Strives with his sister elemental fire,
Blotting the orb of day; while thro' the air. Heaven's wrathful trumpet up to judgement calls The souls of men; here variegated Vice, And Evil now confess'd their darkest deeds, Quaking with horrour; here pale Despotism With all its cringing minions trembling stood Waiting the awful sentence- Go, ye curs'd, 310 To everlasting fire;' that instant hell
Opes its wide jaws, and all the infernal host Greet the throng'd advocates of crime, and sin.
Such was the Gorgon shield of Hell's Archfiend; And round the outer orb, thick sulphurous flames In curling billows roll'd, a sea of fire.
Satan within these terrours deep ingloom'd, Sat like the shades of night, his awful head Crown'd with the helm, and nodding plumes of
While borrow'd lightning play'd before his face,
And hell-wrought thunders rattled round his car. The hero saw, and scarce at length restor❜d By his angelick guide to reason's light, When grisly Terrour in the ribs of Death, With teeth of naked steel, on his pale horse Sat grinning slaughter; in his train were seen Vultures, and howling dogs, and ravenous wolves. When thus the chieftain to his heavenly guide; "Take me, O take me from this scene of woe! Thou know'st how much my soul hath yearn'd for
How much it longs to snap the tilted spear,
And give to suffering man the balm of rest." "And man shall have that rest, (the seraph cried,) But Fate must be fulfill'd, and virtuous men Compell'd to do those things their soul abhors. 335. But haste, convene thy chiefs, for soon the foe Prepares for battle; and once more reflect That Freedom is thy friend, and while thy heart With virtue dwells, will ne'er forsake thy cause. And see, the sword of Michael waves aloft In middle sky, while Victory, and Success, With outspread pinions float above thy tents." The seraph said, and join'd the heavenly choir ; Nor could Columbia's chieftain thus forbear; "Hail! Heavenly Mission! Since 't is so decreed For man to suffer, that his race may gain, 346
I make no longer pause, but haste to obey The will of Fate, and crown the work divine."
335. Compell'd to do &c.—" Sir," said Washington one day to a foreign gentleman, I observe you wish me to speak of the war, It is a conversation I always avoid. I rejoice in the establishment of the liberties of America; but the time of the struggle was a horrible period, in which the best mer were compelled to do many things repugnant to their nature." New Annual Reg. 1800, p. 197.
ARGUMENT OF THE NINTH BOOK.
Washington's address to his troops. Battle of York-town. Two British redoubts taken by assault. Colonel Hamilton. Lord Cornwallis's speech to Abercrombie,—with the reply. Abercrombie's successful sortie, with his speeches to his troops. Bravery of the British.
AND ND now the watchful Hours with silent hand Unbarr'd the gates of heaven, and led the Morn Forth from his eastern chamber, like a God, To bless with heavenly light the sons of men, When great Columbia's chief without delay Conven'd her chosen guardians, and allies. Here Laurens' noble ardour, valiant Knox,. Brave Steuben, Butler, and Viominel,
Nelson, and Weedon, Noaille, Hamilton,
With those brave chiefs whom oft the Muse has
And Freedom will record; these now conven'd, Columbia's chief with speedy words address'd,. While round the circle pour'd the thronging troops; "Warriours! Avengers of your country's wrongs; Heroes! whom Trenton hath immortaliz'd; Victors of Saratoga! whom nor want,
Nor cold, nor famine, no! nor veteran: foes With all their boasted discipline could turn
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