Let thy numbers, soft and slow, Sooth the dying, while they flow Bright as VENUS, newly born, O that time had staid his flight, Fatal as the EGYPTIAN night, When the eldest born were slain ! Lash'd to madness by the wind, As the Red Sea surges roar, Leave a gloomy gulph behind, And devour the shrinking shore ; Thus, with overwhelming pride, GALLIA'S brightest, boldest boast, In a deep and dreadful tide, Roll'd upon the BRITISH host. Dauntless these their station held, Though, with unextinguish'd ire, GALLIA's legions, thrice repell'd, Thrice return'd through blood and fire. Thus, above the storms of time, Towering to the sacred spheres, Stand the Pyramids sublime,— Now the veteran CHIEF drew nigh, Valour beaming from his eye, Pity bleeding in his breast. BRITAIN saw him thus advance In her Guardian-Angel's form; But he lower'd on hostile FRANCE, Like the Demon of the Storm. On the whirlwind of the war High he rode in vengeance dire; To his friends a leading star, To his foes consuming fire. Then the mighty pour'd their breath, Slaughter feasted on the brave; 'Twas the Carnival of Death! 'Twas the Vintage of the Grave! Charged with ABERCROMBIE's doom, Lightning wing'd a cruel ball: 'Twas the Herald of the Tomb, And the HERO felt the call. Felt-and raised his arm on high; Victory well the signal knew, Darted from his awful eye, And the force of FRANCE o'erthrew. But the horrors of that fight, Were the weeping MUSE to tell; O'twould cleave the womb of night, And awake the dead that fell! Gash'd with honourable scars, Low in Glory's lap they lie; Though they fell, they fell like stars, Streaming splendour through the sky. Yet shall Memory mourn that day, Of her soldier far away, The poor widow hears the tale, In imagination wild, She shall wander o'er this plain; Rave, and bid her orphan child Seek his sire among the slain. Gently, from the western deep, Harp of MEMNON! sweetly strung reathe enchantment to our ears. Let thy numbers soft and slow O'er the plain with carnage spread, Sooth the dying, while they flow To the memory of the dead. |