False prophets may be join'd, who to subserve
Vile temporary purposes, rave out

Their bugbear bodings to their prince's ears.

Thus rooks, and daws, and chattering magpies prate Their noisy terrours to the bird of day.

90

But soft, my Muse! where speedest thou thy flight? Thy theme is freedom, and Columbia's son ; But on the sacred tripod when thou sit'st, Like a Dodonian Priestess, heaven-enrapt,

Thou pour'st prophetick truths, and blend'st the past

And future time, unheeding consequence.

But come, Celestial Spirit! again descend,

And say, for best thou canst, what happy spot
First gave thy loved son to see the light?

95

'Twas pure Virginia's soil, thrice happy soil! 100
That one blest moment shall thy griefs repay,
And to remotest ages hand thy name;

Yes! all thy woes shall, like the stars of morn,
Sink in the brighter blaze of risen day.

And thou, blest Seraph! from that bright abode 105

86. False prophets-See a specimen of these prophecies respecting the fate of American Independence in Ramsay, i. 314-5. The record of their existence would be-" that a fickle people, impatient of the restraints of regular govern ment, had in a fit of passion abolished that of Great Britain, and established-constitutions of their own-which from want of wisdom-were no sooner formed than annihilated. The leading men-hanged-Washington, worthy of a better fate, deserted by his army, abandoned by his country, rushing on the thickest battalions of the foe-to escape an ignominious death."

Some of the late bodings of Mr. Burke may also be had in remembrance.

Where midst the Cherubim thou sit'st enthron'd,
And supplicatest mercy o'er the sins

Of us thy fellows once; Oh! deign to lend
Thy gracious hearing to my 'raptur'd song,
That with no hireling flight directs its course
To truth, and virtue, liberty, and thee.
Thee bounteous heaven in mercy to mankind
Sent down to aid their cause, and for their sakes
Arm'd thee with every virtue that could serve
Its destin'd purpose. Meek humanity
Claim'd thee in chief; for thy benevolence
Shone like the orb of night in middle course
Perfect and full: thou the poor Indian taught'st
To love the works of peace, and cultivate
All-bounteous mother earth: the prisoner
Amidst his chains and dungeons turn'd to thee
His earthly guardian: (nor can Pity's hand
Bestow a sweeter balm to alleviate

The mad, unnatural misery of war,

110

115

120

Than that the prisoner's rigours should receive 125 Some soothing aid, and comfort: who is he

118. the poor Indian taught'st-See Life of W. v. 377. 120. the prisoner-The sufferings of the American prisoners were considerably aggravated by the circumstance of their being looked upon as rebels, and in some instances exceed almost belief. The reader may consult Appendix, No. iii. p. 281, vol. ii. of Ramsay; and Life of W. iii. 456-66, where he will see how well Washington merits the character given him in the text. The earl of Abingdon is very severe upon the savage barbarity," the "damning proofs of inhumanity," with which the American prisoners were treated. See Al mon, x. 105. So is the earl of Shelburne, Ib. 98-9. Eleven thousand prisoners are said to have died on board the Jersey prison ship. Ramsay, ii. 285.

66

That sees his fellow-man, who just before
Had in his country's cause not spar'd his blood,
Now cold, and naked, in a dungeon laid
Far from his native home, no wife, no són,
No fond parental care to sooth his woes;
Who sees such misery, nor sheds the tear
Of sympathetick feeling, must be one
Whom nature owns not; harden'd policy
With calculating visage, that disclaims
Nature's best ordinances, may perhaps
Have found such wretch; struggling humanity
Nor knows nor loves him.) When brutality
With rape and rapine, cruelty, and vice
Scourg'd thy afflicted country, thy pure soul
Knew not retaliation, but return'd,
As thy blest Saviour bid, for evil good;
For far the brightest ray within that crown
Which harmless play'd around thy god-like head
Was that thou lovedst mercy, mercy thee.

But when Necessity with iron hand

Arm'd thee to battle in thy country's cause,
And in the cause of justice, truth, and right,
Then thy awaken'd wrath, in terrour clad,

130

135

140

145

139. With rape and rapine,-The abominations of the Hessians are described by Ramsay, i. 324-5. But the endeavours of Washington to prevent retaliation in all cases, except "those of absolute necessity," are recorded in his own letters to Congress. See Life of W. iii. 29. Compare Ramsay, i. 108-9.

149. in terrour clad, &c.—Of Washington's personal bravery there are many instances. See Ramsay, i. 307. 323; Life of W. iii. 513-4; but the battle of Trenton surpassed

Was almost arm'd with more than mortal might, 150
And Trenton's walls, where first thy uplifted arm
Turn'd the dread tide of victory on thy foes,
And rais'd Columbia from untimely grave,
Attest thy valour, and thy well-earn'd fame.
Nor yet had subtlety, nor fraudful arts
Advantage over thee; thy god-like mind
By prejudice, and passion unsubdued

155

Pierc'd thro' the obscure, and kenn'd the distant light.

E'en power, that bane of every earthly good,
Which robs man of his senses, and impels
To enslave his fellow-mortal, was to thee
The path to peace and love; and tho' the head
Of armed heroes, yet the citizen

66

160

every action in the war. Nothing could surpass the astonishment of the enemy at this unexpected display of vigour on the part of the American general. His condition and that of his country had been thought desperate; but this bold and fortunate enterprise announced to the British general, that he had to contend with an adversary who could never cease to be formidable, so long as the possibility of resistance remained." Life of W. ii. 619-20. Lord George Germaine allowed" that, had it not been for the unforeseen misfortune of Trenton, there was every reason to believe that the campaign would have been decisive." Almon, viii. 21-2.

155. Nor yet had subtlety, &c.-See Life of W. iii. 132. 261, 262; and Ramsay, i. 217-8.

163. yet the citizen &c.-" As to the fatal, but necessary operations of war," said general Washington, " when we assumed the soldier, we did not lay aside the citizen, and we shall most sincerely rejoice with you in that happy hour, when the re-establishment of American liberty, on the most firm and solid foundations, shall enable us to return to our private stations, in the bosom of a free, peaceful and happy country." Ramsay, i. 220. "The passionate love of glory, how much soever excused as the infirmity of noble minds,

Was never in the soldier once forgot:

Thy proudest aim was freedom; and the wish
Nearest thy heart, that freedom to attain
By bloodless victory. Thy spotless mind
Humane, and wise, left to thy country's foes
To speed the work of death; thy own blest part,
As far as in thee lay, was to disarm

War of its horrours, and 'bove all that war

165

170

Where brethren clash with brethren, friends with

friends.

The man whose bosom such dread scenes delight
Is lost to every blessing heaven bestows

To comfort men on earth; nor joy, nor love 175
Ever consol'd his breast, but all is void

And dark, save where the passions of the brute
Exert their furious sway. Such dreadful scenes
Thou, hero! strov'st as far as man could strive,
To banish from thy country, and thus spake,
Amid the assembled chiefs, thy generous soul;
"Ye noble Chiefs! Columbia's joy, and hope!
Full well ye know how much I deprecate

180

might have led him into hazardous enterprises, and have finally terminated in the vulgar ambition of acquiring uncontrouled power, and dazzling title. He became truly great by indifference to greatness; and best provided for the perpetuity of an honourable fame, by regarding fame as subordinate to duty. What a lesson to those in high stations, who have hearts and understandings to receive it!" Dedication to Life of W. vii-viii; see Pref. xiii-xiv ; ii. 303, note; 613. Upon the "duty of the citizen being paramount to that of the soldier," see the hon. Temple Luttrell's speech, Almon, iv. 135; and the duke of Richmond's, x. 43-4,