Ode: To Lieut. Col. Simcoe

I.
Tho hovering o'er the fatal plains
Where Civil Slaughter grimly reigns,
Her face celestial, Glory shrouds,
Wrapt in a veil of circling clouds:
Yet Simcoe! in her airy flight
Piercing the gloom with eye benign
On thee She beam'd a ray of light
Gilding the laurel which around
Thy youthful forehead Valour bound;
And darted thro thy breast her energy divine.

II.
Tho with the classic story fired,
Not such the fields thy soul desired;
Not such the Grecian standard shone
With patriot blaze at Marathon;
Not thus Plataea's trophies rose
Bright-dazzling to remotest times;
Tho destined with fraternal foes
Necessity's dire war to wage,
While kindred bosoms, mutual rage,
And wrathful Heaven impell'd, in vengeance for our crimes.

III.
Tho Britain sunk an helpless prey
To Discord's mean and selfish sway,
Which quench'd with indecorous strife
The fostering breath of public life;
Mid scenes where active warmth was chain'd,
Th' unsteady line where error drew,
Where indolence the sword restrain'd,
And counsels weak invited shame;
Applausive Honour hail'd thy name,
And Justice listening stood, and own'd her praises true.

IV.
For thine was Bravery's nervous deed,
And enterprize with fiery speed
By unimpassion'd calmness taught,
Nor stain'd by one ferocious thought.
America beheld with awe
Thy march for rapid fight design'd,
Eluding e'en her vaunted art;
Yet, could esteem thy liberal heart,
And victory's proudest gem, thy warmly-feeling mind.

V.
Had'st thou in Britain's vigorous morn
To wars of other climes been born,
When Marlborough with resistless force
Sped t'ward th' affrighted Seine his course;
Or in her noon-day hour elate,
When Ferdinand with conscious might
Held at his will the Gallic fate;
Thy garlands might have bloom'd more fair
Cherisht by th' uninvidious air,
But not in reason's eye, and fixt impartial sight.

VI.
While from her pure unruffled seat
Passion and prejudice retreat;
The Bard, who shuddering heard th' alarms
When first th' Atlantic gleam'd with arms,
With horror saw the madd'ning Croud,
Indignant heard their clamorous sound
The sword coercive urging loud,
Can military worth survey,
And dare distinguish in his lay,
Nor shuns, selecting thee, the blood-impurpled ground.

VII.
The Son of peace shall pour for thee
His numbers: but, from warfare free
Hold not Thou dalliance with the Muse,
Her tempting blandishments refuse.
Nor sit in ease or languor down
Where towers the beech or oak on high;
On Fancy's wreathe insidious, frown.
Contemning Party's abject train
The Senate's dome aspire to gain,
And watchful o'er the state, each inbred pest defy.

VIII.
Those magic arms again be sought
Which erst thy admiration caught!
Those arms, which, like a pointed spear,
Aemathia's Tyrant struck with fear;
Those arms, which Anthony dismay'd,
Than the bright falchion's edge more keen.
Thus, bold Prerogative invade,
The Democratic host oppose,
And banded Great, if freedom's foes
Beneath the mimic mask they hope to skulk unseen.

IX.
Thus, while tumultuous Factions strive,
May patriot ardour still survive!
The scepter'd laws alone command,
Their power unviolated stand!
May Liberty and generous Fame
No sordid shackles e'er controul,
Essential Beings, not a name.
Oh! may a civic crown be thine!
It's lustre undiminisht shine!
And thy own thoughts approve thy independent soul.

X.
So, worshipt from thy early youth,
Integrity and spotless Truth
Shall mark thy firm consistent plan,
And more than Hero, stamp thee Man.
When fades war's emulative fire,
With strong enthusiastic glow,
With all the fervour of desire
Thy country viewing, may thy mind
No sad reverse of passion find,
Nor for ideal good, the solid bliss sorego.