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WASHINGTON,

OR

LIBERTY RESTORED.

BOOK VIIL

ARGUMENT OF THE EIGHTH BOOK.

Soliloquy of Washington. Liberty again appears to him, and foretells future peace and happiness ;-recounts to him the services she has performed, at length removes from his eyes the film of mortality. Picture of the infernal host, floating above the Apalachian Mountains. The shield of Satan. Preparation for battle.

WASHINGTON,

OR

LIBERTY RESTORED.

5

SCARCE had Night's harbinger begun to draw
Her sable curtain o'er the vast concave
Shedding gray twilight, when Columbia's son
Wrapt in sad thought forth issued from his tent,
To view that terrein where ambition's rage
Would premature send down to dusky death
The souls of thousand warriours; pondering deep
The pensive hero stood, and thought he saw
Thick dews of blood impurpling o'er the plain,
While clanging vultures seem'd to hover round 10
Gorg'd with the blood of men. Aw'd by the sight
Thus to his mighty soul the hero spake ;
"Alas! how pregnant is the present hour
With dark futurity! Unhappy man!
Disturbed nature seems to wail thy lot,

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That born to reap the best of Heaven's gifts

Thou shouldst subvert the intention of thy God.
Whence all this madness? Tigers wage not war
With ravenous tigers; nor the spotted pard

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Preys on his kindred spots; 'tis man alone
Is to his fellow man the savage brute.
Him dire ambition, and the curse of gold-
Impel to human murder; not content
With what sufficeth happiness, he seeks

That which promotes his misery. O Peace!

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How yearns my soul for thee! How oft I've tried stop the effusion of the blood of man,

And bless my country with thy pure delights!
But all in vain; ambition's lawless rage

Forbids the joyful hope. But thou, blest star! 30
That thus with solemn majesty diffusest

Wide o'er the silent earth thy pearly beams,
The type of heavenly love I hear now my vows ;
Should Heaven, and freedom aid my feeble arm
And crown with victory Columbia's sons,

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No haughty insolence, no proud disdain,
No black revenge for countless injuries,
Shall check my purpose, or pollute my soul;
But all my past endeavours be renew'd

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To stop the evils that so long have whelm'd
The human race with woe, and give to man
Peace and good-will divine. And thou blest Seraph!
That erst from Heaven descended, and didst deign
To call me son; Oh! grant me heavenly aid,
Fulfil thy glorious promise, that the orb

Of liberty once risen, ne'er shall set,
But shall eternal shine." Scarce had he said
When freedom's Seraph burst upon his view,
And in her hand she bore an orbed shield

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