68 68 THE DESERTER. THE DESERTER. His cheek was pale, and wildly there Was seen the fearful blanch of wo; His eye was fixed, its lurid glare Told of the heart's convulsive throe. I heard the drum beat mournful knell, I saw him numbered with the dead! To bear him to an early tomb, Stern men were seen beside his bier; Unknown, he fell in youthful bloom, Forgotten was Affection's tear. And such, accursed War! I said, Thy ills, and such thy hateful stain; Nurtured by thee, the heart grows dead, And sighing Virtue pleads in vain. THE COLOMBIAN FLAG. 69 THE COLOMBIAN FLAG. WHAT Meteor burns clear on the bosom of night, What trophy illumes the horizon afar? "Tis the flag of the brave-beaming herald of light— The symbol of glory, Colombia's Star! It waves o'er the fortress where tyranny's yoke Had crushed with oppression the soul of the Free; On the ruins of crime where the death spell is broke, It banners triumphant, Grenada! o'er thee. In the valleys of Quito the symbol is seen, The soil of the Patriot is dewed with a tear, It streams o'er the mountain with aspect serene, And the tempests of night in rebuke disappear; Afar to the breeze, see! it floats on the mast, Where Commerce unshackled, revives his domain, The pledge of the future—the pride of the past, Full proudly it waves o'er the land and the main. Let the tyrant's heart tremble when Liberty calls, His myrmidons shrink at the conqueror's name; 70 appals, WHO MAY ENTER HEAVEN. While the watchword of Freedom the despot [claim. The Spaniard, restored, shall her honours proWe hail the proud flag to Columbia's strand, Where the plaudit of millions bids welcome again To the symbol of hope on the billow and land, WHO MAY ENTER HEAVEN? NoT he, indulging vain pretence, Nor he that braves Omnipotence, The careless and the mad profane, The heart that holds Religion vain Can never taste its balm. But he is blessed, whose thoughts are still From proud presumption free; Who loves mankind, and doth fulfil That precept, Lord! to Thee. Occasioned by the death of H. J. Esq. who having purchased a ticket of admission to Peale's Painting of "The Court of Death," exhibiting in the Capitol at Albany; while in the act of crossing the threshold leading to the room, fell down and instantly expired. THE serious wish was thine to view His Court whose symbol is the tomb; To scan the scenes that genius true Had sketched with more than fancy's gloom. Heaven heard the prayer-'twas worthy one And suddenly, thy labour done, Yet shall not terror o'er thee rule, His Court was but the vestibule That led thee to thy native skies. 72 THE DYING YEAR. THE DYING YEAR. THOU dying Year! thou dying Year! We wake, and thou hast hurried by. Thy dirge the sullen winds have sung; And Winter comes, thy weeping child, His fleecy mantle o'er him flung. Prophet of ages! hoary seer! Thou wast not seen where systems roll; When flew thy axle, Charioteer! In noiseless triumph to its goal? Nor the dim worlds that hang in space Thou wast-yet mortals know not whence; |