Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-09-25
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER IS.

sure, the poem. ialSiy Puohoucu ~ 's@'sSSA-
Scott, ESQ. entitled, The Vision Of Don Rode
rick. 1t is written in the stiIe of .Bsattle,s
Minstrel and is principally commemorative
/. of the late events in Spain and Portugal
When we consider the very short time Mr..
Scott must. have been employed in this pro-
duction, we cannot but regard him as possess
ing poetic genius of amazing fertility The
character and origin Of Napoleon Bonaparte,
display alike the melody of the MINSTREL and
the ardor of the patriot
AS that sea-cloud, in size like human hand
6 When first from Carmel by the Ilshblte
seen, 49, ~. -,
Came slowly over-shadowing Israels land,
Awhile, perchance, bedecked with colors
sheen,
While vet the sunbeams on its skirts had been,
Limning with purple and with gold its
shroud,
Till darker folds obscured the blue serene,
And blotted heaven with one broad sable
Is cloud,
Then sheeted rain burst down, and whirl-
=, winds howled aloud -
Even so upon that peaceful scene was poured,
Like gathering clouds full many foreign
band,
And He, their Leader, wore IN sheath his
sword,
And offered peaceful front and open hand
Yelling the perjured treachery he planned,
By friendships zeal and honor's specious
guise,
Until he won the passes of the land;
Then, burst were honor's oath and friend
ships, ties
He clutched his yulture-grasp, and called
fair Spain his prize.
An Iron Crown his anxious forehead bore
And we'll such diadem his heart became,
Who ue,er his purpose for remorse gave DER,
-. Or checked his course for piety or shame,
WHO, trained soldier, deemed soldiers
,'. fame r.@'+~A5
: Might flourish in the wreath of battles won,
Though neither truth nor honor deck'd his
name;
Who, placed by fortune on Monarch's
throne,
Rocked not of Monarch's faith, or Mercy's
kingly tone.
From a rude isle his ruder lineage came:
The spark, that, from suburb hovel's
hearth
Ascending, wraps some capital in flame,
Hath not meaner or more sordid birth.
And for the soul that babe him waste the
earth
The sable land-Hood from some swamp OBJ
scsre,
That poisons the glad husband-6eld with
dearth,
And BY destruction bids its fame endure,
Hath not source more sullcn, stagnant, and
impure.
Before that Leader strobe shadowy Form:
Her limbs like mist, her torch like meteor
show'd,
With which she beckoned him through fight
and storm,
And Ell he crushed that crossed his despe-
rate road,
Nor thought, nor feared, nor looked on what
he trode
Realms could not glut his pride, blood
could not Stake,
Sc oft as e'er she shook her torch abroad
1t was Ambition babe his terrors wake,
Nor deigned she, as of yore, a milder form
to take.
No longer now she spurned at mean revenge,
Or staid her hand tor conquered foeman's
moan,
AS when, the fatcs of aged Rome to change,
By Casar's side she crossed the Rubicon
Nor ioy'd she to bestow the spoils she won,
AS when the banded powers of Greece were
tasked
To war beneath the youth of Macedon:
No seemly veil her modern minion asked,
He saw her hideous face, and loved the hend
unmasqued.
The description of the English, Scots and
Irish Soldiers is Characteristic and liberal, and
cannot fail to please every reader
A various host-fron kindred realms they
came, -.
Brethren in arms. but rivals IN renown-
n n l.. n XII. Enorl nd