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From Fort Henry.
FROM where his lofty head Talheo rears, | |
| And o’er the wild in majesty appears, | |
| What shall I write that ——— wont disdain, | |
| Or worth, from thee one moment’s space to gain? | |
| The muse,—in vain I court the lovely maid,— | 5 |
| Views with contempt the rude unpolish’d shade; | |
| Nor only this, she flies fierce war’s alarms, | |
| And seeks where peace invites with softer charms; | |
| Where the gay landscapes strike the traveller’s eyes, | |
| And woods and lawns in beauteous order rise; | 10 |
| Where the glad swain sings on the enamell’d green, | |
| And views, unawed by fears, the pleasing scene. | |
| Here no enchanting prospects yield delight, | |
| But darksome forests intercept the sight; | |
| Here fill’d with dread the trembling peasants go, | 15 |
| And start with terror at each nodding bough, | |
| Nor as they trace the gloomy way along, | |
| Dare ask the influence of a cheering song. | |
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| If in this wild a pleasing spot we meet, | |
| In happier times some humble swain’s retreat; | 20 |
| Where once with joy he saw the grateful soil | |
| Yield a luxuriant harvest to his toil, | |
| (Bless’d with content, enjoy’d his solitude, | |
| And knew his pleasures, though of manners rude;) | |
| The lonely prospect strikes a secret dread, | 25 |
| While round the ravaged cot we silent tread, | |
| Whose owner fell beneath the savage hand, | |
| Or roves a captive on some hostile land, | |
| While the rich fields, with Ceres’ blessings stored, | |
| Grieve for their slaughter’d or their absent lord. | 30 |
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| Yet would I now attempt some sprightly strain, | |
| And strive to wake your breast to mirth again, | |
| Yet would I call you from your Delia’s urn, | |
| But Britain’s genius bids her sons to mourn; | |
| She shows the fatal field, all drench’d in gore, | 35 |
| And in sad accents cries, “My Howe ’s no more!” | |
| Then let again the briny torrents flow. | |
| Oh! teach your breast a nobler kind of woe! | |
| To mourn her faded beauties now forbear, | |
| And give the gallant chief a British tear. | 40 |
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