2. Souls of slain heroes form'd thy rays; 3. Like lava roll'd thy stream of blood, 4. Before thee rose, and with thee grew, Of three bright colours, (9) each divine, For Freedom's hand had blended them, Like tints in an immortal gem. 5. One tint was of the sunbeam's dyes; One, the pure Spirit's veil of white 6. Star of the brave! thy ray is pale, 7. And Freedom hallows with her tread The silent cities of the dead; Who proudly fall in her array; And soon, oh Goddess! may we be For evermore with them or thee! NAPOLEON'S FAREWELL. [FROM THE FRENCH.] 1. FAREWELL to the Land, where the gloom of my Glory She abandons me now,-but the page of her story, The last single Captive to millions in war! 2. Farewell to thee, France!—when thy diadem crown'd me,. I made thee the gem and the wonder of earth,But thy weakness decrees I should leave as I found thee, Decay'd in thy glory, and sunk in thy worth. Oh! for the veteran hearts that were wasted In strife with the storm, when their battles were won Then the Eagle, whose gaze in that moment was blasted, Had still soar'd with eyes fix'd on victory's sun! 3. Farewell to thee, France!-but when Liberty rallies Then turn thee and call on the Chief of thy choice! WRITTEN ON A BLANK LEAF OF "THE PLEASURES OF MEMORY." ABSENT or present, still to thee, My friend, what magic spells belong! As all can tell, who share, like me, In turn thy converse, and thy song. But when the dreaded hour shall come By Friendship ever deem'd too nigh, Thy homage offer'd at her shrine, April 19, 1812. SONNET. ROUSSEAU-Voltaire—our Gibbon-and de Staël— But they have made them lovelier, for the lore Where dwelt the wise and wond'rous; but by thee How much more, Lake of Beauty! do we feel, In sweetly gliding o'er thy crystal sea, The wild glow of that not ungentle zeal, Which of the heirs of immortality Is proud, and makes the breath of glory real! |