Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-07-28

Ou NtilCti unrest uauBilter bf tfe sea,
Full oft my saddened mem'ry turns to thee,
A refuge once and bulwark for the brave;
Thy glory vanished now, thyself slave.
Thy founders few and iainting fed to thee,
A last refuge for the brave and free,
Where waye-dcfcnded from the hostile swords,
They hurled defiance at the northern hordes.
Then rose fair Venice meath kind Fortunes smiles,
The mighty 'city of the hundred isles"
Whose flag triumphant waved er ev'ry sea
Whose armies always marched to victory.
Each year but added to her growing fame,
And mighty nations trembled at her name.
But ah how fallen is proud Venice now,
Her chiefs and mobiles have been taught to bow,
In meek submission, to a northern Lord
Perchance descended from the horde.
That forced Italians, in times long gone by,
To infant Venice from their plains to fy
But on that theme | love too long to dwell;
Now to the tale meant at first to tell.
The morn was lovely, and the sky serene,
And gorgeous Venice looked an Ocean queen;
She seemed to float upon the quiet sea,
Peerless in her gentle dignity.
Twas in her palmest day Of strength and pride,
And Venice looked lovely u bride,
Glowing with all the charms of youth and health,
And deckcd with NIL the choicest gifts of wealth;
She seemed as light, as happy. and as gay
As the young bride upon her wedding day.
Flass gaily iloatcd from each tower and mast
Graceful gondolas gently gided past
Enchanting music greeted ev'ry ear.
With song alternate, of the gondolier;
Each face was happy, and no brow of care,
Was seen in all the groups assembled there:
No arms werc worn, to mar the joyous scene;
And all seemed peaceful as the sky serene
On lstria's desert coast, rocky cave.
Worn by the restless Adriatic wave.
Is filed with armed men-a corsair's band.
DARK, and silent the rocks they stand,
Around their dreaded chief, whose stalwart form.
Seems made to battle, and withstand the storm.
He gazes them, with fierce delight
As one by ono, they all arres. his sight,
Then raising high his voice, he thus addressed -:
"My gallant comrades. in mafy scene Of strife,
Has each beiorome, risked his manly life;
Our strtgglcs oft have with success been crowned.
But oft ncr still has tickle Fortune fruwned;
(Our stores exhausted, and our treasrres spent,
Since last upon the seas, urbarks we sent)
The time for action has arrived at last,
No longer idle now must be the mast.
For wealthy Venice next must be onr prey;
Away-pTeparc-bc there dawn of day,
For Mariano's* isle, we now must hie,
And there in ambush, for a while wen lie
Away for Venice then, nway-away-
Tomorrow dawns upon her bridal day;
Her happy people all unarmed will be,
And we shall have easy victory:
The bridal gifts and brides themselves we'll take,
Ere mighty Venice resistance make;
What noble ransoms will they give for brides
Thus snatchcd from their eXpcctant lovers sdcsl'
The bells of Venice ring out merry peals,
While shouts of JOY, bctray what each feels;
Then silence reians in all the gazing throng,
While the procession slowly moves along:
In stately gondolas, the brides ADVANCE
Sparkling with jewels which their charms enhancc
Next come their lovers, youths of noble birth,
Whose JOY seems greater than belongs to earth;
Then come their relatives and friends in state,
Their noble bosoms now. with JOY eate;
Then follow bridal gifts, of Jewels rare,
With all that's costly. beautiful or fair;
Last comes the Doge, with rev'rend priests and
grave
Advancing slowly DER the Tranquil wave.
Landed at length. towards the church they move,
Nor think of aught but happiness and love
But hark. that dreadful cry, and flying crowd!
And muttcrcd curses, echoed deep and loud
The corsairs land, they sicze upon their prey,
Then hast'ning to their ships. are far away,
Ere the youths recover from their first dsmay,
Their stupor Danish, or their fears allay.
Aroused at length as from a troubled dream,
Their eyes with vengeance and with fury glcam;
10 arms, to armsl "A universal cry.
To arms! to trmsi and to the Dogc they fly,
Pursuit and vengeance victory death.
is now the burden Of each lab ring breath:
All bend with ardour to the holy task,
The young and aged, arms are all they ask
The Doge cries "On Vcnetans let US go,
Wen bravely perish chastizc the foe"
In haste they arm--embnrk-thc chase commence,
Their fierce hearts boiling al the foul offence:
Ere long the daring corsairs are in sight,
lmpcdcd by the shadows in their flight
Ignorant Of the shoals and channels Of that sea,
Known to Ncnetians from their infancy:
Pursuers and pursued were mingled soon,
Fighting in Caorlo's far Lag,ne.
Long ragged that conflict. far away d, sea,
No hope for any but in Victory;
Each fights with ardour for the lovely price
And wonds and death they all alike despise,
They ask no quarter, and no mercy show,
Each sterny gives and takes the muir drous blow
The youths were fighting in holy cause,
AveDging Justice and her outraged laws;
The Pirates ninched not in that trying hour,
When deadly courage swept away their power,
But stoutly battled to their latest breath,
Nor yielded but to tn embrace of death:
Vain was their struggle gainst their fate to stand
All, all were slaughtered Of the Pirate band
Save the proud chicftan of that hardy crew,
Who still his flaming faulchion fcrcely drew:
BY foes surrounded-all his comrades slain
He still the unequal contest dares maintain;
At length he gains the CORY vessels side,
And plungcs inadly in the crimson tide,
To rise morc--the mighty chief was dead
Then rose long loud shout of Victory,
That swept uncchoed DER silent sea,
As Venice youths, free from their dread alarms,
The fainting beauties bore in bloody arms,
To friendlier decks, and homeward turnc their
prows,
Their aim accomplished and fulfilled their vows
In Venice long remembered was that day,
When shrieking brides from love were torn AWAY,
When gallant youths, with rage and love innaned
The Pirates vanqushed. and their brides reclaimed
This was. in after times. they'd often say,
Their t-darkest-happicst Bridal Day.
HUE.
nice.