Spread forth his heavenly pinions, that around
Scatter'd ambrosial fragrance, and uplift,
With glory shining like the rising sun,
High thro' the void of ether skimm'd his way;
Nor stopp'd till at the adamantine gates of hell,
Which the infernal chiefs had just regain'd,
He thus his mission crown'd in fewest words;
"Hell! Seal thy gates; and thou, oblivious Pool 470
Whelm the infernal host; 'tis given no more
To injure man, but peace and love shall reign
Henceforth triumphant o'er the sacred earth;
Such is the will of Heaven, Heaven's will be done."
Thus spake the archangel, and the infernal gates 475
Clos'd their harsh thunders, that the lowest depths
Of long-extended hell trembled throughout;
Night's silent reign astounded echoed back
The grating horrour; and affrighted Chaos
Leapt from his throne, never to mount again.
His mission thus complete, the mighty saint
Wing'd his celestial flight thro' liquid space
To heaven's golden portals, where the Hours
Keep watch alternate, these spontaneous roll'd
Their fragrant clouds, self-opening to his speed. 485
474. Such is the will of Heaven,-" And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years; And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed a little season." Revelations, chap. xx. ver. 1, 2, 3.
Now thro' the eastern gate the gorgeous sun
Slowly, majestick rose, and scarce uplift
In fullest orb above the smiling earth
Than fix'd it stood in glory, beaming forth
The light of love, and liberty to man.
This when Columbia's heroes, and allies
First saw, with outstretch'd hands, and grateful hearts
They pour their adorations to that God
Who made both sun and them, and led them forth
From slavery, as the Israelites of old
From bondage and from Pharaoh; "Gracious Being!
Accept our grateful homage which we pay
Pure, and unfeigned at thy mercy-seat;
Under thy heavenly aid not all our foes,
Tho' tenfold multiplied, shall turn our hearts
From the great cause of Justice, Truth, and Thee."
Such was their song spontaneous, for they saw
The hand of Heaven uplifted in their cause.
'Twas then their chief, whose penetrating mind
Had seen the late attempt to escape by flight,
And fear'd for the result, should Britain's sons
Longer resist; 't was then his mighty soul
Shot like the winged lightning thro' their ranks
Breathing celestial ardour, in his train
Courage and Terrour follow'd, shouting loud, 510
While Victory and Success in middle air
Blaz'd visibly. "Now, now," the hero cries,
"The day is ours; let the assault be given."
From rank to rank the electrick furor ran,
And shouts of victory rang the vaulted sky.
As when Columbian rivers pour their floods
Down from the western mountains to the sea,
And burst the riven rock, while the loud roar
Frights the black horrour of their mighty woods,
And all is deluge: or as when some fire,
Hurl'd by Heaven's hand on Africk's parched trees,
Flames far and wide, and e'en the beasts of speed
Cannot escape its fury: so the troops
Thro' fire, and smoke, and terrour cleave their way,
And leave the flying plain behind their steps 525
Hillock'd with dead. See e'en the foaming steeds
With glistening ears await the trumpet's sound,
Paw the drench'd plain, and snort the risen war.
Here mighty Fayette, like the warriour God,
Foams to the right; there his great rival's soul,
The brave Rochambeau fears to be outdone,
And bears down all before him; while Gouvain
With Lincoln, Steuben, Nelson, Portail, Knox,
And dauntless Hamilton's impetuous fires
Complete the scene of slaughter, and dismay. 535
Then did the British troops perceive too late
How vain resistance 'gainst fair Freedom's sons;
Still did their spirit, worthy a better cause,
Disdain but by command to yield the day,
And stood unmov'd, save but to close their files 540 O'er fallen dead. But now as when some flood
538. Still did their spirit, &c.-"To the valour of his enemy Washington gave that praise which it merited; they really fought,' he said, with courage worthy a better cause. of W. iv. 610.
Stopt by a trifling mound, swells up its stream
To pour a double horrour o'er the plains;
So now Columbia's warriours, and allies,
Freedom and Fury urging on their ranks,
Scarce check'd re-pour their deluge on the foe.
This brave Cornwallis saw, and seeing knew
The die of Fate was cast, and thus the chief
With sorrowing words address'd his sorrowing troops;
"My brave companions! Ye whose well-tried worth
Merits a better fate-but 't is not man
With whom we have to combat, 't is a power`
Superiour far to man, a power which tames
The fiercest breast, and lulls the wisest mind.
'T was this which cast that mist before my eyes 555 When led by false delusive hope I ween'd
A speedy succour from our valourous chief,
And thus prevented by a prompt attack
The junction of our foes; ''t was this which coop'd
My force in York-town, while the power remain'd
To reach our distant brethren in the south;
558. And thus prevented &c.-" La Fayette, after his junction with St. Simon, had taken post at Williamsburg; lord Cornwallis, in the month of August, had intended an attack upon this force, but was prevented by the expectation of succours from sir H. Clinton." Ramsay, ii. 260.
560. while the power remain'd &c.-" On the same uncertain ground of conjecturing what ought to have been done, it might be said that the knowledge earl Cornwallis had of publick affairs, would have justified him in abandoning York-town, in order to return to South-Carolina.
as though this would have been his wisest plan; but either from an opinion that his instructions to stand his ground were positive, or that effectual relief was probable, his lordship thought proper to risk every thing on the issue of a siege, &c." Ramsay, ii. 261.
And above all 'twas this which wrapt in clouds
Of dark impenetrable to Clinton's eye
The march of Washington thro' Jersey's plains,
And safe preserv'd his forces from attack
Till they reach'd York-town and their Gallic friends;
And what but this now leads them to the assault
Like furious madmen, and my veterans
Refts e'en of hope, and chills them to the heart?
Since then we feel how vain it is to cope
With such superiour powers, we now will try
Their chieftain's private virtues, and if fame
Reach not my ears delusive, mercy shines
With highest lustre in his virtuous breast.
Instant some trusty herald speed his way,
And bear our wishes to the chieftain's ear.
Stop, mighty general! in mid volley stop
Your thundering arms; spare, spare the blood of
Thus spake Cornwallis to his prudent chiefs, Humbled, and therefore prudent. O that men, 580 Before they give the signal to destroy
563. Of dark impenetrable &c.-"While the attack of NewYork was in serious contemplation, a letter from general Washington detailing the particulars of the intended operations of the campaign being intercepted, fell into the hands of sir H. Clinton. After the plan was changed, the royal commander was so much under the impression of the intelligence contained in the intercepted letter, that he believed every movement towards Virginia to be a feint, calculated to draw off his attention from the defence of New-York. Under the influence of this opinion he bent his whole force to strengthen that post, and suffered the French and American armies to pass him without any molestation, &c." Ramsay, ii. 266. See Life of W.iv. 531.
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