Page:The West Indies, and Other Poems.djvu/71

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Quick at the call of Virtue, Freedom, Truth, Weak Avithering age and strong aspiring youth Alike the expanding power of pity felt ; The coldest, hardest hearts began to melt ; From breast to breast the flame of justice glow'd ; Wide o'er its banks the Nile of mercy flow'd ; Through all the isle the gradual waters swell'd; Mammon in vain the encirchng flood repell'd ; O'erthrown at length, like Pharoah and his host. His shipwreck'd hopes lay scatter'd round the coast.

High on her rock in solitary state. Sublimely musing, pale Britannia sate : Her awful forehead on her spear recKned, Her robe and tresses streaming with the wind ; Chill through her frame foreboding tremors crept ; The Mother thought upon her Sons, and wept : — She thought of Nelson in the battle slain. And his last signal beaming o'er the main ;^

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