Presumptuous men, against maternal sway
They rose, of war in all the disarray!
The half-form'd bands, with partial conquest flush'd
Against the Northern hordes collected rush'd
And broke; though scatter'd, here and there again
Sprung up like fires volcanic, but in vain.
Imprudent! When emotions strong confuse
The senses, who the path of prudence choose?
Some noble chiefs, of wealth immense possest
All hazarded to save the state opprest.
The coldest hate of arms invasive feel;
That hate sublimes a chivalrous spirit's zeal.
Radzivil with an energy untamed,
For savage greatness, and rude splendour famed,
Like Kings in the heroic ages, grand
In soul, shone first among a daring band
With whom adventures high so natural seem'd,
They realized romance that others dream'd.
Even from the tombs the voices of the dead
Rose on their ears, of comrades massacred;
Or cries of fetter'd brethren, from the night
Of dungeons, urged them to unequal fight.
Like Knights with superhuman prowess fraught,
As told by Bards in olden times they fought;
Each for his country fought, as if the charm
Of her existence rested in his arm:
His sun-bright panoply was justice, shield
Truth, yet he perish'd on the battle-field.
Like fair Clorinda* star of glory glow'd
The Maidt who near her brother hero rode :
Her aspect bright the plumed warriors cheer'd,
Their guide to conquest when the foe appear'd.
And chivalry's wild-fire a purer flame
Through woman's self-devotedness became.
The strength of purpose, and instinctive zeal
For right, her gentle nature will conceal
When smooth the surface is of life; let waves
Run high, the storm undaunted woman braves.
Though nursed in pleasure all fatigue she bears,
And danger with the hardiest Soldier shares !
Could valour irrepressible, that rose
Brighter, as darken'd round a cloud of foes,
Could valour save their father-land, the bold
Patriots had saved her triumph'd Russian gold,
Aided by contests that prevailed among
Nobles thus weaken'd, else in union strong.
O! had they merged all jealousies in one
Impulse to crush the common foe alone;
Sarmatia might have flourish'd still unbroke,
And never felt a barbarous nation's yoke!
In vain Pulawski‡ came a god in war,
Flashing o'er prostrate hosts his scymitar.
*The hero in Tasso's "Jerusalem Delivered."
The sister of Radzivil.
Casimir Pulawski. See Rulhière, tome iv. p. 105.
Courteous in camps as Sydney, perfect knight, Terrific as a lion in the fight!
Unconquerable spirit! that would dare
Hope against hope, where heroes might despair.
Vain his heart-piercing eloquence, that tore
To pieces cant of diplomatic lore,
Insult to common sense, that with parade
Of sentiment mock'd rights it dared invade !
Brave as the Maccabees, as good their cause,
The brothers for their country fought and laws*.
Whence but from love of country they derived
Untiring courage that defeat survived
Or cruelties unutterable, these
Terror-producing engines despots please.
gross debaucheries o'erstain'd O'er the mock king a subtle viceroy reign'd. If fail'd intrigue, for violence prepared, Seldom his sword the worthy Russian spared. Whether as fox or blood-hound, he imbruted His nature as imperial Catherine suited. Creatures subservient to the art or spleen Of power even Repnines in this age are seen, To break, enforce the laws, whate'er may be For seizing on their neighbours' goods the plea.
Such pranks they play! these masters of the world, Till from their heights by death o'ermastering, hurl'd, Then for a day,—but charity let fall
The curtain, Heaven knows we are sinners all.
What now avails, Potemkin, thy o'ergrown
Wealth, or thy clime-subduing genius shown
In wonder-works of art ? barbaric taste
There revell'd in a boundlessness of waste!
Again the North urged o'er the land her brood
Of darkness, swelling like a winter flood;
They with the besom of destruction swept
Away defenceless age; brave patriots kept
For a worse doom were from their country torn
To sink beneath accumulated scorn;
Enforced by tyrants merciless and rude
To drain the cup abhorr'd of servitude;
Or perish in Siberian wilds: their crime?
That, which good men a virtue deem sublime!
Great Catherine, greater Frederick, if great
Be those who spoil an unoffending state,
Alighting like fell vultures on their prey,
Tore Poland as she struggling, bleeding lay.
England and France look'd on, as Poland fell,
Nor strove by words the spoilers to repel;
Had they but interposed, with strength renew'd Freedom had started up, her foes subdued,Girt with a moral power had driven back, Quailing beneath her frown, the ravenous pack.
Sarmatia fell with all her chivalry;
Had but from France the fiat gone, Be free-
Napoleon, then all-powerful to save
Poland, had shone as generous as brave;
And the resuscitated state had pour'd
Her legions forth at her Deliverer's word
To check the Autocrat's barbaric pride,
And roll back on himself war's bloody tide.
Ready as wills their Despot-Lord for ill,
Such were the Russians, such remain they still-
Faithless in treaties, furious in the field,
Most to be dreaded when they seem to yield,
With vices of the civilised and savage
Impregn'd, they circumvent the world and ravage.
While specious manifestoes have a tone
Of moderation that their acts disown,
With arts deceptive they confound the weak,
To snare the Sultan rouse then crush the Greek.
Russia, the very wrongs she deprecates,
So cunning is her policy, creates ;
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