Page:Poems Dramatic and Miscellaneous, Warren, 1790.djvu/200

 194   MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.

Fame's outstretch'd wing may on the eastern gales Leave the proud Thames, and spread her whiten'd sails. While rifing empire rears her purple crest. Triumphant commerce hails the gladden 'd west, And steers her course to Zembla's frozen pole, Or lands in India, free, from the control Of base, monopolizing men, combined To plunder millions, and enslave mankind. From Florida to Nova Scotian shores She pours her treasures and unlades her stores; Round all the globe (he sails from sea to sea, And smiles and prospers, only when she's free.

But here the sweet enchanting vision fled, And darken'd clouds flash'd lightnings o'er my head; The seraph solemn stretch'd abroad her hand, The stars grew pale beneath her burnish'd wand; On her pale front disgust and sorrow hung, And awful accents trembled on her tongue.

Behold I she said, before these great events, Absorb'd in tears, America laments; Laments the ravage of her fruitful plains, While crimson dreams the peaceful villa stains.

The weeping matron sighs-in poignant pain O'er her last hope, in the rude battle slain-; The bleeding bosom of the aged fire, Pierc'd by his son, will in his arms expire; For death promiscuous flies from ev'ry hand, When faction's sword is brandish'd o'er the land; When civil discord cuts the friendly ties, And social joy from every bosom flies; But let the mule forbear the solemn tale, And lend once more, the "Grecian painter's veil,"