William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
An Elegy to the Memory of the American VolunteersFrom the Pennsylvania Magazine for June, 1775
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See plaintive sorrow comes bedew’d with tears,
With mournful steps retires the cherub Peace,
And horrid War with all his train appears.
Stern famine follows in his vengeful tread,
Before him pleasure, hope, and love decay,
And meek-eyed mercy hangs her drooping head.
When here with innocence and peace we roved,
Secure and happy in our native bowers,
Bless’d with the presence of the youths we loved.
Shall call from Pity’s eye the frequent tear;
Which gives the brother to the brother’s rage,
And dyes with British blood the British spear.
The British cheek shall glow with conscious shame,
This deed, in bloody characters enroll’d,
Shall stain the lustre of their former name.
The first in this dire contest call’d to bleed,
Your names hereafter, crown’d with just applause,
Each manly breast with joy-mixt woe shall read.
Shall need no monument your fame to raise,
Forever in our grateful hearts enshrined;
And bless’d by your united country’s praise.
The widows’ heartfelt anguish to bemoan;
To join the sisters’ and the orphans’ tear,
Whom this sad day from all they loved has torn.
The dawn of peace to but one pensive breast,
If it can hush one sigh that rends your hearts,
Or lull your sorrows to a short-lived rest.
How faint is Glory’s voice to Nature’s calls;
How weak the balm the laurel wreath bestows,
To heal our breasts when love or friendship falls.
While guardian angels watch’d their parting sighs,
Their dying breasts with constancy inspired,
And bade them welcome to their native skies.
And threatening clouds, from which their souls are freed:
E’er the big tempest burst they press the tomb,
Not doom’d to see their much-loved country bleed.
And stop the tear of sorrow as it flows,
Till Time’s all-powerful hand shall yield relief,
And shed a kind oblivion o’er your woes.
Whose boundless eye with mercy looks on all,
On thee alone thy humbled people trust,
On thee alone for their deliverance call.
And crown our land with Liberty and Peace,
Extend, O Lord, again, thy saving power,
And bid the horrors of invasion cease.
That we severer evils yet shall know,
By thy Almighty justice doom’d to bleed,
And deeper drink the bitter draughts of woe,
Which over adverse fortune rises still;
Unshaken faith, calm fortitude resign’d,
And full submission to thy holy will.
Our bleeding cause, and on thy wisdom rest,
With grateful hearts we bless thy power divine,
And own, resign’d, “Whatever is, is best.”