#The rising glory of america full

And long has this defy'd the sages skill T' investigate: Tradition seems to hide The mighty secret from each mortal eye, How first these various nations South and North Possest these shores, or from what countries came. How shall we know their origin, how tell, From whence or where the Indian tribes arose? ACASTO. The simple natives saw thy canvas flow, And gaz'd aloof upon the shady shore: For in her woods America contain'd, From times remote, a savage race of men. Thou too, advent'rous on th' Atlantic main, Burst thro' its storms and fair Virginia hail'd. With these be number'd in the list of fame Illustrious Raleigh, hapless in his fate: Forgive me Raleigh, if an infant muse Borrows thy name to grace her humble strain By many nobler are thy virtues sung Envy no more shall throw them in the shade They pour new lustre on Britannia's isle. Nor less than him the muse would celebrate Bold Hudson stemming to the pole, thro' seas Vex'd with continual storms, thro' the cold strains, Where Europe and America oppose Their shores contiguous, and the northern sea Confin'd, indignant, swells and roars between. Fam'd Cabot too may claim our noblest song, Who from th' Atlantic surge descry'd these shores, As on he coasted from the Mexic bay To Acady and piny Labradore.

High in renown th' intreprid hero stands, From Europes shores advent'ring first to try New seas, new oceans, unexplor'd by man. Better these northern realms deserve our song, Discover'd by Britannia for her sons Undeluged with seas of Indian blood, Which cruel Spain on southern regions spilt To gain by terrors what the gen'rous breast Wins by fair treaty, conquers without blood. But why, thus hap'ly found, should we resume The tale of Cortez, furious chief, ordain'd With Indian blood to dye the sands, and choak Fam'd Amazonia's stream with dead! Or why, Once more revive the story old in fame, Of Atabilipa by thirst of gold Depriv'd of life: which not Peru's rich ore, Nor Mexico's vast mines cou'd then redeem.

#The rising glory of america full

Since then Leander you attempt a strain So new, so noble and so full of fame And since a friendly concourse centers here America's own sons, begin O muse! Now thro' the veil of ancient days review The period fam'd when first Columbus touch'd The shore so long unknown, thro' various toils, Famine and death, the hero made his way, Thro' oceans bestowing with eternal storms. A Theme more new, tho' not less noble claims Our ev'ry thought on this auspicious day The rising glory of this western world, Where now the dawning light of science spreads Her orient ray, and wakes the muse's song Where freedom holds her sacred standard high, And commerce rolls her golden tides profuse Of elegance and ev'ry joy of life.

No more of Britain, and her kings renown'd, Edward's and Henry's thunderbolts of war Her chiefs victorious o'er the Gallic foe Illustrious senators, immortal bards, And wise philosophers, of these no more.

No more of Rome enlighten'd by her beams, Fresh kindling there the fire of eloquence, And poesy divine imperial Rome! Whose wide dominion reach'd o'er half the globe Whose eagle flew o'er Ganges to the East, And in the West far to the British isles. Taught golden commerce to unfurl her falls, And bid fair science smile: No more of Greece Where learning next her early visit paid, And spread her glories to illume the world, No more of Athens, where she flourished, And saw her sons of mighty genius rise Smooth flowing Plato, Socrates and him Who with resistless eloquence reviv'd The Spir't of Liberty, and shook the thrones Of Macedon and Persia's haughty king. No more of Memphis and her mighty kings, Or Alexandria, where the Ptolomies.