Battle of York-town continued. Speech of Satan to the infernal host. Fears of Washington. Dispersion of the infernals, with the exception of their chiefs. Advice of Beelzebub, of Moloch, and of Satan. Operations of Satan. Intrepidity of lord Cornwallis. Untimely fate of colonel Laurens. Fury of the American troops. Lord Cornwallis's attempt to escape frustrated. His soliloquy, and its consequence. Satan's grief, and soliloquy. The departure of the infernal chieftains, Mammon only excepted. The gates of hell sealed by the archangel Michael. Spontaneous prayer of the Americans at the sun's rising. Conclusion of the battle. Extraordinary courage of the Britons. Speech of lord Cornwallis to his chiefs. Surrender of York-town. Terrours of Death, and Sin. The Poet's address to Peace. Liberty's last counsel to Washington. Conclusion.
THE golden car, and panting steeds of Day
Had now completed more than middle space
Up heaven's concave steep; when hell's arch-fiend,
Like some self-poised planet, high in air,
Hung o'er his balanc'd myriads, and aloud
Thus to fierce Moloch pour'd his ponderous voice; "Hell's second chief! Terrour of God and Man! Long have I seen thy soul panting revenge,
Like some gall'd lion on his daring foe,
Some old Typhoeus on the thundering Jove;
Nor have I seen thus long to sooth thy wrath,
But add fresh fuel to thy risen flames.
Chieftain! The hour is come, when all our fears,
And woes must vanish into desert air,
Or else be fix'd eternal; mortal power
Can do no more, or Abercrombie's arm
Had yet resisted. Be it then for us,
For us to check the progress of the foe,
And float the British lion o er his tents.
This day the knell of Freedom tolls aloud
To all the earth; and Ignorance again,
With all her various evils, shall diffuse
Her re-establish'd lustre o'er mankind.
Haste then, brave chief! nor fear that puny seraph,
Who proudly bears her half-illumin'd shield
Near Michael's waving sword; that sword be mine
To shiver on this rb; but no delay,
Lead on the infernal phalanx ; let the roar
Of our dread engines fright the barren sky :
While the round earth shall to its centre shake
And fear for its cohesion." Thus he said,
And his fierce eye-balls flash'd the fires of hell;
Nor Moloch deign'd reply, but instant gave
The horrid sign of blood; at which the host
Upsent a shout that shook the globed earth
E'en to its centre; rent the frighted sky,
And made the darkest depths of distant hell
Tremble throughout. And now the earth had
Against the will of Heaven to eternal wrack;
Had not Columbia's chieftain seen the storm,
And thus to Freedom pour'd his pious prayer;
Celestial Spirit! If e'er thou took'st delight
To succour suffering man; if e'er thou heard'st
Him whom thou call'st thy son; now lend thine aid;
For mortal strength no longer can avail
Without the help of Heaven; preserve thy friends;
Preserve the human race from these dire ills;
And O! may universal peace and love
Repay the horrours of this dreadful day!"
Scarce had he said when through the seas of air 50
The heavenly seraph skimm'd her lucid way,
Nor clos'd her oary pinions, till oppos'd
To all the hostile myriads pois'd she stood,
And thus indignant spake with voice divine;
"Infernal myriads! Know it is not given
Immortal weapons to be stain'd with blood
Of mortal man, hence then to whence ye came,
Your fittest place of residence; there wait
Your future doom: too long has patient Heaven
Endur'd your countless wrongs; too long hath man
Been made your sport and prey. Hence then, be
gone."
She spake, nor waited Moloch's bursting rage,
But straight from off her blazing shield remov'd
That mist of clouds which all its glory veil'd:
Instant fell horrour seiz'd their sinful ranks,
And from their nerveless hands the couched spear
Dropp'd, nor their eyes could wait the fiery edge
Of that resplendent orb, which, like the sun,
Shot thro' the barren space 'twixt earth and sky,
And fill'd all ether with ambrosial blaze.
Now angel with arch-angel turn'd to flight
With terrible dismay, and odious rout;
As erst in heaven when Michael's griding sword
Had quell'd their mightiest; so much had sin
Weaken'd their heavenly powers; nor staid their
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