this theory, and suppose that only one nation, from some +circumstance peculiar to itself, could create the materials of such a +system, and has consequently had the privilege of giving its religion +to the human race; we may in this case imagine that the Phenicians (who +colonized Cadiz and other places in the west of Europe, at the time when +they possessed the solar worship in all its glory) must have had a vessel +driven across the Atlantic; and thus conveyed a stock of inhabitants, with +their own religious ideas, to the western continent. + +The first theory is doubtless the most plausible. And the mild regions of +Peru, for the reasons mentioned in a former note, became, like Egypt, the +seat of an institution so congenial to its climate. But in more boisterous +climates, where storms and other violent agents prevail, many different +fables have wrought themselves into the system, as remarked in the same +note; and the solar religion in such countries has generally lost its name +and the more beneficent parts of its influence. Being thus corrupted, +religion in almost every part of the earth assumed a gloomy and sanguinary +character. + +Savage nations create their gods from such materials as they have at hand, +the most striking to their senses. And these are in general an assemblage +of destructive attributes. They usually form no idea of a general +superintending providence; they consider not their god as the author of +their beings, the creator of the world and the dispenser of the happiness +they enjoy; they discern him not in the usual course of nature, in the +sunshine and in the shower, the productions of the earth and the blessing +of society; they find a deity only in the storm, the earthquake and the +whirlwind, or ascribe to him the evils of pestilence and famine; they +consider him as interposing in wrath to change the course of nature and +exercise the attributes of rage and revenge. They adore him with rites +suited to these attributes, with horror, with penance and with sacrifice; +they imagine him pleased with the severity of their mortifications, with +the oblations of blood and the cries of human victims; and they hope +to compound for greater judgments by voluntary sufferings and horrid +sacrifices, suited to the relish of his taste. + +Perhaps no single criterion can be given which will determine more +accurately the state of society in any age or nation than their general +ideas concerning the nature and attributes of deity. In the most +enlightened periods of antiquity, only a few of their philosophers, a +Socrates, Tully or Confucius, ever formed a rational idea on the subject, +or described a god of purity, justice and benevolence. But Capac, erecting +his institutions in a country where the visible agents of nature inspired +more satisfactory feelings, adopted a milder system. As the sun, with its +undisturbed influence, seemed to point itself out as the supreme controller +and vital principle of nature, he formed the idea, as the Egyptians had +done before, of constituting that luminary the chief object of adoration. +He taught the nation to consider the sun as the parent of the universe, the +god of order and regularity; ascribing to his influence the rotation of +the seasons, the productions of the earth and the blessings of health; +especially attributing to his inspiration the wisdom of their laws, and +that happy constitution which was the delight and veneration of the people. + +A system so just and benevolent, as might be expected, was attended with +success. In about four centuries the dominion of the Incas had extended +fifteen hundred miles in length, and had introduced peace and prosperity +thro the whole region. The arts of society had been carried to a +considerable degree of improvement, and the authority of the Incan race +universally acknowledged, when an event happened which disturbed the +tranquillity of the empire. Huana Capac, the twelfth monarch, had reduced +the powerful kingdom of Quito and annexed it to his dominions. To +conciliate the affections of his new subjects, he married a daughter of the +ancient king of Quito, who was not of the race of Incas. Thus, by violating +a fundamental law of the empire, he left at his death a disputed succession +to the throne. Atabalipa, the son of Huana by the heiress of Quito, being +in possession of the principal force of the Peruvian armies, left at that +place on the death of his father, gave battle to his brother Huascar, who +was the elder son of Huana by a lawful wife, and legal heir to the crown. + +After a long and destructive civil war the former was victorious; and thus +was that flourishing kingdom left a prey to regal dissensions and to the +few soldiers of Pizarro, who happened at that juncture to make a descent +upon the coast. In this manner he effected an easy conquest and an utter +destruction of a numerous, brave, unfortunate people. + +It is however obvious that this deplorable event is not to be charged +on Capac, as the consequence of any defect in his institution. It is +impossible that an original legislator should effectually guard against the +folly of all future sovereigns. Capac had not only removed every temptation +that could induce a wise prince to wish for a change in the constitution, +but had connected the ruin of his authority with the change; for he who +disregards any part of institutions deemed sacred teaches his people to +consider the whole as an imposture. Had he made a law ordaining that the +Peruvians should be absolved from their allegiance to a prince who should +violate the laws, it would have implied possible error and imperfection in +those persons whom the people were ordered to regard as divinities; the +reverence due to characters who made such high pretensions would have been +weakened; and instead of rendering the constitution perfect, such a law +would have been its greatest defect. Besides, it is probable the rupture +might have been healed and the suecession settled, with as little +difficulty as frequently happens with partial revolutions in other +kingdoms, had not the descent of the Spaniards prevented it. And this +event, for that age and country, must have been beyond the possibility of +human foresight. But viewing the concurrence of these fatal accidents, +which reduced this flourishing empire to a level with many other ruined and +departed kingdoms, it only furnishes an additional proof that no political +system has yet had the privilege to be perfect. + +On the whole it is evident that the system of Capac (if the Peruvian +constitution may be so called) is one of the greatest exertions of genius +to be found in the history of mankind. When, we consider him as an +individual emerging from the midst of a barbarous people, having seen no +example of the operation of laws in any country, originating a plan of +religion and policy never equalled by the sages of antiquity, civilizing an +extensive empire and rendering religion and government subservient to the +general happiness of a great people, there is no danger that we grow too +warm in his praise, or pronounce too high an eulogiurn on his character. + + + +No. 20. + + + _Bade yon tall temple grace their favorite isle, + The mines unfold, the cultured valleys smile._ + + Book III. Line 5. + +One of the great temples of the sun was built on an island in the lake +Titiaca near Cusco, to consecrate the spot of ground where Capac and Oella +first made their appearance and claimed divine honors as children of the +sun. + + + +No. 21. + + + _His eldest hope, young Rocha, at his call, + Resigns his charge within the temple, wall;_ + + Book III. Line 29. + +The high priest of the sun was always one of the royal family; and in every +generation after the first, was brother to the king. This office probably +began with Rocha; as he was the first who was capable of receiving it, and +as it was necessary, in the education of the prince, that he should be +initiated in the sacred mysteries. + + + +No. 22. + + _A pearl-dropt girdle bound his waist below, + And the white lautu graced his lofty brow._ + + Book III. Line 135. + +The lautu was a cotton band, twisted and worn on the head of the Incas as a +badge of royalty. It made several turns round the head; and, according to +the description of Garcilasso, it must have resembled the Turkish turban. + +It is possible that both the lautu and the turban had their remote origin +in the ancient astronomical religion, whose principal god was the sun and +usually represented under the figure of a man with the horns of the ram; +that is, the sun in the sign of aries. The form of the lautu and of the +turban (which I suppose to be the same) seems to indicate that they were +originally designed as emblems or badges; and when properly twisted and +wound round the head, as Turks of distinction usually wear the turban, they +resemble the horns of the ram as represented in those figures of Jupiter +Ammon where the horns curl close to the head. + +There is an engraving in Garcilasso representing the first Inca and his +wife, Capac and Oella; and the heads of both are ornamented with rams' +horns projecting out from the lautu. Whether the figures of these +personages were usually so represented in Peru previous to the Spanish +devastation, would be difficult at this day to ascertain. If it could be +ascertained that they were usually so represented there, we might esteem +it a remarkable circumstance in proof of the unity of the origin of their +religion with that of the ancient Egyptians; from which all the early +theological systems of Asia and Europe, as far as they have come to our +knowledge, were evidently derived. + + + +No. 23. + + + _Receive, O dreadful Power, from feeble age. + This last pure offering to thy sateless rage;_ + + Book III. Line 181. + +Garcilasso declares that the different tribes of those mountain savages +worshipped the various objects of terror that annoyed the particular parts +of the country where they dwelt; such as storms, volcanos, rivers, lakes, +and several beasts and birds of prey. All of them believed that their +forefathers were descended from the gods which they worshipped. + + + +No. 24. + + _Held to the sun the image from his breast + Whose glowing concave all the god exprest;_ + + Book III. Line 273. + +The historian of the Incas relates that, by the laws of the empire, none +but sacred fire could be used in sacrifices; and that there were three +modes in which it might be procured. First, the most sacred fire was that +which was drawn immediately from the sun himself by means of a concave +mirror, which was usually made of gold or silver highly polished. Second, +in case of cloudy weather or other accident, the fire might be taken from +the temple, where it was preserved by the holy virgins; whose functions +and discipline resembled those of the vestals of Rome. Third, when the +sacrifice was to be made in the provinces at an inconvenient distance from +the temple, and when the weather was such as to prevent drawing the fire +immediately from the sun, it was permitted to procure it by the friction of +two pieces of dry wood. + +The two latter modes were resorted to only in cases of necessity. Not to +be able to obtain fire by means of the mirror was a bad omen, a sign of +displeasure in the god; it cast a gloom over the whole ceremony and threw +the people into lamentations, fearing their offering would not be well +received. + +This method of procuring fire directly from the sun, to burn a sacrifice, +must have appeared so miraculous to the savages who could not understand +it, that it doubtless had a powerful effect in converting them to the solar +religion and to the Incan government. + + + +No. 25. + + + _Dim Paraguay extends the aching sight, + Xaraya glimmers like the moon of night,_ + + Book III. Line 321. + +Xaraya is a lake in the country of Paraguay, and is the principal source of +the river Paraguay. This river is the largest branch of the Plata. + + + +No. 26. + + + _The Condor frowning from a southern plain. + Borne on a standard, leads a numerous train:_ + + Book III. Line 421. + +The Condor is supposed to be the largest bird of prey hitherto known. His +wings, from one extreme to the other, are said to measure fifteen feet; he +is able to carry a sheep in his talons, and he sometimes attacks men. He +inhabits the high mountains of Peru, and is supposed by some authors to be +peculiar to the American continent. Buffon believes him to be of the same +species with the laemmer-geyer (lamb-vulture) of the Alps. The similarity +of their habitations favors this conjecture; but the truth is, the Condor +of Peru has not been well examined, and his history is imperfectly known. + + + +No. 27. + + + _So shall the Power in vengeance view the place, + In crimson clothe his terror-beaming face,_ + + Book III. Line 493. + +It is natural for the worshippers of the sun to consider any change in the +atmosphere as indicative of the different passions of their deity. With the +Peruvians a sanguine appearance in the sun denoted his anger. + + + +No. 28. + + + _Thro all the shrines, where erst on new-moon days + Swell'd the full quires of consecrated praise,_ + + Book III. Line 687. + +New-moon days were days of high festival with the Incas, according to +Garcilasso. Eclipses of the sun must therefore have happened on solemn +days, and have interrupted the service of the temple. + + + +No. 29. + + + _Las Casas. Valverde. Gasca._ + + Book IV. Line 17-27. + +_Bartholomew de las Casas_ was a Dominican priest of a most amiable +and heroic character. He first went to Hispaniola with Columbus in his +second voyage, where he manifested an ardent but honest zeal, first in +attempting to instruct the natives in the principles of the catholic +faith, and afterwards in defending them against the insufferable cruelties +exercised by the Spanish tyrants who succeeded Columbus in the discoveries +and settlements in South America. He early declared himself _Protector +of the Indians;_ a title which seems to have been acknowledged by the +Spanish government. He devoted himself ever after to the most indefatigable +labors in the service of that unhappy people. He made several voyages to +Spain, to solicit, first from Ferdinand, then from cardinal Ximenes, and +finalty from Charles V, some effectual restrictions against the horrid +career of depopulation which every where attended the Spanish arms. He +followed these monsters of cruelty into all the conquered countries; where, +by the power of his eloquence and that purity of morals which commands +respect even from the worst of men, he doubtless saved the lives of many +thousands of innocent people. His life was a continued struggle agaiust +that deplorable system of tyranny, of which he gives a description in +a treatise addressed to Philip prince of Spain, entitled _Brevissima +Relacion de la Destruycion de las Yndias_. + +It is said by the Spanish writers that the inhabitants of Hispaniola, when +first discovered by the Spaniards, amounted to more than one million. This +incredible population was reduced, in fifteen years, to sixty thousand +souls. + +_Vincent Valverde_ was a fanatical priest who accompanied Pizarro in +his destructive expedition to Peru. If we were to search the history of +mankind, we should not find another such example of the united efforts of +ecclesiastical hypocrisy and military ferocity, of unresisted murder and +insatiable plunder, as we meet with in the account of this expedition. + +Father Valverde, in a formal manner, gave the sanction of the church to the +treacherous murder of Atabalipa and his relations; which was immediately +followed by the destruction and almost entire depopulation of a flourishing +empire. + +_Pedro de la Gasca_ was one of the few men whose virtues form a +singular contrast with the vices which disgraced the age in which he lived +and the country in which he acquired his glory. He was sent over to Peru by +Charles V without any military force, to quell the rebellion of the younger +Pizarro and to prevent a second depopulation, by a civil war, of that +country which had just been drenched in the blood of its original +inhabitants. He effected this great purpose by the weight only of his +personal authority and the veneration inspired by his virtues. As soon +as he had suppressed the rebellion and established the government of the +colony he hastened to resign his authority into the hands of his master. +And tho his victories had been obtained in the richest country on earth he +returned to Spain as poor as Cincinnatus; having resisted every temptation +to plunder, and refused to receive any emolument for his services. + + + +No. 30. + + + _First of his friends, see Frederic's princely form + Ward from the sage divine the gathering storm;_ + + Book IV. Line 157. + +Frederic of Saxony, surnamed the Wise, was the first sovereign prince +who favored the doctrines of Luther. He became at once his pupil and his +patron, defended him from the persecutions of the pope, and gave him an +establishment as professor in the university of Wittemburgh. + + + +No. 31. + + + _By monarchs courted and by men beloved._ + + Book IV. Line 165. + +Francis I, out of respect to the great learning and moderation of +Melancthon, and disregarding the pretended danger of discussing the dogmas +of the church, invited him to come to France and establish himself at +Paris; but the intrigues of the cardinal de Tournon frustrated the king's +intention. + +If every leader of religious sects had possessed the amiable qualities of +Melancthon, and every monarch who wished to oppose the introduction of new +opinions had partaken of the wisdom of Francis, the blood of many hundreds +of millions of the human species, which has flowed at the shrine of +fanaticism, would have been spared. This circumstance alone would have +made of human society by this time a state totally different from what we +actually experience; and its influence on the progress of improvement in +national happiness and general civilization must have been beyond our +ordinary calculation. + + + +No. 32. + + + _While kings and ministers obstruct the plan, + Unfaithful guardians of the weal of man._ + + Book IV. Line 529. + +The British colonies in all their early struggles for existence complained, +and with reason, of the uniform indifference and discouragement which they +experienced from the government of the mother country. But it was probably +to that very indifference that they owed the remarkable spirit of liberty +and self-dependence which created their prosperity, by inducing them +uniformly to adopt republican institutions. These circumstances prepared +the way for that mutual confidence and federal union which have finally +formed them into a flourishing nation. + +Ministers who feel their power over a distant colony to be uncontrolled +are so naturally inclined to govern too much, that it may be a fortunate +circumstance for the colony to be neglected altogether. This neglect was +indeed fatal to the first Virginia settlers sent out by Sir Walter Raleigh; +and the companies who afterwards succeeded in their establishments at +Jamestown in Virginia and at Plymouth in Massachusetts were very near +sharing the fate of their predecessors. But after these settlements had +acquired so much consistence as to assure their own continuance, it may +be assumed as an historical fact, that the want of encouragement from +government was rather beneficial than detrimental to the British colonies +in general. + +These establishments were in the nature of private adventures, undertaken +by a few individuals at their own expense, rather than organised colonies +sent abroad for a public purpose. They were companies incorporated for +plantation and trade. All they asked of the mother country (after obtaining +acts of incorporation enabling them to acquire property and exercise other +civil functions, such as incorporated companies at home could exercise) was +to give them charters of political franchise, ascertaining the extent and +limits of their rights and duties as subjects of the British crown forming +nations in parts of the earth that had been found in an uncultivated state, +and far removed from the mother country. + +As they could not in this situation be represented in the parliament of +England, these charters stipulated their right of having parliaments +or legislative assemblies of their own, with executive and judiciary +institutions established within their territories. + +The acknowledgment of these rights placed them on a different footing from +any other modern colonies; and the restricting clause, by which their trade +was confined to the mother country, rendered their situation unlike that of +the colonies of ancient Greece. Indeed the British system of colonization +in America differed essentially from every other, whether ancient or +modern; if that may properly be called a system, which was rather the +result of early indifference to the cries of needy adventurers, and +subsequent attempts to seize upon their earnings when they became objects +of rapacity. This singular train of difficulties must be considered as one +of the causes of our ancient prosperity and present freedom. + + + + +No. 33. + + + _Where Freedom's sons their high-born lineage trace, + And homebred bravery still exalts the race:_ + + Book V. Line 345. + +The author of this poem will not be suspected of laying any stress on the +mere circumstance of lineage or birth, as relating either to families or +nations. The phrase however in the text is not without its meaning. Among +the colonies derived from the several nations of Europe in modern times, +those from the English have flourished far better than the others, under a +parity of circumstances, such as climate, soil and productions. The reason +of this undeniable fact deserves to be explained. + +Colonies naturally carry with them the civil, political and religious +institutions of their mother countries. These institutions in England are +much more favorable to liberty and the development of industry than in any +other part of Europe which has sent colonies abroad. But this is not all: +when men for several generations have been bred up in the habit of feeling +and exercising such a portion of liberty as the English nation has enjoyed, +their minds are prepared to open and expand themselves as occasion may +offer. They are able to embrace new circumstances, to perceive the +improvements that may be drawn from them, and not only make a temperate use +of that portion of self-control to which they are accustomed, but devise +the means of extending it to other objects of their political relations, +till they become familiar with all the interests of men in society. + +The habitual use of the liberty of the press, of trial by jury in open +court, of the accountability of public agents and of some voice in the +election of legislators, must create, in a man or a nation, a character +quite different from what it could be under the habitual disuse of these +advantages. And when these habits are transplanted with a young colony to +a distant region of the earth, enjoying a good soil and climate, with an +unlimited and unoccupied country, the difference will necessarily be more +remarkable. + +A most striking illustration of this principle is exhibited in the colonies +of North America. This coast, from the St. Laurence to the Missisippi, +was colonized by the French and English, (I make no account of the Dutch +establishment on the Hudson nor of the Swedish on the Delaware; they being +of little importance, and early absorbed in the English settlements.) If we +look back only one hundred years from the present time, we find the French +and English dominions here about equally important in point of extent and +population. The French Canada, Acadia, Cape Breton, Newfoundland, Florida +and Louisiana were then as far advanced in improvement as the English +settlements which they flanked on each side. And the French had greatly +the advantage in point of soil, interior navigation and capability of +extension. They commanded and possessed the two great rivers which almost +met together on the English frontier. And the space between the waters of +those rivers on the west was planted with French military posts, so as to +complete the investment. + +New Orleans was begun before Philadelphia, and was much better situated to +become a great commercial capital. Quebec and Montreal were older, and had +the advantage of most of our other cities. Add to this that the French +nation at home was about twice as populous as the English nation at home; +and as that part of the increase of colonial population which comes +from emigration must naturally be derived from their respective mother +countries, it might have been expected that the comparative rapidity of +increase would have been in favor of the French at least two to one. + +But the French colonists had not been habituated to the use of liberty +before their emigration; and they were not prepared nor permitted to enjoy +it in any degree afterwards. Their laws were made for them in their mother +country, by men who could not know their wants and who fell no interest in +their prosperity; and then they were administered by a set of agents as +ignorant as their masters; men who, from the nature of their employment and +accountability, must in general be oppressive and rapacious. + +The result has solved a great problem in political combination. One of +these clusters of colonies has grown to a powerful empire, giving examples +to the universe in most of the great objects which constitute the dignity +of nations. The other, after having been a constant expense to the mother +country, and serving for barter and exchange in the capricious vicissitudes +of European despotism, presents altogether at this day a mass of population +and wealth scarcely equal to one of our provinces. + +This note is written at the moment when Louisiana, one of the most +extensive but least peopled of the French colonies, is ceded to the United +States. The world will see how far the above theory will now be confirmed +by the rapid increase of population and improvement in that interesting +portion of our continent. + + + +No. 34. + + + _Beneath him lay the sceptre kings had borne, + And the tame thunder from the tempest torn._ + + Book V. Line 429. + + Eripuit coelo fulmen, sceptrumque tyrannis. + +This epigraph, written by Turgot on the bust of Franklin, seems to have +been imitated from a line in Manilius; where noticing the progress of +science in ascribing things to their natural and proper causes instead of +supernatural ones, he says, + + Eriput Jovi fulmen, viresque tonandi, + Et sonitum ventis concessit, nubibus ignem. + + + +No. 35. + + + _And Knox from his full park to battle brings + His brazen tubes, the last resort of kings._ + + Book V. Line 665. + +Ultima ratio regum; a device of Louis XIV engraved on his ordnance, and +afterwards adopted by other powers. When we consider men as reasonable +beings and endowed with the qualities requisite for living together in +society, this device looks like a satire upon the species; but in reality +it only proves the imperfect state to which their own principles of society +have yet advanced them in the long and perhaps interminable progress of +which they are susceptible. This _ultima ratio_ being already taken +out of the hands of individuals and confided only to the chiefs of nations +is as clear a proof of a great progress already made, as its remaining in +the hands of those chiefs is a proof that we still remain far short of that +degree of wisdom and experience which will enable all the nations to live +at peace one with another. + +There certainly was a time when the same device might have been written +on the hatchet or club or fist of every man; and the best weapon of +destruction that he could wield against his neighbour might have been +called _ultima ratio virarum_, meaning that human reason could go no +farther. But the wisdom we have drawn from experience has taught us to +restrain the use of mortal weapons, making it unlawful and showing it to +be unreasonable to use them in private disputes. The principles of social +intercourse and the advantages of peace are so far understood as to enable +men to form great societies, and to submit their personal misunderstandings +to common judges; thus removing the ultima ratio from their own private +hands to the hands of their government. + +Hitherto there has usually been a government to every nation; but the +nations are increasing in size and diminishing in number; so that the hands +which now hold the _ultima ratio_ by delegation are few, compared +with what they have been. I mean this observation to apply only to those +extensions of nationality which have been formed on the true principles +of society and acquiesced in from a sense of their utility. I mean not +to apply it to those unnatural and unwieldy stretches of power, whose +overthrow is often and erroneously cited as an argument against the +progress of civilization; such as the conquests of Alexander, the Roman +generals, Omar, Gengis Khan and others of that brilliant description. These +are but meteors of compulsive force, which pass away and discourage, rather +than promote, the spirit of national extension of which I speak. + +This spirit operates constantly and kindly; nor is its progress so slow +but that it is easily perceived. Even within the short memorials of modern +history we find a heptarchy in England. Ossian informs us that in his time +there was a great number of warlike states in Ireland and as many more in +Scotland. Without going back to the writings of Julius Cesar to discover +the comparative condition of France, we may almost remember when she +counted within her limits six or seven different governments, generally at +war among themselves and inviting foreign enemies to come and help them +destroy each other. Every province in Spain is still called a kingdom; +and it is not long since they were really so in fact, with the _ultima +ratio_ in the hands of every king. + +The publicist who in any of those modern heroic ages could have imagined +that all the hundred nations who inhabited the western borders of Europe, +from the Orknies to Gibraltar, might one day become so far united in +manners and interests as to form but three great nations, would certainly +have passed for a madman. Had he been a minister of Phararnond or of Fingal +he could no more have kept his place than Turgot could keep his after +pointing out the means of promoting industry and preventing wars. He would +have been told that the inhabitants of each side of the Humber were natural +enemies one to the other; that if their chiefs were even disposed to live +in peace they could not do it; their subjects would demand war and could +not live without it. The same would have been said of the Seine, the Loire +and every other dividing line between their petty communities. It would +have been insisted on that such rivers were the natural boundaries of +states and never could be otherwise. + +But now since the people of those districts find themselves no longer +on the frontiers of little warlike states, but in the centre of great +industrious nations, they have lost their relish for war, and consider it +as a terrible calamity; they cherish the minister who gives them peace, and +abhor the one who drives them into unnecessary wars. Their local disputes, +which used to be settled by the sword, are now referred to the tribunals of +the country. They have substituted a moral to a physical force. They +have changed the habits of plunder for those of industry; and they find +themselves richer and happier for the change. + +Who will say that the progress of society will stop short in the present +stage of its career? that great communities will not discover a mode of +arbitrating their disputes, as little ones have done? that nations will +not lay aside their present ideas of independence and rivalship, and find +themselves more happy and more secure in one great universal society, +which shall contain within itself its own principles of defence, its own +permanent security? It is evident that national security, in order to be +permanent, must be founded on the moral force of society at large, and not +on the physical force of each nation independently exerted. The _ultima +ratio_ must not be a cannon, but a reference to some rational mode of +decision worthy of rational beings. + + + +No. 36. + + + _Else what high tones of rapture must have told + The first great action of a chief so bold!_ + + Book V. Line 767. + +General Arnold, the leader of this detachment, had acquired by this +and many other brilliant achievements a degree of military fame almost +unequalled among the American generals. His shameful defection afterwards, +by the foulest of treason, should be lamented as a national dishonor; it +has not only obliterated his own glory, but it seems in some sort to have +cast a shade on that of others whose brave actions had been associated with +his in the acquisition of their common and unadulterated fame. + +The action here alluded to, the march thro the wilderness from Casco to +Quebec, was compared in the gazettes of that day to the passage of the Alps +by Hannibal. And really, considered as a scene of true military valor, +patient suffering and heroic exertion (detached from the idea of subsequent +success in the ulterior expedition) the comparison did not disgrace the +Carthaginian. Yet since the defection of Arnold, which happened five +years afterwards, this audacious and once celebrated exploit is +scarcely mentioned in our annals. And Meigs, Dearborn, Morgan and other +distinguished officers in the expedition, whom that alone might have +immortalized, have been indebted to their subsequent exertions of patriotic +valor for the share of celebrity their names now enjoy. + +See the character of Arnold treated more at large in the sixth book. + + + +No. 37. + + + _See the black Prison Ship's expanding womb + Impested thousands, quick and dead, entomb._ + + Book VI. Line 35. + +The systematic and inflexible course of cruelties exercised by the British +armies on American prisoners during the three first years of the war were +doubtless unexampled among civilized nations. Considering it as a war +against rebels, neither their officers nor soldiers conceived themselves +bound by the ordinary laws of war. + +The detail of facts on this subject, especially in what concerned the +prison ships, has not been sufficiently noticed in our annals; at least not +so much noticed as the interest of public morals would seem to require. Mr. +Boudinot, who was the American commissary of prisoners at the time, has +since informed the author of this poem that in one prison ship alone, +called the Jersey, which was anchored near Newyork, _eleven thousand_ +American prisoners died in eighteen months; almost the whole of them from +the barbarous treatment of being stifled in a crowded hold with infected +air, and poisoned with unwholesome food. + +There were several other prison ships, as well as the sugar-house prison +in the city, whose histories ought to be better known than they are. I say +this not from any sort of enmity to the British nation, for I have none. I +respect the British nation; as will be evident from the views I have given +of her genius and institutions in the course of this work. I would at all +times render that nation every service consistent with my duty to my own; +and surely it is worthy of her magnanimity to consider as a real service +every true information given her relative to the crimes of her agents in +distant countries. These crimes are as contrary to the spirit of the nation +at home as they are to the temper of her laws. + + + +No. 38. + + + _Myrtles and laurels equal honors join'd, + Which arms had purchased and the Muses twined;_ + + Book VI, Line 273. + +General Burgoyne had gained some celebrity by his pen, as well as by his +sword, previous to the American war. He was author of the comedy called +_The Heiress_, and of some other theatrical pieces which had been well +received on the London theatres. + + + +No. 39. + + + _Deep George's loaded lake reluctant guides + Their bounding larges o'er his sacred tides._ + + Book VI. Line 285. + +The water of Lake George was held in particular veneration by the French +catholics of Canada. Of this they formerly made their holy water; which was +carried and distributed to the churches thro the province, and probably +produced part of the revenues of the clergy. This water is said to have +been chosen for the purpose on account of its extreme clearness. The lake +was called _Lac du Saint Sacrement_. + + + +No. 40. + + + _His savage hordes the murderous Johnson leads, + Files thro the woods and treads the tangled weeds,_ + + Book VI. Line 389. + +This was general sir John Johnson, an American royalist in the British +service. He was the son of sir William Johnson, who had been a rich +proprietor and inhabitant in the Mohawk country, in the colony of New York, +and had been employed by the king as superintendant of Indian affairs. Sir +William had married a Mohawk savage wife; and it was supposed that the +great influence which he had long exercised over that and the neighboring +tribes must have descended to his son. It was on this account that he +was employed on the expedition of Burgoyne; in which he had the rank of +brigadier general, and the special direction of the savages. + + + +No. 41. + + + _Are these thy trophies, Carleton! these the swords + Thy hand unsheath'd and gave the savage hordes,_ + + Book VI. Line 685. + +General sir Guy Carleton, afterwards lord Dorchester, was the British +governor of Canada and superintendant of Indian affairs at the time of +Burgoyne's campaign. Having great influence with the warlike tribes who +inhabited the west of Canada and the borders of the Lakes, he was ordered +by the minister to adopt the barbarous and unjustifiable measure of arming +and bringing them into the king's service in aid of this expedition. + +This was doubtless done with the consent of Burgoyne, tho he seems to have +been apprehensive of the difficulty of managing a race of men whose manners +were so ferocious, and whose motives to action must have been so different +from those of the principal parties in the war. Burgoyne, in his narrative +of this campaign, informs us that he took precautions to discourage that +inhuman mode of warfare which had been customary among those savages. He +ordered them to kill none but such persons as they should find in arms +fighting against the king's troops; to spare old men, women, children and +prisoners; and not to scalp any but such as they should kill in open war. +He intimated to them that he should not pay for any scalps but those thus +taken from enemies killed in arms. + +It is unfortunate for the reputation of the general and of his government, +that they did not reflect on the futility of such an order and the +improbability of its being executed. A certain price was offered for +scalps; the savages must know that in a bag of scalps, packed and dried and +brought into camp and counted out before the commissary to receive payment, +it would be impossible to distinguish the political opinions or the +occupation, age or sex of the heads to which they had belonged; it could +not be ascertained whether they had been taken from Americans or British, +whigs or tories, soldiers killed in arms or killed after they had resigned +their arms, militia men or peasants, old or young, male or female. + +The event proved the deplorable policy of employing such auxiliaries, +especially in such multitudes as were brought together on this occasion. No +sooner did hostilities begin between the two armies than these people, who +could have no knowledge of the cause nor affection for either party, and +whose only object was plunder and pay, began their indiscriminate and +ungovernable ravages on both sides. They robbed and murdered peasants, +whether royalists or others; men, women, children, straggling and wounded +soldiers of both armies. The tragical catastrophe of a young lady of the +name of Macrea, whose story is almost literally detailed in the foregoing +paragraphs of the text, is well known. It made a great impression on the +public mind at the time, both in England and America. + +General Carleton, in the preceding campaigns, when the war was carried into +Canada, had been applauded for his humanity in the treatment of prisoners. +But the part he took in this measure of associating the savages in the +operations of the British army was a stain upon his character; and the +measure was highly detrimental to the royal cause, on account of the +general indignation it excited thro the country. + + + +No. 42. + + + _That no proud privilege from birth can spring, + No right divine, nor compact form a king;_ + + Book VII. Line 39. + +The assumed right of kings, or that supreme authority which one man +exercises over a nation, and for which he is not held accountable, has been +contended for on various grounds. It has been sometimes called the _right +of conquest;_ in which is involved the absolute disposal of the lives +and labors of the conquered nation, in favor of the victorious chief +and his descendants to perpetuity. Sometimes it is called the _divine +right;_ in which case kings are considered as the vicegerents of God. + +This notion is very ancient, and it is almost universal among modern +nations. Homer is full of it; and from his unaffected recurrence to the +same idea every where in his poems, it is evident that in his day it was +not called in question. The manner in which the Jews were set at work to +constitute their first king proves that they were convinced that, if they +must have a king, he must be given them from God, and receive that solemn +consecration which should establish his authority on the same divine right +which was common to other nations, from whom they borrowed the principle. + +There are some few instances in history wherein this divine right has +been set aside; but it has generally been owing rather to the violence +of circumstances, which sometimes drive men to act contrary to their +prejudices, tho they still retain them, than to any effort of reasoning +by which they convinced themselves that this was a prejudice, and that no +divine right existed in reality. For it does not violate this supposed +right, to change one king for another, or one race of kings for another, +tho done in a manner the most unjust and inhuman. In this case the same +divine right remains, and only changes, with the diadem, from one head to +another. And tho this change should happen six times in one day (as in one +instance it has done in Algiers by the murder of six successive kings) they +would still say it was God who did it all; and the action would only tend +to prove to the credulous people, that God was made after their own image, +as changeable as themselves. + +It is only in the case of Tarquin and a few others (whose overthrow has +been followed by a more popular form of government) that it can be said +that the principle of the divine right has been disregarded, laid aside and +forgotten for any length of time. + +The English are perhaps the first and only people that ever overturned +this doctrine of the divinity of kings, without changing their form of +government. This was brought on by circumstances, and took effect in the +expulsion of James II. Books were then written to prove that the divine +right of kings did not exist; at least, not in the sense in which it had +been understood. And these writings completely silenced the old doctrine in +England. This indeed was gaining an immense advantage in favor of liberty; +tho the effort of reason, to arrive at it, seems to be so small. + +But while the English were discarding the old principle they set up a +new one; which indeed is not so pernicious because it cannot become so +extensive, but which is scarcely more reasonable: it is the right of kings +by _compact;_ that is, a compact, whether written or understood, +by which the representatives of a nation are supposed to bind their +constituents and their descendants to be the subjects of a certain prince +and of his descendants to perpetuity. This singular doctrine is developed +with perspicuity, but ill supported by argument, in Burke's _Reflections +on the French Revolution._ + +The principle of the American government denies the right of any +representatives to make such a compact, and the right of any prince to +carry it into execution if it were made. Whatever varieties or mixtures +there may be in the _forms_ of government, there are but two distinct +principles on which government is founded. One supposes the source of power +to be _out_ of the people, and that the governor is not accountable to +them for the manner of using it; the other supposes the source of power to +be _in_ the people, and that the governor is accountable to them for +the manner of using it. The latter is our principle. In this sense no +_right divine_ nor _compact_ can form a king; that is, a person, +exercising underived and unreverting power. + + + +No. 43. + + + _But while dread Elliott shakes the Midland wave, + They strive in vain the Calpian rock to brave._ + + Book VII. Line 89. + +The English general Elliott commanded the post of Gibraltar, against which +the combined forces of France and Spain made a vigorous but fruitless +attack in the year 1781. This attack furnished the subjects for two +celebrated pictures alluded to in the eighth book: _The burning of the +Floating Batteries_ painted by Copley; and _The Sortie_, painted by +Trumbull. + + + +No. 44. + + + _To guide the sailor in his wandering way, + See Godfrey's glass reverse the beams of day._ + + Book VIII. Line 681. + +It is less from national vanity than from a regard to truth and a desire of +rendering personal justice, that the author wishes to rectify the history +of science in the circumstance here alluded to. The instrument known by the +name of Hartley's Quadrant, now universally in use and generally attributed +to Dr. Hartley, was invented by Thomas Godfrey of Philadelphia. See +Jefferson's Notes on Virginia; likewise Miller's Retrospect of the +Eighteenth Century, in which the original documents relative to Godfrey's +invention are fully detailed. + + + +No. 45. + + + _West with his own great soul the canvass warms, + Creates, inspires, impassions human forms._ + + Book VIII. Line 587. + +Benjamin West, president of the Royal Academy in London, was born and +educated in Pennsylvania. At the age of twenty-three he went to Italy to +perfect his taste in the art to which his genius irresistibly impelled him; +in which he was destined to cast a splendor upon the age in which he lives, +and probably to excel all his cotemporaries, so far at least as we can +judge from the present state of their works. After passing two years in +that country of models, where canvass and marble seem to contribute their +full proportion of the population, he went to London. + +Here he soon rendered himself conspicuous for the boldness of his designs, +in daring to shake off the trammels of the art so far as to paint modern +history in modern dress. He had already staggered the connoisseurs in Italy +while he was there, by his picture of _The Savage Chief taking leave of +his family on going to war_. This extraordinary effort of the American +pencil on an American subject excited great admiration at Venice. The +picture was engraved in that city by Bartolozzi, before either he or West +went to England. The artists were surprised to find that the expression of +the passions of men did not depend on the robes they wore. And his +early works in London, _The Death of Wolfe_, _The Battles of the +Boyne_, _Lahogue_, &c., engraved by Woollett and others, not only +established his reputation, but produced a revolution in the Art. So that +modern dress has now become as familiar in fictitious as in real life; it +being justly considered essential in painting modern history. + +The engraving from his Wolfe has been often copied in France, Italy and +Germany; and it may be said that in this picture the revolution in painting +really originated. It would now be reckoned as preposterous in an artist +to dress modern personages in Grecian or Roman habits, as it was before to +give them the garb of the age and country to which they belonged. + +The merit of Mr. West was early noticed and encouraged by the king; who +took him into pay with a convenient salary, and the title of historical +painter to his majesty. In this situation he has decorated the king's +palaces, chapels and churches with most of those great pictures from the +English history and from the Old and New Testament, which compose so +considerable a portion of his works. + +The following catalogue of his pictures was furnished me by Mr. West +himself in the year 1802. It comprises only his principal productions in +_historical_ painting, and only his _finished_ pictures; without +mentioning his numerous portraits, or his more numerous sketches and +drawings. + +The pictures marked thus * have been engraved. The ciphers express the size +of the pictures. When the same subject is mentioned more than once, there +is more than one picture on that subject. + + +IN THE QUEEN'S HOUSE. + + * Regulus departing from Rome. + * Hannibal sworn when a child. + * Death of Wolfe. + Damsel accusing Peter. + * Death of Epaminondas. + Apotheosis of the two young princes. + * Death of chevalier Bayard. + Germanicus, with Segestus and his daughter prisoners. + * Cyrus, with a king and family captives. + + +IN THE KING'S APARTMENTS AT WINDSOR. + + Edward III crossing the Somme. + Battle of Cressy, Edward embracing his son. + Edward III crowning Ribemond at Calais. + St. George destroying the Dragon. + The Six Burgesses of Calais before Edward. + Battle of Poietiers, king of France prisoner to the Black Prince. + Institution of the Order of the Garter. + Battle of Nevilcross. + Christ's Crucifixion. + The same on glass for the west window of the church at Windsor, 36 feet + by 28. + Peter, John and women at the Sepulchre. + The same on glass for the east window of the same church, 36 feet by 28. + The Angels appearing to the Shepherds. + Nativity of Christ. + Kings presenting gifts to Christ. + + +IN THE MARBLE GALLERY, WINDSOR CASTLE. + + Hymen dancing with the Hours before Peace and Plenty. + Boys with the insignia of the Fine Arts. + Boys with the insignia of Riches. + + +IN THE KING'S CHAPEL AT WINDSOR. + + +A complete history of Revealed Religion, divided into four dispensations, +and comprised in thirty-eight pictures. + + +PATRIARCHAL DISPENSATION. + + Adam and Eve created. 9 feet by 6. + Adam and Eve driven from Paradise. do. + The Deluge. do. + Noah sacrificing. do. + Abraham going to sacrifice Isaac. do. + Birth of Jacob and Esau. do. + Death of Jacob, surrounded by his sons. do. + Bondage of the Israelites in Egypt. do. + +MOSAICAL DISPENSATION. + + Moses called. do. + Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh, their rods turned to serpents. 15 feet + by 10. + Pharaoh's Army lost in the sea. + Moses receiving the Law. 18 feet by 12. + Hoses consecrating Aaron and his sons to the Priesthood. 15 feet by 10. + Moses shows the Brazen Serpent. 15 feet by 10. + Moses on Mount Pisgah sees the Promised Land and dies. 9 feet by 6. + Joshua passing the Jordan, do. + The twelve Tribes drawing their lots. do. + David called and anointed, do. + +GOSPEL DISPENSATION. + + John Baptist called and named. do. + Christ born. do. + Christ offered gifts by the Wise Men. do. + Christ among the Doctors, do. + Christ baptized, and the Holy Spirit descending on him. 15 feet by 10. + Christ healing the Sick. do. + Christ's last Supper. do. + Christ's Crucifixion. 36 feet by 28. + Christ's Resurrection, Peter, John and the women at the Sepulchre. do. + * Christ's Ascension. 18 feet by 12. + Peter's first Sermon, Descent of the Holy Spirit. 15 feet by 10. + The Apostles preaching and working miracles. do. + Paul and Barnabas turning from the Jews to the Gentiles. do. + +APOCALYPTIC DISPENSATION. + + John seeing the Son of Man, and called to write. 9 feet by 6. + The Throne surrounded by the Four Beasts, and Saints laying down their + crowns. 9 feet by 6. + Death on the Pale Horse, and the Opening of the Seals. do. + The White Horse and his legions, and the Man destroying the Old Beast. + do. + General Resurrection, the end of Death. do. + Christ's Second Coming. do. + The New Jerusalem. do. + + +IN THE COLLECTION OF MR. BECKFORD. + + Michael and his angels casting out the Red Dragon and his angels. + The Woman clothed with the Sun. + John called to write the Apocalypse. + The Beast rising out of the sea. + The mighty Angel, one foot on sea the other on land. + St. Anthony of Padua. + The Madre Dolorosa. + Simeon with the Child in his arms. + Landscape, with a Hunt in the back ground. + Abraham and Isaac going to sacrifice. + Thomas à Becket. + Angel in the Sun. + Order of the Garter, differing in composition from that at Windsor. + + +IN THE COLLECTION OF EARL GROSVENOR. + + The Shunamite's son raised to life by Elisha. + Jacob blessing the sons of Joseph. + * Death of Wolfe. + * Battle of Lahogue. + * Battle of the Boyne. + * Restoration of Charles II. + * Cromwell dissolving the Parliament. + The Golden Age. + General Wolfe when a boy. + + +IN THE COLLECTION OF MR. HOPE. + + * Telemachus and Calypso. + * Angelica and Madora. + The Damsel and Orlando. + Cicero at the tomb of Archimedes. + St. Paul's Conversion. + St. Paul persecuting the Christians. + His restoration to sight by Ananias. + Mr. Hope's family; nine figures, size of life. + + +IN THE HISTORICAL GALLERY, PALLMALL. + + The Queen soliciting king Henry to pardon her son John. + + +IN GREENWICH HOSPITAL. + + Paul shaking the Viper from his finger. + Paul preaching at Athens. + Elymas the Sorcerer struck blind. + Cornelius and the Angel. + Peter delivered from prison. + Conversion of St. Paul. + Paul before Felix. + Return of the Prodigal Son. + + +LARGE FIGURES OF + + Faith, + Hope, + Charity, + Innocence, + Matthew, + Mark, + Luke, + Matthias, + Thomas, + Simon, + James major, + James minor, + Philip, + Peter, + Malachi, + Micah, + Zachariah, + Daniel, + Jude, + John, + Andrew, + Bartholomew. + + +IN DIFFERENT CHURCHES. + + Michael chaining the Dragon. + Angels announcing the birth of Christ. + St. Stephen stoned to death. + Raising of Lazarus. + Paul shaking off the Viper. + The last Supper. + Resurrection of Christ. + Peter denying Christ. + Moses showing the Brazen Serpent. + John seeing the Lamb of God. + A Mother leading her children to the Temple of Virtue. + + +IN VARIOUS COLLECTIONS. + + Lord Clive taking the dunny from the Mogul. + The same. + Christ receiving the Sick. _Pensyl. hospital._ + * Leonidas exiling Cleombrotus and family. + The two Marys at the Sepulchre. + Alexander and his Physician. + Cesar reading the Life of Alexander. + Death of Adonis. + Continence of Scipio. + * Savage Warrior taking leave of his family. + Venus and Cupid. + Alfred dividing his loaf with the Beggar. + Helen presented to Paris. + Cupid stung by a bee. + Simeon and the Child. + * William Penn treating with the Savages. + Destruction of the Spanish Armada. + Philippa soliciting of Edward the pardon of the citizens of Calais. + Europa on the Bull. + Death of Hyacinthus. + Death of Cesar. + Venus presenting her cestus to Juno. + Rinaldo and Armida. + Pharaoh's Daughter with the child Moses. + The stolen Kiss. + Angelica and Madora. + Woman of Samaria at the well with Christ. + Agrippina leaning on the urn of Germanicus. + Death of Wolfe. + The same; smaller size. + Romeo and Juliet. + King Lear and his Daughters. + Belisarius and the Boy. + Sir Francis Baring and family. + * Mr. West and family. + A Mother and Child. + Jupiter and Semele. + Petus and Arria. + Venus and Cupid smiling at Europa when Jupiter had left her. + Rebecca coming to Jacob. + Rebecca receiving the bracelets at the well. + Agrippina landing at Brundusium with the ashes of Germanieus, + The same. + The same. + Endymion and Diana. + + +IN THE COLLECTION OF ROBERT FULTON. + + Ophelia distracted, before the king and queen + *King Lear in the storm, + + +IN MR. WEST'S OWN COLLECTION. + + Hector taking leave of his Wife and Child. + Elisha raising the Shunamite's Son. + The raising of Lazarus. + Macbeth and the Witches. + The return of Tobias. + Return of the Prodigal Son. + Ariadne on the sea shore. + Death of Adonis. + King of France brought to the Black Prince. + * Death of Wolfe. + Venus and Adonis. + Battle of Lahogue. + Edward III crossing the Somme. + Philippa at the Battle of Nevilcross. + Angels announcing the birth of Christ. + Kings bringing presents to Christ. + View on the river Thames. + View on the Susquehanna. + Picture of Tankers Mill at Eton. + Chryseis restored to her Father. + Antiochus and Stratoftice. + King Lear and his Daughters. + Chryseus on the sea shore. + Nathan and David. _Thou art the man_. + Elijah raising the widow's Son. + Choice of Hercules. + Venus and Europa. + Daniel interpreting the Writing on the Wall. + Marius on the ruins of Carthage. + * Cymon and Iphigenia. + Cicero at the tomb of Archimedes. + * Alexander, king of Scotland, rescued from the Stag. + Battle of Cressy. + * Mr. West and his family. + * Anthony shows Cesar's Robe and Will. + Egysthus viewing the body of Clytemnestra. + Recovery of king George in 1789. + A large landscape in Windsor Forest. + Ophelia before the King and Queen. + Leonidas taking leave of his family. + Phaeton receiving from Apollo the chariot of the Sun. + The Eagle giving the cup of water to Psyche. + Moonlight and the Beckoning Ghost. _Pope._ + Angel sitting on the stone at the Sepulchre. + The same subject differently composed. + * Angelica and Madora. + The Damsel and Orlando. + The Good Samaritan. + Old Beast and False Prophet destroyed. + Christ healing the sick in the temple. + Death on the Pale Horse. + Jason and the Dragon. + Venus and Adonis seeing the Cupids bathe. + Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh. + Passage boat on the Canal. + Paul and Barnabas rejecting the Jews and turning to the Gentiles. + Diomed, his horses struck with lightning. + Milk-woman in St. James's Park. + Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. + Order of the Garter. + Orion on the Dolphin's back. + The Deluge. + Queen Elizabeth's Procession to St. Paul's. + Christ showing a child, emblem of heaven. + Harvest Home. + Washing Sheep. + St. Paul shaking off the Viper. + Sun setting at Twickenham on Thames. + Driving sheep and cows to water. + Cattle drinking, and Mr. West drawing, in Windsor Park. + Pharaoh and his boat in the Red Sea. + Telemachus and Calypso. + Moses consecrating Aaron and his sons. + A Mother inviting her little boy to come to her thro a brook. + Brewer's porter and hod carrier. + Venus attended by the Graces. + Naming of Samuel. + Birth of Jacob and Esau. + Ascension of Christ. + Samuel presented to Eli. + Moses shown the Promised Land. + Christ among the Doctors. + Reaping scene. + Adonis and his dog. + Mothers with their children in water. + Joshua crossing the Jordan with the Ark. + Christ's Nativity. + * Pyrrhus when a child before king Glaucus. + The Man laying his bread on the bridle of the dead Ass. _Sterne._ + The Captive. _Ditto._ + Cupid letting loose two Doves. + Cupid asleep. + Children eating cherries. + St. Anthony of Padua and the Child. + Jacob and Laban with his two daughters. + The Women looking into the Sepulchre and seeing two Angels where the + Lord lay. + The Angel unchaining Peter in prison. + Death of sir Philip Sidney. + Death of Epaminondas. + Death of chevalier Bayard. + Death of Cephalus. + * Kosciusko on a couch. + Abraham and Isaac. _Here is the wood and fire, but where is the lamb + to sacrifice?_ + Eponina with her children giving bread to her husband when in + concealment. + King Henry pardoning his brother. + John at the prayer of his mother. + Death of lord Chatham. Presentation of the Crown to William the + Conqueror. + Europa crowning the Bull with flowers. + West's garden, gallery and painting room. + Cave of Despair. _Spencer_. + Arethusa bathing. + Cupid shows Venus his finger stung by a bee. + Ubald brings his three daughters to Alfred for him to choose one for + his wife. + * Pylades and Orestes. + +Besides the two hundred and ninety-nine large finished pictures here +mentioned, Mr. West has done about one hundred portraits, and upwards of +two hundred drawings with the pen; which last, for sublimity of conception, +are among the finest of his works. So that the whole of his pieces amount +to above six hundred. Some of them are larger in size than any in the +national gallery of France; and he has not been assisted by any other +painter. + +Mr. West is now about sixty-eight years of age. He discovers no abatement +in the activity of his genius, nor in the laborious exercise of his +talents. He has painted several fine pictures since the above catalogue +was made. Three of which I have particularly noticed in his painting room: +Tobet and Tobias with the fish; Abraham sending away Hagar with her child; +Achilles receiving from Thetis the new armor; and we hear that he has +lately painted the Death of Nelson. He may yet produce many more original +works; tho it is presumed he has already exceeded all other historical +painters, except Rubens, in the number and variety of his productions. With +regard to the merit of his pictures, I cannot pretend to form a judgment +that would be of any use in directing that of others. He is doubtless the +most classical painter, except Raphael, whose works are known to us. + +The critics find fault with the coloring of Mr. West. But in his works, +as in those of Raphael, we do not look for coloring. It is dignity of +character, fine expression, delicate design, correct drawing and beautiful +disposition of drapery which fix the suffrage of the real judge. All which +qualities can only spring from an elevated mind. + + + +No. 46. + + + _Nile pours from heaven a tutelary flood, + And gardens grow the vegetable god._ + + Book IX. Line 287. + + O sanctas gentes, quibus haec nascuntur in hortis Numina. + + Juv. Sat. 15. + + + +No. 47. + + + _Tis to correct their fatal faults of old, + When, caught by tinsel, they forgot the gold._ + + Book IX. Line 499. + +The state of the arts and sciences among the ancients, viewed with +reference to the event of universal civilization, was faulty in two +respects. First, In their comparative estimation: Second, In their +flourishing only in one nation at a time. These circumstances might be +favorable to the exertions of individual genius; and they may be assigned +both as causes of the universal destruction of the arts and sciences by +the Gothic conquest, and as reasons why we should not greatly lament that +destruction. + +From the political state of mankind in the days of their ancient splendor +it was natural that those arts which depend on the imagination, such as +Architecture, Statuary, Painting, Eloquence and Poetry, should claim the +highest rank in the estimation of a people. In several, perhaps all of +these, the ancients remain unrivalled. But these are not the arts which +tend the most to the general improvement of society. A man in those days +would have rendered more service to the world by ascertaining the true +figure and movements of the earth, than by originating a heaven and filling +it with all the gods of Homer; and had the expenses of the Egyptian +pyramids been employed in furnishing ships of discovery and sending them +out of the Mediterranean, the nations called civilized would not have been +afterwards overrun by Barbarians. + +But the sciences of Geography, Navigation and Commerce, with their +consequent improvements in Natural Philosophy and Humanity, could not, from +the nature of things at that time, become objects of great encouragement or +enterprise. Talent was therefore confined to the cultivation of arts more +striking to the senses. As these arts were adapted to gratify the vanity +of princes, to help carry on the sacred frauds of priests, to fire the +ambition of heroes, or to gain causes in popular assemblies, they were +brought to a degree of perfection which prevented their being relished or +understood by barbarous neighbors. + +The improvements of the world therefore, whether in literature, sciences or +arts, descended with the line of conquest from one nation to another, till +the whole were concentred in the Roman empire. Their tendency there was to +inspire a contempt for nations less civilized, and to teach the Romans to +consider all mankind as the proper objects of their military despotism. +These circumstances prepared, thro a course of ages, and finally opened a +scene of wretchedness at which the human mind has been taught to shudder. +But some such convulsion seemed necessary to reduce the nations to a +position capable of commencing regular improvements. And, however novel the +sentiment may appear, I will venture to say that, as to the prospect of +universal civilization, mankind were in a better situation in the time of +Charlemagne than they were in the days of Augustus. + +The final destruction of the Roman empire left the nations of Europe +in circumstances similar to each other; and their consequent rivalship +prevented any disproportionate refinement from appearing in any particular +region. The principles of government, firmly rooted in the Feudal System, +unsocial and unphilosophical as they were, laid the foundation of that +balance of power which discourages the Cesars and Alexanders of modern ages +from attempting the conquest of the world. + +It seems necessary that the arrangement of events in civilizing the world +should be in the following order: _first_, all parts of it must be +considerably peopled; _second_, the different nations must be known +to each other; _third_, their wants must be increased, in order to +inspire a passion for commerce. The first of these objects was not probably +accomplished till a late period. The second for three centuries past has +been greatly accelerated. The third is a necessary consequence of the two +former. The spirit of commerce is happily calculated to open an amicable +intercourse between all countries, to soften the horrors of war, to enlarge +the field of science, and to assimilate the manners, feelings and languages +of all nations. This leading principle, in its remoter consequences, +will produce advantages in favor of free government, give patriotism the +character of philanthropy, induce all men to regard each other as brethren +and friends, and teach them the benefits of peace and harmony among the +nations. + +I conceive it no objection to this theory that the progress has hitherto +been slow; when we consider the magnitude of the object, the obstructions +that were to be removed, and the length of time taken to accomplish it. +The future progress will probably be more rapid than the past. Since the +invention of printing, the application of the properties of the magnet, +and the knowledge of the structure of the solar system, it is difficult to +conceive of a cause that can produce a new state of barbarism; unless it be +some great convulsion in the physical world, so extensive as to change the +face of the earth or a considerable part of it. This indeed may have been +the case already more than once, since the earth was first peopled with +men, and antecedent to our histories. But such events have nothing to do +with the present argument. + + + +No. 48. + + + _Herschel ascends himself with venturous wain, + And joins and flanks thy planetary train,_ + + Book IX. Line 601. + +The planet discovered by Herschel was called by him Georgium Sidus; but in +all countries except England it is named Herschel, and probably will be so +named there after his death and that of the patron to whom his gratitude +led him to make this extraordinary dedication. + +I would observe that, besides the impropriety of giving it another name +than that of the discoverer, it is inconvenient to use a double name, or a +name composed of two words. Let it be either George or Herschel. + +The passage referred to in this note was written before the discovery of +the three other planets which are now added to our catalogue. Could my +voice have weight in deciding on the names to be given to these new +children of the sun, I would call them by the names of their respective +discoverers, Piazzi, Gibers and Harding, instead of the senseless and +absurd appellations of Ceres, Pallas and Juno. The former method would at +least assist us in preserving the history of science; the latter will only +tend farther to confuse a very ancient mythology which is already extremely +confused, and increase the difficulty of following the faint traces of real +knowledge that seems couched under the mass of that mythology; traces which +may one day lead to many useful truths in philosophy and morals. + + + +No. 49. + + + _To build on ruin'd realms the shrine of fame, + And load his numbers with a tyrant's name._ + + Book X. Line 261. + +A most useful book might be written on this subject. It should be a Review +of Poets and Historians, as to the moral and political tendency of their +works. It should likewise treat of the importance of the task assigned to +these two classes of writers. It might attempt to point out the true object +they ought to have in view; perhaps do this with such clearness and energy +as to gain the attention of writers as well as readers, and thus serve in +some measure as a guide to future historians and poets. At least it would +prove a guide to readers; and by teaching them how to judge, and what +to praise or blame in the accounts of human actions, whether real or +fictitious, the public taste would be reformed by degrees. In this case the +recorders of heroic actions, as well as the authors of them, would find it +necessary to follow this reform, or they must necessarily fail of obtaining +the celebrity to which they all aspire. + +I think every person who will give himself the trouble to form an opinion +on the manner in which actions, called heroic, have been recorded, must +find it faulty; and must lament, as one of the misfortunes of society, that +writers of these two classes almost universally, from Homer down to Gibbon, +have led astray the moral sense of man. In this view we may say in general +of poets and historians, as we do of their heroes, that they have injured +the cause of humanity almost in proportion to the fame they have acquired. + +I would not be understood by this observation to mean that such writers +have done no good. Even the works of Homer, which have caused more mischief +to mankind than those of any other, have likewise been a fruitful source of +a certain species of benefits. They elevate the mind of every reader; they +have called forth great exertions of genius in poets, artists, philosophers +and heroes, thro a long succession of ages. But it remains to be considered +what a fruitful source they have likewise been of those false notions of +honor and erroneous systems of policy which have governed the actions of +men from his day to ours. + +If, instead of the Iliad, he had given us a work of equal splendor founded +on an opposite principle; whose object should have been to celebrate the +useful arts of agriculture and navigation; to build the immortal fame +of his heroes, and occupy his whole hierarchy of gods, on actions that +contribute to the real advancement of society, instead of striking away +every foundation on which society ought to be established or can be greatly +advanced; mankind, enriched with such a work at that early period, would +have given a useful turn to their ambition thro all succeeding ages. + +It is not easy to conceive how different the state of nations would have +been at this day from what we now find it, had such a bent been given to +the pursuits of genius, and such glory cast upon actions truly worthy of +imitation. I have treated this subject more at large in the third chapter +of _Advise to the Privileged Orders_. + +But it will be asked how this kind of censure can attach to the writers of +history, whose business is to invent nothing, to confine themselves to +the simple narration of facts, and relate the actions of men, not as they +should be, but as they are. This is indeed a part of the duty of the +historian; but it is not his whole duty. His narrative should be clear and +simple; but he should likewise develop the political and moral tendency of +the transactions he details. + +In reviewing actions or doctrines which favor despotism, injustice, false +morals or political errors, he should not suffer them to pass without an +open and well supported censure. He should show how the authors of such +actions might have conducted themselves and succeeded in gaining the +celebrity which they sought, by doing good instead of harm to the age and +country where they acquired their fame. + +The history of human actions, in a political view, has generally been the +history of human errors. The writers who have given it to us do not appear +to have been sensible of this. How then are young readers to be sensible +of it? Their minds are still to be formed; and those who are destined for +public life must in a great measure take their bias from the study of +history. But history in general, to answer the purpose of sound instruction +to the future guides of nations, must be rewritten. For example: among the +hundred historians who have treated of what is called the Roman Republic +I know not one who has told us this important fact, that Rome never had a +republic. The same may be said of Athens, and of several other turbulent +associations of men in former ages. And it is for want of this attention +or this knowledge in the writers of their histories, that the republican +principle of government is so generally associated, even at this day, with +the idea of insurrection, anarchy and the desire of conquest. Whereas it +is in fact the _want_ of the republican principle, not the +_practice_ of it, which has occasioned all the insurrections, anarchy +and desire of conquest, that have disturbed the order of society both in +ancient and modern times. + +Again: in relating the destruction of Carthage, a measure which the zealous +patriots, both before and after, considered so essential to the glory of +the Roman state, and which has immortalized so many heroes as the authors +and projectors of that destruction, I believe no historian has told us that +the disease, decay and downfall of Rome itself were occasioned by that +measure, and must be dated from that epoch; and that the actions of Regulus +and Scipio, the themes of universal applause, were really more injurious to +their country than those of Marias and Sylla, the objects (and justly so) +of universal detestation. + +If these principles had been understood by Polybius and his successors in +the brilliant heritage of history, and had been properly impressed on the +minds of their readers, we should not have heard old Cato's vociferation +_delenda est Carthago_ applied to the American states by an orator of +the British parliament, as we did during the war; because every member of +that parliament must have understood that the prosperity of these states +would be highly advantageous to Britain, from the extensive commercial +intercourse that the relative situation of the two countries required. +Neither should we see at this day the French English nations seeking +to impoverish and extirpate each other; each of them entertaining the +erroneous and absurd opinion that its own prosperity is to be increased by +the adversity of its neighbor. We should have learned long ago from the +plain dictates of reason, instead of having it beat into us some ages hence +by costly experience, that the true dignity of a state is in the happiness +of its members; and that their happiness is best promoted by the pursuit of +industry at home and the free exchange of their productions abroad. + +We should have perceived the real and constant interest that every nation +has in the prosperity of its neighbors, instead of their destruction. +France would have perceived that the wealth of the English would be +beneficial to her, by enabling them to receive and pay for more of her +produce. England would have seen the same thing with regard to the French; +and such would have been the sentiments of other nations reciprocally and +universally. + +I know I must be called an extravagant theorist if I insinuate that all +these good things would have resulted from having history well written and +poetry well conceived. No man will doubt however that such would have been +the tendency; nor can we deny that the contrary has resulted, at least in +some degree, from the manner in which such writings have been composed. And +why should we write at all, if not to benefit mankind? The public mind, as +well as the individual mind, receives its propensities; it is equally the +creature of habit. Nations are educated, like a single child. They only +require a longer time and a greater number of teachers. + + + +No. 50. + + + _For that fine apologue, in mystic strain, + Gave like the rest a golden age to man,_ + + Book X. Line 393. + +Absurdities in speculative opinion are commonly considered as innocent +things; and we are told every day that they are not worth refuting. So +far as opinions are sure to rest merely in speculation, and cannot in any +degree become practical, this is doubtless the proper way of treating them. +But there are few opinions of this dormant and indifferent kind, especially +among those that become general and classical among the nations. + +The activity of such, tho imperceptible, is extensive. They get wrought +into our intellectual existence, and govern our modes of acting as well as +thinking. The interest of society therefore requires that they should be +scrutinized, and that such as are erroneous should be exposed, in order to +be rejected; when their place may be supplied by truth and reason, which +nourish the mind and accelerate the progress of improvement. + +Among the absurd notions which early turned the heads of the teachers of +mankind, and which are so ridiculous as generally to escape our censure, is +that of a Golden Age; or the idea that men were more perfect, more moral +and more happy in some early stage of their intercourse, before they +cultivated the earth and formed great societies. + +The author of Don Quixote has played his artillery upon this doctrine to +very good effect; he has summoned against it all the force of our contempt +by making it the text of one of the gravest discourses of his hero. But +my sensibility is such on moral and political errors, as rarely to be +satisfied with the weapon of ridicule; tho I know it to be one of the most +mortal of intellectual weapons. + +The notion that the social state of men cannot ameliorate, that they have +formerly been better than they now are, and that they are continually +growing worse, is pregnant with infinite mischief. I know no doctrine in +the whole labyrinth of imposture that has a more immoral tendency. It +discourages the efforts of all political virtue; it is a constant and +practical apology for oppression, tyranny, despotism, in every shape, +in every corner of society, as well as from the throne, the pulpit, the +tribunal and the camp. It inculcates the belief that ignorance is better +than knowledge; that war and violence are more natural than industry and +peace; that deserts and tombs are more glorious than joyful cities and +cultivated fields. + +One of the most operative means of bringing forward our improvements and +of making mankind wiser and better than they are, is to convince them that +they are capable of becoming so. Without this conviction they may indeed +improve slowly, unsteadily and almost imperceptibly, as they have done +within the period in which our histories are able to trace them. But this +conviction, impressed on the minds of the chiefs and teachers of nations, +and inculcated in their schools, would greatly expedite our advancement in +public happiness and virtue. Perhaps it would in a great measure insure the +world against any future shocks and retrograde steps, such as heretofore it +has often, experienced. + + + + +Postscript. + + + +I am well aware that some readers will be dissatisfied in certain instances +with my orthography. Their judgments are respectable; and as it is not a +wanton deviation from ancient usage on my part, the subject may justify a +moment's retrospect from this place. Since we have arrived at the end of a +work that has given me more pleasure in the composition than it probably +will in its reception by the public, they must pardon me if I thus linger +awhile in taking leave. It is a favorite object of amusement as well as +labor, which I cannot hope to replace. + +Our language is constantly and rapidly improving. The unexampled progress +of the sciences and arts for the last thirty years has enriched it with a +great number of new words, which are now become as necessary to the writer +as his ancient mother tongue. The same progress which leads to farther +extensions of ideas will still extend the vocabulary; and our neology must +and will keep pace with the advancement of our knowledge. Hence will +follow a closer definition and more accurate use of words, with a stricter +attention to their orthography. + +Such innovations ought undoubtedly to be admitted with caution; and they +will of course be severely scrutinized by men of letters. A language is +public property, in the most extensive sense of the word; and readers as +well as writers arc its guardians. But they ought to have no objection to +improving the estate as it passes thro their hands, by making a liberal tho +rigid estimate of what may be offered as ameliorations. Some respectable +philologists have proposed a total and immediate reform of our orthography +and even of our alphabet; but the great body of proprietors in this +heritage are of opinion that the attempt would be less advantageous than +the slow and certain improvements which are going forward, and which will +necessarily continue to attend the active state of our literature. + +We have long since laid aside the Latin diphthongs æ and oe in common +English words, and in some proper names tho not in all. Uniformity in this +respect is desirable and will prevail. Names of that description which +occur in this work I have therefore written with the simple vowel, as +_Cesar_, _Phenicia_, _Etna_, _Medea_. + +Another class of our words are in a gradual state of reform. They are those +Latin nouns ending in _or_, which having past thro France on their +way from Rome, changed their _o_ into _eu_. The Norman English +writers restored the Latin _o_, but retained the French _u;_ +and tho the latter has been since rejected in most of these words, yet +in others it is still retained by many writers. It is quite useless in +pronunciation; and propriety as well as analogy requires that the reform +should be carried thro. No writer at this day retains the _u_ in +_actor_, _author_, _emperor_ and the far greater part, perhaps nine +tenths, of this class of nouns; why then should it be continued in the few +that remain, such as _labor_, _honor?_ The most accurate authors +reject it in all these, and I have followed the example. + +I have also respectable authorities in prose as well as poetry for +expunging the three last letters in _though_ and _through;_ they +being totally disregarded in pronunciation and awkward in appearance. The +long sound of _o_ in many words, as _go, fro_, puts it out of +doubt with respect to _tho;_ and its sound of _oo_, which, frequently +occurs, as in _prove, move_, is an equal justification of _thro_. +All the British poets, from Pope downwards, and several eminent prose +writers, including Shaftsbury and Staunton, have by their practice +supported this orthography. + +Some verbs in the past tense, where the usual ending in _ed_ is +harsh and uncouth, hare long ago changed it for _t_, as _fixt_, +_capt_, _meant_, _past_, _blest_. Poetry has extended this innovation +to many other verbs which are necessarily uttered with the sound of _t_, +tho in prose they may still retain for a while their ancient _ed_. +I consider this reform as a valuable improvement in the language, because +it brings a numerous class of words to be written as they are spoken; and +the proportion of the reformed ones is already so considerable that +analogy, or regularity of conjugation, requires us to complete the list. +I have not carried this reform much farther than other poets have done +before me. Examples might perhaps be found for nearly all the instances in +which I have indulged it, such as _perisht_, _astonisht_, tho I have +not been solicitous to seek them. The correction might well be extended to +several remaining verbs of the same class; but it is difficult in this +particular case to fix the proper limit. + +With regard to the apostrophe, as employed to mark the elision in the past +tense of verbs, I have followed the example of the most accurate poets; who +use it where the verb in the present tense does not end in _e_, as +_furl'd_, because the _ed_ would add a syllable and destroy the +measure. But where the present tense ends in _e_, it is retained in +the past with the _d_, as _robed_, because it does not add a +syllable. + +The letter _k_ we borrowed from the Greek, and the _c_ from the +Latin. The power of each of these letters at the end of a word is precisely +the same; and the power of one is the same as that of both. Yet our early +writers placed them both at the end of certain words, with the _c_ +before the _k_, as _musick_, _publick_, why they did not put the _k_ first, +as being the most ancient character, does not appear. Modern authors have +rejected the _k_ sit the end of this class of words; and no correct +writer will think of replacing such an inconvenient appendage. + +The idea of putting a stop to innovation in a living language is absurd, +unless we put a stop to thinking. When a language becomes fixt it becomes +a dead language. Men must leave it for a living one, in which they can +express their ideas with all their changes, extensions and corrections. The +duty of the critic in this case is only to keep a steady watch over the +innovations that are offered, and require a rigid conformity to the general +principles of the idiom. Noah Webster, to whose philological labors our +language will be much indebted for its purity and regularity, has pointed +out the advantages of a steady course of improvement, and how it ought to +be conducted. The Preface to his new Dictionary is an able performance. He +might advantageously give it more development, with some correction, and +publish it as a Prospectus to the great work he now has in hand. + +The uniform tendency of our language is towards simplicity as well as +regularity. With this view the final e, in words where it is quite silent +and useless, is dropping off, and will soon disappear. Having long +since resigned the place it held in the greater part of these words, as +_joye_, _ruine_, and more recently in some others, it must finally quit +the remainder where it is still found a superfluous letter, as _active_, +_decisive_, _determine_. + +We may even hazard a prediction that our whole class of adjectives ending +in _ous_ will be reformed and brought nearer to their pronunciation by +rejecting the _o_. A similar change may be expected in words ending +in _ss_. These words have already undergone one reform; they were +formerly written with a final _e_, as _wildernesse_. They have +lost the _e_ because it was useless; and as the final _s_ has now +become equally useless, it might be dismissed with as little violence +to the language. But these two projected innovations have not yet been +ventured upon in any degree; and it is not desirable to be the first in so +daring an enterprise, when it is not immediately important. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Columbiad, by Joel Barlow + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COLUMBIAD *** + +This file should be named 8clmb10.txt or 8clmb10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8clmb11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8clmb10a.txt + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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