Kurnus! in power and honour, heretofore

Kurnus! in power and honour, heretofore,
Your former fortunes you discreetly bore.
Fortune has alter’d! bear it calmly still!
Endeavouring, with a firm and steady will,
With other changes, our affairs to mend,
With a bold effort, and with heaven to friend.
If Kurnus (our support) has been displac’d,
Our main defence dismantled and defac’d ;
Must we, like cowards, of all hope forsaken,
Lament and howl as if the town were taken
Though now reduc’d, no more a numerous host,
Courage and sense and honour are our boast.
Danger and hope are over-ruling powers
Of equal influence; and both are ours.
Where counsel and deliberation fail,
Action and strenuous effort may prevail.
My spirit they shall never bend nor check,
Though mountain-heaps were loaded on my neck :
Let feeble, coward souls crouch with affright,
The brave are ever firm; firm and upright.
Then let the brazen fiery vault of heaven
Crush me with instant ruin, rent and riven,
(The fear and horror of a former age, )
If from the friends and comrades that engage
In common enterprise I shrink, or spare
Myself or any soul! If I forbear
Full vengeance and requital on my foes !
All our antagonists! all that oppose!