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COLUMBIA: An Ode.
[...]COLUMBIA! COLUMBIA! to glory arise, The queen of the world and the child of the skies: Thy genius commands thee, with raptures behold, [...] [...]While ages on ages thy splendor unfold. Thy reign is the last & the noblest of time; Most fruitful thy soil, most inviting thy clime: Let the crimes of the east ne'er in- [...] [...]crimson [...] science, and virtue thy fame; and virtue thy fame; and virtue thy fame. Be freed [...] [...] [...]
To conquest and slaughter let Europe aspire,
Whelm nations in blood and wrap cities in fire;
Thy heroes the rights of mankind shall defend,
And triumph pursue them, and glory attend.
A world is thy realm, for a world be thy laws
Enlarg'd as thy empire, and just as thy cause:
On Freedom's broad basis thy empire shall rise—
Extend with the main, and dissolve with the skies.
Fair Science her gates to thy sons shall unbar,
The east see thy morn hide the beams of her star;
New bards and new sages, unrivall'd, shall soar
To fame, unextinguish'd when time is no more.
To thee, the last refuge for virtue design'd,
Shall fly, from all nations, the best of mankind;
Here, grateful to Heav'n, with transport shall bring
Their incense, more fragrant than odours of spring.—
Nor less shall thy FAIR ONES to glory ascend,
And genius and beauty in harmony blend;
The graces of form shall awake pure desire,
And the charms of the soul still enliven the fire:
Their sweetness unmingled, their manners refin'd,
And virtue's bright image imprest on their mind,
With peace and soft rapture shall teach life to glow,
And light up a smile in the aspect of woe.
Thy fleets to all regions thy pow'r shall display—
The nations admire, and the ocean obey;
Each shore to thy glory its tribute unfold—
And the east and the south yield their spices and gold.
As the day-spring, unbounded, thy splendor shall [...]ow,
And earth's mighty kingdoms before thee shall bow;
While the ensigns of union, in triumph unfurl'd,
Hush tumults of war, and give peace to the world.
Thus as down a lone valley, with cedars o'er-spread,
From war's dread confusion, I pensively stray'd,
The gloom from the face of fair heav'n retir'd;
The winds ceas'd to murmur, the thunders expir'd.
Perfumes, as of Eden, flow'd sweetly along,
And a voice, as of angels, enchantingly sung—
COLUMBIA! COLUMBIA! to glory arise,
The queen of the world, and the child of the skies.