The Columbiad: A Poem Part 10

At last brave Delaware, with his blithe host, Sails in full triumph to the well-known coast, Aids with a liberal hand the patriot cause, Reforms their policy, designs their laws; Till o'er Virginia's plains they spread their sway, And push their hamlets tow'rd the setting day.

He comes, my Delaware! how mild and bland My zephyrs greet him from the long-sought land!

From fluvial glades that thro my cantons run, From those rich mounds that mask the falling sun.

Borne up my Chesapeak, as first he hails The flowery banks that scent his slackening sails, Descending twilight mellows down the gleam That spreads far forward on the broad blue stream; The moonbeam dancing, as the pendants glide, Silvers with trembling tints the ripply tide; The sand-sown beach, the rocky bluff repays The faint effulgence with their amber'd rays; O'er greenwood glens a browner l.u.s.tre flies, And bright-hair'd hills walk shadowy round the skies.

Profound solicitude and strong delight Absorb the chief, as thro the waste of night He walks the lonely deck, and skirts the lands That wait their nations from his guiding hands.

Tall thro the tide the river Sires by turns Rise round the bark and blend their social urns; Majestic brotherhood! each feels the power To feed an empire from his future store.

They stand stupendous, flooding full the bay, And pointing each thro different climes the way.

Resplendent o'er the rest, the regent G.o.d Potowmak towers, and sways the swelling flood; Vines clothe his arms, wild fruits o'erfill his horn, Wreaths of green maize his reverend brows adorn, His silver beard reflects the lunar day, And round his loins the scaly nations play.

The breeze falls calm, the sails in silence rest, While thus his greetings cheer the stranger guest:

Blest be the bark that seized the promised hour To waft thee welcome to this friendly sh.o.r.e!

Long have we learnt the fame that here awaits The future sires of our unplanted states; We all salute thee with our mingling tides, Our high-fenced havens and our fruitful sides.

The hundred realms our myriad fountains drain Shall lose their limits in the vast domain; But my bold banks with proud impatience wait The palm of glory in a work so great; On me thy sons their central seat shall raise, And crown my labors with distinguish'd praise.

For this, from rock-ribb'd lakes I forced my birth, And climb'd and sunder'd many a mound of earth, Rent the huge hills that yonder heave on high And with their tenfold ridges rake the sky, Removed whole mountains in my headlong way, Strow'd a strong soil around this branching Bay, Scoop'd wide his basins to the distant main, And hung with headlands every marsh they drain.

Haste then, my heroes, tempt the fearless toil, Enrich your nations with the nurturing spoil; O'er my vast vales let yellow harvests wave, Quay the calm ports and dike the lawns I lave.

Win from the waters every stagnant fen, Where truant rills escape my conscious ken; And break those remnant rocks that still impede My current crowding thro the gaps I made.

So shall your barks pursue my branching bed, Slope after slope, to every fountain's head, Seat your contiguous towns on all my sh.o.r.es, And charge my channel with their seaward stores.

Freedom and Peace shall well reward your care, My guardian mounds protect the friendly pair; Or if delirious War shall dare draw nigh, And eastern storms o'ercast the western sky, My soil shall rear the chief to guide your host, And drive the demon cringing from the coast; Yon verdant hill his sylvan seat shall claim, And grow immortal from his deathless fame.

Then shall your federal towers my bank adorn, And hail with me the great millennial morn That gilds your capitol. Thence earth shall draw Her first clear codes of liberty and law; There public right a settled form shall find, Truth trim her lamp to lighten humankind, Old Afric's sons their shameful fetters cast, Our wild Hesperians humanize at last, All men partic.i.p.ate, all time expand The source of good my liberal sages plann'd.

This said, he plunges in the sacred flood; That closes calm and lulls the cradled G.o.d.

Exulting at his words, the gallant crew Brace the broad canva.s.s and their course pursue: For now the breathing airs, from ocean born, Breeze up the bay, and lead the lively morn That lights them to their port. Tis here they join Their bold precursors in the work divine; And here their followers, yet a numerous train, Wind o'er the wave and swell the new domain.

For impious Laud, on England's wasted sh.o.r.e, Renews the flames that Mary fed before; Contristed sects his sullen fury fly, To seek new seats beneath a safer sky; Where faith and freedom yield a forceful charm, And toils and dangers every bosom warm.

Amid the tried unconquerable train, Whom tyrants press and seas oppose in vain, See Plymouth colons stretch their standards o'er, Face the dark wildmen and the wintry sh.o.r.e; See virtuous Baltimore ascend the wave, See peaceful Penn its unknown terrors brave; Swedes, Belgians, Gauls their various flags display, Full pinions crowding on the watery way; All from their different ports, their sails unfurl'd, Point their glad streamers to the western world.

Book V.

Argument.

Vision confined to North America. Progress of the colonies. Troubles with the natives. Settlement of Canada. Spirit of the English and French colonies compared. Hostilities between France and England extended to America. Braddock's defeat. Was.h.i.+ngton saves the re of the English army. Actions of Abercrombie, Amherst, Wolfe. Peace.

Darkness overspreads the continent. Apprehensions of Columbus from that appearance. Cause explained. Cloud bursts away in the centre.

of congress, and of the different regions from which its members are delegated. Their endeavors to arrest the violence of England compared with those of the Genius of Rome to dissuade Cesar from pa.s.sing the Rubicon. The demon War stalking over the ocean and leading on the English invasion. Conflagration of towns from Falmouth to Norfolk.

Battle of Bunker Hill seen thro the smoke. Death of Warren. American army a.s.sembles. Review of its chiefs. Speech of Was.h.i.+ngton. Actions and death of Montgomery. Loss of Newyork.

Columbus hail'd them with a father's smile, Fruits of his cares and children of his toil; While still his eyes, thro tears of joy, descried Their course adventurous on the distant tide.

Thus, when o'er deluged earth her Numen stood, The tost ark bounding on the sh.o.r.eless flood, The sacred treasure fixt his guardian view, While climes unnoticed in the wave withdrew.

The Hero saw them reach the rising strand, Leap from their s.h.i.+ps and share the joyous land; Receding forests yield the laborers room, And opening wilds with fields and gardens bloom.

Fill'd with the glance ecstatic, all his soul Now seems unbounded with the scene to roll, And now impatient, with retorted eye, Perceives his station in another sky: Waft me, indulgent Angel, waft me o'er, With those blest heroes, to the happy sh.o.r.e; There let me live and die. But all appears A fleeting vision! these are future years.

Yet grant the illusion still may nearer spread, And my glad steps may seem their walks to tread; While Europe, wrapt in momentary night, Shall rise no more to intercept the sight.

Columbus thus; when Hesper's potent hand Moves brightening o'er the visionary land; The height that bore them still sublimer grew, And earth's whole circuit settled from their view.

A dusky deep, serene as breathless even, Seem'd vaulting downward like another heaven; The sun, rejoicing on his western way, Stampt his fair image in the inverted day: When now Hesperia's coast arose more nigh, And life and action fill'd the dancing eye.

Between the gulphs, where Laurence drains the world And where Floridia's farthest floods are curl'd, Where midlands broad their swelling mountains heave And slope their champaigns to the Atlantic wave, The sandy streambank and the woodgreen plain Raise into sight the new-made seats of man.

The placid ports, that break the seaborn gales, Shoot forth their quays and stretch aloft their sails, Full harvests wave, new groves with fruitage bend, Gay villas smile, defensive towers ascend; All the rich works of art their charms display, To court the planter and his cares repay: Till war invades; when soon the dales disclose Their meadows path'd with files of savage foes; High tufted quills their painted foreheads press, Dark spoils of beasts their s.h.a.ggy shoulders dress, The bow bent forward for the combat strung, Ax, quiver, scalpknife on the girdle hung; Discordant yells, convulsing long the air, Tone forth at last the war whoop's hideous blare.

The Patriarch look'd; and every frontier height Pours down the swarthy nations to the fight.

Where Kennebec's high source forsakes the sky, Where long Champlain's yet unkeel'd waters lie, Where Hudson crowds his hill-dissundering tide, Where Kaatskill dares the starry vault divide, Where the dim Alleganies sit sublime And give their streams to every neighboring clime, The swarms descended like an evening shade, And wolves and vultures follow'd where they spread.

Thus when a storm, on eastern pinions driven, Meets the firm Andes in the midst of heaven, The clouds convulse, the torrents pour amain, And the black waters sweep the subject plain.

Thro harvest fields the b.l.o.o.d.y myriads tread, Sack the lone village, strow the streets with dead; The flames in spiry volumes round them rise, And shrieks and shouts redoubling rend the skies.

Fair babes and matrons in their domes expire, Or bursting frantic thro the folding fire They scream, fly, fall; promiscuous rave along The yelling victors and the driven throng; The streams run purple; all the peopled sh.o.r.e Is wrapt in flames and trod with steps of gore.

Till colons, gathering from the sh.o.r.elands far, Stretch their new standards and oppose the war, With muskets match the many-shafted bow, With loud artillery stun the astonish'd foe.

When, like a broken wave, the barbarous train Lead back the flight and scatter from the plain Slay their weak captives, drop their shafts in haste, Forget their spoils and scour the trackless waste; From wood to wood in wild confusion hurl'd, They hurry o'er the hills far thro the savage world.

Now move secure the cheerful works of peace, New temples rise and fruitful fields increase.

Where Delaware's wide waves behold with pride Penn's beauteous town ascending on their side, The crossing streets in just allinement run, The walls and pavements sparkle to the sun, Like that famed city rose the checker'd plan, Whose s.p.a.cious towers Semiramis began; Long ages finish'd what her hand design'd, The pride of kings and wonder of mankind.

Newyork ascends o'er Hudson's seaward isles, And flings the sunbeams from her glittering tiles; Albania, opening thro the distant wood, Rolls her rich treasures on her parent flood; Amid a thousand sails young Boston laves, High looms majestic Newport o'er the waves, Patapsco's bay contracts his yielding side, As spreading Baltimore invades his tide; Aspiring Richmond tops the bank of James, And Charleston sways her two contending streams.

Thro each colonial realm, for wisdom great, Elected sires a.s.sume the cares of state; Nursed in equality, to freedom bred, Firm is their step and straight the paths they tread; Dispensing justice with paternal hand, By laws of peace they rule the happy land; While reason's page their statute codes unfold, And rites and charters flame in figured gold.

All rights that Britons know they here transfuse, Their sense invigorate and expand their views, Dare every height of human soul to scan, Find, fathom, scope the moral breadth of man, Learn how his social powers may still dilate, And tone their tension to a stronger state.

Round the long glade where lordly Laurence strays, Gaul's migrant sons their forts and villas raise, Stretch over Canada their colon sway, And circling far beneath the western day Plant sylvan Wabash with a watchful post, O'er Missisippi spread a mantling host, Bid Louisiana's lovely clime prepare New arts to prove and infant states to rear; While the bright lakes, that wide behind them spread, Unfold their channels to the paths of trade, Ohio's waves their destined honors claim, And smile, as conscious of approaching fame.

But Gallic planters still their trammels wear, Their feudal genius still attends them here; Dependent feelings for a distant throne Gyve the crampt soul that fears to think alone, Demand their rulers from the parent land, Laws ready made, and generals to command.

Judge, priest and pedagogue, and all the slaves Of foreign masters, crowding o'er the waves, Spread thick the shades of va.s.salage and sloth, Absorb their labors and prevent their growth, Damp every thought that might their tyrants brave, And keep the vast domain a desert and a grave.

Too soon the mother states, with jealous fear, Transport their feuds and homebred quarrels here.

Now Gallia's war-built barks ascend in sight, White flags unfold, and armies robed in white On all the frontier streams their forts prepare, And coop our cantons with surrounding war.

Quebec, as proud she rears her rocky seat, Feeds their full camp and shades their anch.o.r.ed fleet: Oswego's rampart frowns athwart his flood, And wild Ontario swells beneath his load.

And now a friendly host from Albion's strand Arrives to aid her young colonial band.

They join their force, and tow'rd the falling day Impetuous Braddock leads their hasty way; O'er Allegany heights, like streams of fire, The red flags wave and glittering arms aspire To meet the savage hordes, who there advance Their skulking files to join the arms of France.

Where, old as earth, yet still unstain'd with blood, Monongahela roll'd his careless flood, Flankt with his mantling groves the fountful hills, Drain'd the vast region thro his thousand rills, Lured o'er his lawns the buffle herds, and spread For all his fowls his piscatory glade; But now perceives, with hostile flag unfurl'd, A Gallic fortress awe the western world; There Braddock bends his march; the troops within Behold their danger and the fire begin.

Forth bursting from the gates they rush amain, Front, flank and charge the fast approaching train; The batteries blaze, the leaden volleys pour, The vales, the streams, the solid mountains roar; Clouds of convolving smoke the welkin spread, The champaign shrouding in sulphureous shade.

Lost in the rocking thunder's loud career, No shouts nor groans invade the Patriarch's ear, Nor valorous feats are seen, nor flight nor fall, But one broad burst of darkness buries all; Till chased by rising winds the smoke withdrew, And the wide slaughter open'd on his view.

He saw the British leader borne afar, In dust and gore, beyond the wings of war; And while delirious panic seized his host, Their flags, their arms in wild confusion tost, Bold in the midst a youthful warrior strode, And tower'd undaunted o'er the field of blood; He checks the shameful rout, with vengeance burns, And the pale Britons brighten where he turns.

So, when thick vapors veil the nightly sky, The starry host in half-seen l.u.s.tre fly, Till Phosphor rises o'er the twinkling crowd, And gives new splendor thro his parting cloud.

Swift on a fiery steed the stripling rose, Form'd the light files to pierce the line of foes; Then waved his gleamy sword that flash'd the day, And thro the Gallic legions hew'd his way: His troops press forward like a loose-broke flood, Sweep ranks away and smear their paths in blood; The hovering foes pursue the combat far, And shower their b.a.l.l.s along the flying war; When the new leader turns his single force, Points the flight forward, speeds his backward course; The French recoiling half their victory yield, And the glad Britons quit the fatal field.

These deathful deeds as great Columbus eyed, With anxious tone he thus addrest the Guide: Why combat here these transatlantic bands, And strow their corses thro thy pathless lands?