like those

Or fostered, self-supported chiefs,
Whom hardy Rome was fearful to oppose;
Whose desperate shock the Carthaginian fled.
In one who lived unknown a shepherd's life
Redoubted Viriatus breathes again;

And Mina, nourished in the studious shade,
With that great Leader* vies, who, sick of strife
And bloodshed, longed in quiet to be laid
In some green island of the western main.

XXXII

1811.

THE power of Armies is a visible thing,
Formal, and circumscribed in time and space;
But who the limits of that power shall trace
Which a brave people into light can bring
Or hide, at will, — for freedom combating
By just revenge inflamed? No foot may chase,
No
eye can follow, to a fatal place

That power, that spirit, whether on the wing
Like the strong wind, or sleeping like the wind
Within its awful caves. From year to year
Springs this indigenous produce far and near;
No craft this subtle element can bind,
Rising like water from the soil, to find
In every nook a lip that it may cheer.

* Sertorius

XXXIII.

1811.

HERE pause: the poet claims at least this praise,
That virtuous Liberty hath been the scope
Of his pure song, which did not shrink from hope
In the worst moment of these evil days;
From hope, the paramount duty that Heaven lays,
For its own honor, on man's suffering heart.
Never may from our souls one truth depart,
That an accursed thing it is to gaze

On prosperous tyrants with a dazzled eye;
Nor-touched with due abhorrence of their guilt
For whose dire ends tears flow, and blood is spilt,
And justice labors in extremity -

Forget thy weakness, upon which is built,
O wretched man, the throne of tyranny!

XXXIV.

THE FRENCH ARMY IN RUSSIA.

1812-13.

HUMANITY, delighting to behold

A fond reflection of her own decay,

Hath painted Winter like a traveller old,

Propped on a staff, and, through the sullen day,

In hooded mantle, limping o'er the plain,

As though his weakness were disturbed by pain: Or, if a juster fancy should allow

An undisputed symbol of command,

The chosen sceptre is a withered bough,
Infirmly grasped within a palsied hand.
These emblems suit the helpless and forlorn;
But mighty Winter the device shall scorn.

For he it was, dread Winter! who beset,
Flinging round van and rear his ghastly net,
That host, when from the regions of the Pole
They shrunk, insane ambition's barren goal,
That host, as huge and strong as e'er defied
Their God, and placed their trust in human pride!
As fathers persecute rebellious sons,

He smote the blossoms of their warrior youth;

He called on Frost's inexorable tooth

Life to consume in Manhood's firmest hold;

Nor spared the reverend blood that feebly runs ; For why, unless for liberty enrolled

And sacred home, ah! why should hoary Age

be bold?

Fleet the Tartar's reinless steed,

But fleeter far the pinions of the Wind,

Which from Siberian caves the Monarch freed, And sent him forth, with squadrons of his kind, And bade the Snow their ample backs bestride, And to the battle ride.

No pitying voice commands a halt,

No courage can repel the dire assault; Distracted, spiritless, benumbed, and blind, Whole legions sink, and, in one instant, find Burial and death: look for them, — and descry, When morn returns, beneath the clear, blue sky, A soundless waste, a trackless vacancy!

XXXV.

ON THE SAME OCCASION.

YE Storms, resound the praises of your King!

And

mild Seasons, ye, in a sunny clime, Midway on some high hill, while Father Time Looks on delighted, meet in festal ring,

And loud and long of Winter's triumph sing! Sing ye, with blossoms crowned, and fruit, and flowers,

Of Winter's breath surcharged with sleety showers, And the dire flapping of his hoary wing!

Knit the blithe dance upon the soft green grass ; With feet, hands, eyes, looks, lips, report your gain; Whisper it to the billows of the main,

And to the aërial zephyrs as they pass,

That old decrepit Winter, · He hath slain

That Host, which rendered all your bounties vain!

XXXVI.

By Moscow self-devoted to a blaze
Of dreadful sacrifice; by Russian blood
Lavished in fight with desperate hardihood;
The unfeeling Elements no claim shall raise
To rob our Human-nature of just praise
For what she did and suffered.

Pledges sure

Of a deliverance absolute and pure

She gave, if Faith might tread the beaten ways Of Providence. But now did the Most High

Exalt his still, small voice,

to quell that Host

Gathered his power, a manifest ally;

He, whose heaped waves confounded the proud boast Of Pharaoh, said to Famine, Snow, and Frost, "Finish the strife by deadliest victory!"

XXXVII.

THE GERMANS ON THE HEIGHTS OF HOCKHEIM.

ABRUPTLY paused the strife;-the field throughout.
Resting upon his arms, each warrior stood,
Checked in the very act and deed of blood,
With breath suspended, like a listening scout.
O Silence! thou wert mother of a shout
That through the texture of yon azure dome
Cleaves its glad way, a cry of harvest-home
Uttered to Heaven in ecstasy devout!