Resistless Freedom-when she nerves the arm, No vulgar triumph crowns the hero's might; She, she alone can spread a moral charm O'er War's fell deeds, and sanctify the fight! Oh Gallia, in this bright immortal hour How proud a trophy binds thy laurel'd brow! Republic, hail, whose independent power All Earth contested once, all Earth confesses now! Protecting spirits of the glorious dead, Ah! not in vain the hero's noble toil, Ah, not in vain the patriot's blood is shed,That blood shall consecrate his native soil! Illustrious names to history's record dear, And breathed when some high impulse fires the bard, For you shall Virtue pour the glowing tearAnd your remember'd deeds shall still your country guard! And thou, loved Britain, my parental isle, Of frantic combat-(strife unmeet for thee!) Now views, triumphant, from his seagirt rock, Thee unsubdued alone; for thou alone wert free! Oh, happy thy misguided efforts fail'd, My country, when with tyrant hosts combined! Oh, hideous conquest, had thy sword prevail'd And crown'd the' impious league against mankind! Thou nurse of great design, of lofty thought, Ah, rather haste to Concord's holy shrine, Ye rival nations-haste with joy elate; Your blending garlands round her altar twine, And bind the wounds of no immortal hate : Go, breathe responsive rituals o'er the sod Where Freedom's martyrs press an early grave; Go, vow that never shall their turf be trod By the polluting step of tyrant or of slave! And from your shores the abject Vices chase- Come, nymph, severely good, sublimely great; Nor to the' enraptured hope of mortals prove Like those illusive dreams that pass the ivory gate! New age, that rollest o'er man thy dawning year, And purer glory cheers the gladden'd Earth. 1801. H. M. WILLIAMS. TO MANKIND. Is there, or do the schoolmen dream, To whom an uncontrol'd command, Then say, what signs this god proclaim? If service due from humankind, Superior virtue, wisdom, might In thee, vast ALL! are these contain❜d, So Nature's systems roll: Let the proud tyrant rest his cause His voice affirms thy stronger due, Unsanctified by thy command, Thy will's thy rule, thy good its end; What parent nature gave: Thus reason founds the just decree Not private rights resign'd: Through various Nature's wide extent, Thee justice guides, thee right maintains, The' oppressor's wrongs, the pilferer's gains Thy injured weal impair. Thy warmest passions soon subside, Each instance of thy vengeful rage, But thine has been imputed blame, Avails it thee, if one devours, Far other shone fair Freedom's hand, They snatch'd from rapine's gripe thy spoils, On thee yet foams the preacher's rage, |