Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.

Columbia Triumphant

THAT Power, who form’d the unmeasured seas,

Not with fictitious trident sways,

Look’d from the empyrean sky:

The solid land, the extended main,

Which all their ample realms contain,

Lie naked to his eye.

Fierce Discord show’d the earth, the seas

Involved in one promiscuous blaze,

While doubling thunders roar’d.

“Michael! go forth,” the Godhead cried,

“Wave my dread ensign o’er the tide,

And edge Columbia’s sword!”

The angel wing’d the ethereal road,

To obey the mandate of his God,

And reach’d Columbia’s shores.

He saw her striplings on the wave

Proud Albion’s boasted navy brave,

And battle all her powers.

In vain her thousand ships appear,

In all the horrid pomp of war,

And thunder round the coast.

Whole squadrons captive led he view’d,

By force inferior far subdued,

Their wealth, fame, glory lost!

Amazed, the seraph seeks the sky,

And tells the wondrous tale on high;

All heaven astonish’d gaze!

Thrones, angels, principalities,

In loud applause united raise

A universal praise.

“Hail, brave Columbians! sons of Heaven!

To whose all-conquering arm ’tis given

To bend proud tyrants down!

To burst vile Slavery’s iron band,

Guard sacred Freedom, save your land,

And crack the lion’s crown.”

They ceased—when thus the Almighty spoke;—

Heaven’s adamantine pillars shook,

As the dread word went down.

“Columbia’s sons, I give to reign

At home, and o’er the boundless main

To have an equal crown!”

Freemen! perform this glorious trust!

Britannia’s brazen fetters burst!

Her towering pride subdue!

Henceforth, my sons, not only sway

The continent, but on the sea,

Go! curb proud Albion too!