The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-06-23
THE VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS, AND THE
GREAT WESTERN.

Tn Tor SAL on fancys wing,
"O'er silver seas mid pearly isles,
Where brilliant birds uniiring sing,
And nature wears her sweetest smiles
Where nymphs in beauty grace the world
" And FL Doradas" fash with gold y
Thus thought Castilia's noble host,
When thronging TO Columbus bark:
But when had sank their lovely coast,
And round them Ocean Numbered dark,
Where meier the boldest prov had been
(Save when the tempest drove) till then
Their fairy visions died away,
And settled DER their minds gloom;
They trembled at the Oceans play
And in its hollows read their doom.
Still to the west without dismay
The Pilotheld his painless way.
Nor storms, nor waves, nor threats, nor fears
Nor needle varying from the pole,
Norcraven pilots taunting jeers,
Nor Monks dread curses on his soul,
Nor wasting stores, nor sickness power,
Could shake him in that trying hour
Westward he held his changeless course,
With faith as strong as that of old
And when the tempest muttered hoarse,
And wild the angry pillows rolled,
With patience at the helm he stood
And rode triumphant DER the food
Though some declared they sailed down hill
Der which they never could return -
Though death grinned ghasiy at him still,
He spread his sails nor felt concern
And of, as day her banners furled,
He Watched for ~, nv Yactad x.,orlJl
The hour drew near! Three thousand miles
OF leaping waters dashed TO foam,
Spread out between him and the Isles
Where hardest Pilots dared TO roam;
hundred signs of land swept by,
And shadows marked the western sky.
Cavils, and scorn, and curses now
All, all are lost in thoughts of land
In deep remorse the guilty bow
And kiss their injured leaders hand
Joy joy the mighty task is DER,
And kings and priests shall doubt no more
Midnight comes on with short'ned sail
The Caravels hold on their way;
The sick man with his cheeks all pale
Now creeps on deck to watch the day;
While glancing up the western sky,
A watchligh, greets the leaders eye
Hark Ills the Pinta's cannon wakes
The stiffness Of the thrilling hour,
Joy joy from every bosombreaks-
The s.ssd-sro~ssed hiila IN beauty lower.
Day dawns, and with their canvass furled
They take possession of World,
Thus in the early DAYS arose
The cloud that hid the blooming west,
And showed nation armed with bows
A painted race in fancy drest;
Whose warriors, as they fearless trod,
Called no one master, save their God.
Three hundred years have rolled away,
Since DER the waves the tempesi-tost
Amid the mornings shadows grey,
Locked out upon world long lost; -
And, where dense forests waved in gloom.
Vast cities smile and VINEYARDS bloom.
IT'S eve and DER Manhattan's Isle
The length'ning shadows slowly creep;
The hills in springs fresh verdure smile,
And countless vessels crowd the deep;
While DER the city's spires is rolled
A dusky mantle tinged with gold.
Weehawken from her leafy bowers
Now family meets the curious sight;
And green Hoboken, decked with flowers,
Gives back the boatman's carol light;
While rich and poor, and bond and free,
Look out upon the distant sea.
From Albion's storied Isle she speeds
Majestic'y her lightning way
A nd now the laet syroon m, m rocoJa~
And now she parts the silver bay;
While high old England's banner floats
To greet a thousand welcome notes.
The problems solved-'tis not dream,
Conceived in wild enthusiasts brain =
Old ocean owns his conqueror STEAM!
And harmless rears his angry name:
Dark grow the Narrows-see appears
The mightiest of the Pioneers!
Lo from the Queen Of western Isles,
Where CoLoN in his glory sleeps
(Where nature in her brightness smiles
On blooming plains and wood crown'd s,eepsD
His Spirit scars, DER yonder sail,
Waves his proud name, and woes the gale
How glorious the transient hours
When on the wave THEY proudly meet
(Where the great western city towers,
With commerce smiling at her feet >
And greeting kind, lay beam to beam,
The FRsr by CANVASS and by STEAM!
JED.
Washington, June, 1888.
URNS' COMPLETE POLITICAL WORKS, in
two neat pocket volumes. Price 81 cents.