Resentment of my country's fate, Within my filial breast shall beat; My sympathizing verse shall flow: "Mourn, hapless Caledonia, mourn "Thy banished peace, thy laurels torn." XLI. ODE TO INDEPENDENCE. STROPHE. SMOLLET. THY spirit, Independence, let me share, Nor heed the storm that howls along the sky. A goddess violated brought thee forth, Immortal Liberty, whose looks sublime Hath bleached the tyrant's cheek in every varying clime. What time the iron-hearted Gaul, With frantic superstition for his guide, Armed with the dagger and the pall, The sons of Woden to the field defied In Heaven's name urged the infernal blow; The vanquished were baptized with blood! ANTISTROPHE. The Saxon prince in horror fled, In safety to the bleak Norwegian shore. Lulled by the hoarse-resounding main; The hunted bear supplied a shaggy vest; Line 16th, Charlemagne obliged four thousand Saxon prisoners to embrace the Christian religion, and immediately af The drifted snow hung on his yellow beard; And his broad shoulders braved the furious blast. 1 He stopt; he gazed; his bosom glowed, And deeply felt the impression of her charms: And straight compressed her in his vigorous arms. STROPHE. The curlieu screamed, the tritons blew Their shells to celebrate the ravished rite; Old Time exulted as he flew; And Independence saw the light. The light he saw in Albion's happy plains, While Philomel renewed her warbled strains, The auspicious fruit of stolen embrace was born The mountain Dryads seized with joy, ter they were baptized, ordered their throats to be cut.Their prince Vitikind fled for shelter to Gotrick, king of Denmark. The smiling infant to their charge consigned; The hermit Wisdom stored his opening mind. He flourished bold and sinewy as his sire; ANTISTROPHE Accomplished thus, he winged his way, The rolls of right eternal to display, And warm with patriot thoughts the aspiring soul. On desert isles it was he that raised Those spires that gild the Adriatic wave, Where Tyranny beheld amazed Fair Freedom's temple, where he marked her grave. Line 12th, Although Venice was built a considerable time before the æra here assigned for the birth of Independence, the republic had not yet attained to any great degree of power and splendour. |