The Elocutionist (1840-1850)/The Downfall of Poland
ON THE DOWNFALL OF POLAND.
O sacred Truth! thy triumph ceased awhile,
And Hope, thy sister, ceased with thee to smile,
When leagued oppression poured to Northern wars
Her whiskered pandours and her fierce hussars.
Waved her dread standard to the breeze of morn,
Pealed her loud drum, and twanged her trumpet horn;
Tumultuous horror brooded o’er her van,
Presaging wrath to Poland—and to man!
Warsaw’s last champion from height survey’d
Wide o’er the fields a waste of ruin laid.—
‘O Heaven!’ he cried, my bleeding country save!
Is there no hand on high to shield the brave!
Yet, though destruction sweep these lovely plains,
Rise, fellow men! our country yet remains!
By that dread name, we wave the sword on high,
And swear for her to live!—with her to die!
He said, and on the rampart heights arrayed
His trusty warriors, few, hut undismay’d;
Firm paced and slow, a horrid front they form,
Still as the breeze, hut dreadful as the storm!
Low, murmuring sounds along their banner fly,
Revenge or death!—The watchword and reply,
Then pealed the notes, omnipotent to charm,
And the loud tocsin tolled their last alarm!
In vain—alas! in vain ye gallant few!
From rank to rank yout vollied thunder flew;
O! bloodiest picture in the book of time,
Samartia fell unwept, without a crime!
Found not a generous friend, a pitying foe.
Strength in her arms, nor mercy in her woe!
Dropt from her nerveless grasp the shattered spear,
Closed her bright eye, and curbed her high career;
Hope, for as a season, hade the world farewell,
And freedom shrieked—as Kosciusko fell!
The sun went down, nor ceased the carnage there
Tumultuous murder shook the midnight air—
On Prague’s proud arch the fires of ruin glow---
Her blood-dyed waters murmuring far below.
The storm prevails! the rampart yields away--
Bursts the wild cry of horror and dismay!
⟨Hark⟩! as is the mouldering piles with thunder fall,
⟨A⟩ thousand shrieks for hopeless mercy call
⟨Earth⟩ shook!---red meteors flashed along the sky!
⟨And⟩ conscious nature shuddered at the cry!
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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