Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-06-14
JEPTHAH's RASH vow.
JUDeEs, CHAP. XII.

Written 6yG yOung Lady Of Massachusetts
The battle had ceased and yict'ry was won,
The wild cry ofhorror was DER;
Nowarose in his glory the bright beaming sun,
And with him the war-chef his journey begun
With soul breathing vengeance no more.
The foes ofhs country lay strew'd on the plain
a tear stole its course from his eve;
The warrior disdain'd ev'ry semblarce of pain,
He thought ofhis child, of his country again.
And Suppressed (while twas forming) sigh.
oh, Father oflight,' said the conquering chief,
The vow which made, renew;
Twas thy pow'rful arm gave the welcome relief
WhenI calpd on thy name in the fulnessof grief
And my hopes were but cheerless and few
An offering of love, will pay to thy name,
An offering thou wilt not despise;
The first being meet, when welcome again
'The land -fmy fathers, left not in vain,
With the flames on thy affairs shall rise
Now hush'd were his words-through the far
spreading bands
Nought was heard but the foot fall ar ound,
Till his lips, in wildjoy, press'd his own native
land
And to Heaven he lifted his trembling hand,
While the silence is still and profound.
Oh listen at distance what music resounds
AT distance what maiden appears
See forward she comes, with light springing
bound,
And casts her mild eyes in fond extacy round
For parent is seen through her tears.
Her harPs widest strain gives thrill of delight
IN moment she springs to his arms;
My daughter o God p not the horrors of fight
While iegions with legions against him unite,
Could bring to his soul such alarms.
In wild horror, he starts as fiend had appear'd,
HIS eyes in mute agony close;
BIS sword DER his age-rosted forehead is rear'd
Which with scars from his many fought battles is
sear'd,
Nor his country, nor daughter he knows.
But sudden conviction, in quick flashes told
That his daughter was destined to die;
On ! not longer could nature that fierce struggle
hold,
His grief issu'd forth unconstran'd, uncontroul'd
And his tears dimm'd his time-wither'd eye.
His daughterwas kneelng, and claspng that form
She meier touch'd but with transport before;
Ills daughter was watching the laundering storm
Whose quick-fiashing hghtnings so madly deform
n face, beaming sunshine before.
But how did that daughter, so gentle and fair,
Hear the sentence that doom'd her to die
For moment, was heard the wild cry ofdespair,
For a moment hereye, gave aheartmovng glare,
For moment her bosom hove high.
II was but moment--the frenzy was past,
She smilingly rsh'd to his arms
And then, as flower when child by the blast,
Reclines on an oak, tin the fury is past.
On his bosom she hush'd her alarms.
Not an eye saw the scene, but was moisten'd with
woe,
Not voice could sentence command;
Down the soldiers rough cheeks tears of agony
flow,
While the sobs of the maidens heav,d mournftll
and slow,
Sad pity wept over the land.
ButAed was all hope from themaiden's sad breast,
From her fathers fond bosom she rose;
Mid virtue appear'd in her manner contest,
Shelook'd like asaint from the realms oftheblest,
Not mortal, encompassd with woes
She turl'd from the groupe--and can declare,
The hope and the fortitudc giv'n,
As she sank ON her knee, with the soul-breathng
pray'r
That her father might flourish, ofvirtue the care
TIL with glory he blossom'd in Heaven.
On comfort him heay'n when'low in the dust
My limbs are inactively5aid
Oh comfort him Heav'n, and let him then trust
That free and immortal, the souls Of the Just
Are in glory and beauty array'd.'
The maiden arose--oh, cannot pourtray
The devotion that glow'd in her eve
Religions sweet self in its light seen'd 10 stray
With the midlness ofnight, with the glory of day,
But twas pity that prompted her sigh.
My father The chiefrais'd his dim weeping eye
With look Of unspeakable woe;
'MyfatherP her voice seem'd cOnvulsd with a
sigh,
Butthe tears,as they gush'd from her grief wolln
eye,
Told more than her words could bestow.
The weakness was past, and the maiden could say
My father, for thee I can die
The bands slowly mov'd on their sorrowful way,
But never again from that heart breaking day,
Hssa smile known 70 force its enliv'ning way
On the old chieftain's grief speaking eye.