Could trace the size and motion of those orbs,..
Though distance nearly all their light absorbs
Till the interminable vast he found,

A scene where wisdom, life, and joy abound!
To form the great mechanic powers he knew;
To lock the mingled wheels and urge the screw;
Or bid the struggling steam its strength apply,
And more than living force, with ease supply:
Could mark the swiftness of a beam of light,
And bid the lightning flash upon the sight.
As far as Nature had disclosed her laws,
He from th' effect, could trace the mystic cause:
Whatever knowledge man had yet attain'd-
Whate'er by toil, or genius, could be gain'd-
He made his own!-embraced the circle wide;
Improvement all his pleasure all his pride.
"And now," he cried, "My well-earn'd joy is near;
The rich reward of many a studious year:
The scenes of science shall enchant my sight,
And knowledge gild each moment with delight!
False was the hope that spoke his labour o'er-
For scenes of toil and pain were yet in store!
His country, once the seat of arts and power,
Fell from her height in one tremendous hour!
Corruption sapp'd her vigour, and at length,
Destroy'd her peace, her glory, and her strength.
Commotion round, in raging madness flew,
Sire fell by son, and brother brother slew ;
Till all was blood, confusion, and distress;
No home could shelter, and no friend could bless-
Then hostile nations seized the fatal day,

Rush'd on the spoil, and made the land their prey.

"Here," cried Augustus, when his country fell,
"A conquer'd vassal must I tamely dwell-
Here, where as free as bird I once could range,
Can I endure to see such hateful change?
Ah! No! Since freedom here is found no more;
I'll bend my steps to some far distant shore;
Where life in tranquil scenes may glide away,
Nor deeds of blood insult the face of day."

Soon on the ocean did his bark appear;
The shouts of war receded from his ear;
And discord's angry flames, that blush'd on high,
Sunk by degrees and faded from the eye.
Day after day his vessel swiftly flew,

While nought but sky and sea engaged his view
Morn rose but on a world of waters-night
Came, but to dress the waves in silvery light:
The sun poured forth his vivid beams around,
As ardent as where harvests bless the ground;

The stars shone out as o'er a boundless graven
Then gradual plunged into the western wave.
No land was seen to stretch the waves between ;
Nor rock, nor tree, gave feature to the scene;
But all above was blue, and all below was green.

'Twas night-a still, calm night, that o'er the main,
Seemed in its death-like solitude to reign:
The north star glitter'd o'er the icy pole,
That heavenly guide that cheers the seaman's soul.
A murmur, as of distant tempests, rose,

Rousing the slumberers from their short repose;
Loud and more loud the boding sounds drew nigli,
Till looks of fear were seen in every eye;
Dark clouds athwart the sky began to sweep,
Till midnight threw around her shadows deep:
Big drops of rain upon the vessel fell;
The winds began to howl, the waves to swell;
Till the wild sea in wrath was seen to rise,
And white with fury lash the blacken'd skies!
Awful was heard the thunder's bursting crash-
And fearful seen the light'ning's fiercest flash
That tore apart the deep condensing clouds,
And show'd the sailor rocking in the shrouds.
Useless the seaman found his toil and care;
The steersman grasp'd the helm in cold despair;
The sun rose darkly on his daily path,
Pouring a red beam on that scene of wrath.
Before the mighty winds the vessel flew,
And cries of horror burst from all the crew!
Nought was expected but immediate death,

And prayers were mingled with each trembling breath.
Thrown from their feet by one tremendous shock,
They found the vessel parting on a rock:

Then shrieking, sunk amidst the mountain waves,
And thunders rolled a dirge above their graves.
Augustus seized a boat and gain'd the shore;
Some arms alone he sav'd, of all his store;

Then sunk, o'erpower'd by toil, and felt awhile no more.
But, soon recall'd to life, the youth arose,
To sad remembrance, and severest woes;
A wild and savage race around him stood,
Eager to shed and feast upon his blood."
And now the fire was blazing on the ground.
With frightful yells they danced the flames around
A chief advanced to lay the victim low;
His club was raised to strike the fatal blow!
Augustus then, by threaten'd death made bold,
Resolved, not cheaply, should his life be sold;"
Although alone he stood, where hosts combined,
With no dependance but his mighty mind!
Full at his foe he aim'd the tube of death-
The certain bullet stopt the monster's breath.

The rocks re-echoed with the thundering sound;
The savage race fell frighted on the ground;
O'erpower'd by wonder, and subdued by fear,

"A God," they cried, "has brought his thunder here!
The lightning smites, obedient to his will;
And Heaven hath sent bim with its powers to kill!"
With trembling awe, the late exulting crowd,
Before his feet, imploring mercy, bowed.
With rising hopes, Augustus' bosom burn'd;
Who thus their fears to his advantage turn'd.
"Behold!" he cried aloud, "this very hour,
Ye brutal race, your lives are in my power:
From heavenly realms I come-the sun, my sire!
If I command-ye perish in his fire!

Then, ere I crush you with the bolts of fate!
Chuse ye at once my friendship or my hate!
And mark! Ere from this spot ye flee away,
The shades of night shall blacken on the day:
The sun, ye worship, shall conceal his face,
To show that he obeys our godlike race!"*

He ceased. The orb of day he knew full soon,
Would be eclipsed by the revolving moon;
And scarce to them his wondrous speech was done,
Ere the moon past betwixt the earth and sun!
Then all at once was terror and despair,
And shrieks of anguish fill'd the echoing air:
And as the darkness deeper round them grew,
Some in distraction to their forests flew-
Others, Augustus, on their knees implored,
T'appease the angry God whom they adored!
With frighted looks, a chief approach'd and cried,
O deign to bid him turn his wrath aside!
Lest we consume in his approaching fire→
Or robb'd for ever of his beams, expire!
Haste, ere we sink into our yawning graves,
And all our nation shall become thy slaves."
66 my faith I prove!
This darkness from the sun shall soon remove;
By slow degrees shall wholly pass away,
And you once more be blessed with perfect day.
But who again offends-provokes his doom-
Destruction instant sweeps him to the tomb!"

Behold!" the youth replied,

Soon as they saw the light of day restored, Th' untutor'd nation wondered and adored! "Our God," they cried, "obeys his mighty voice,While he befriends us, we may well rejoice!" Then, prompted by this strange, though strong belief, With one accord they named him for their chief!

* This stratagem was resorted to by Columbus.

Nor was the boundless power they gave, abused,
But only for the public welfare used.

A neighbouring tribe, with thirst of vengeance fraught,
The curse of war upon his people brought;

But, soon o'erpowered by his superior might,
Yelling they fled with wonder and affright!

Vain were their matted shields-their poison'd darts-
Vain was the war-whoop to inspire their hearts!
In vain for feast of blood their hosts combined,-
Vain the strong arm to match the stronger mind!
His growing empire spread on every side,-

Those called him king from fear, and these from pride!

Yet still he govern'd but a barbarous race,
'Midst whom no ray of mind he yet could trace;
And, though he fill'd an undivided throne,
He grieved that learning cheered himself alone.
Long were their savage habits unsubdued,
Long were they cruel, ignorant, and rude;
But when he spread a written language round,
Like summer showers upon a fruitful ground;
O'er all the land its genial influence stole;
The seed that heaven had planted in the soul,
To burst its long confinement, then began;

Το

prove the power, and mark the scale of man, Then Superstition, with her tyrant train, No longer o'er th' unfetter'd mind could reign: Chased by the beams of intellectual light, She fled to her congenial realms of night. The wond'ring people soon began to find Pleasures ne'er dreamt of, dawn upon the mind. Their idol temples, drench'd with human gore, Now echoed with the victim's shrieks no more; The captive's frightful fate-the feast of blood was o'er! A growing pride in every mind was felt;

No more, like brutes, in caves and woods they dwelt :
A city slowly rose upon the view;

Their vessels courted every breeze that blew ;
The compass led them to each distant shore,
And commerce added to their useful store.
Her various wealth the fruitful earth resign'd,
Metallic ores the furnace heat refin'd;
The elements ev'n felt their growing skill,-
Air, fire, and water, yielded to their will!
Science began to shed her morning ray,
And give the promise of a glorious day.
The fine arts next essay'd to show their charms,
To gild the deeds of virtue and of arms,
To shed a sweetness on the passing hour,
And soften rugged manhood by their power.

Fair Poesy was first the crown to claim,
The ardent votary of immortal fame!

The pencill'd canvass glow'd with colours warm,
The sculptur'd rock assumed the living form;
Music's sweet magic on the senses stole,
Soften'd the passions, and inspired the soul.

Augustus thus his knowledge well applied;
His store the lack of all the rest supplied;
He waked the dormant powers of the soul,-
His mental strength gave vigour to the whole,---
mind its proper bias learn'd,

every

Till
And every genius to its object turn'd;

Till all with love of fame and inborn transports burn'd...»^¿
From barbarous tribes he saw a nation rise,
And toil to emulate the great and wise;
Saw science, arts, and arms, adorn the men,
Who once like tigers slumber'd in their den ;
Shed happiness around, and mental light,
Where all was terror, and where all was night:
And, when he sunk lamented to his tomb,
Left an immortal wreath of fame to bloom;
And this engraven on his honour'd urn-
That "Wisdom is the principal concern."

FAREWELL ye green waves by whose brink I have wandered,
And saw the bright sun spread your surface with gold;
Farewell lovely scene, which at evening I pondered,
When silvered by moonlight the white surges rolled.

No more shall I see from afar the sail gliding,

O'er the wide waste of waters commissioned to roam; Nor behold the light bark in the ocean confiding,

Nor gaze from the cliff on the broad sheets of foam.
Adieu, ye pure breezes, so fresh from the billow,

With the blessing of health on your soft cooling wing;
And the washed pebbly shore that at noon was my pillow,
I must sigh an adieu, where my wishes still cling.
No more shall I hear the wild roar of the ocean;
Nor float on its surface with each wave to rise;
Nor gaze with delight on its undulous motion-

Yet home still is dear, and its pleasures 1 prize.

J. B.