Kentucky Gazette

ODE ON LIBERTY.

From J. G. Dyer's Poems.

HAIL! more refulgent than the morning star.
Parent of bliss! for whom the nations sigh,
Thee, Liberty! I woo, and seem from far
To mark the brightness of thy raptur'd eye;
While, not to me unseemly, streams thy vest,
Thy locks wild dancing to the frolic wind;
And borne on flying feet, thou scorn'st to rest,
Save where meek Truth near thee a seat may find;
Soother of Human life, blest Liberty!
Still range through Nature's walks, and I will range with thee.
Say, dost thou love to climb the mountain's brow,
Or haunt meandring stream, or laughing plain?
Be mine with thee up mountain heights to go
Or wake by rivers brink the past'ral strain;
Or tripping light the flowery meads along,
Simple swain mid herds and virgins gay,
Pour forth to thee my merry evening song,
Unvaried with the raptures of the day;
And, when close lock'd in Sleep's soft arms I lie,
Still flatt'ring dreams shall wake the midnight ecstacy
Or dost thou rather choose to wear the veil
Of mild philosophy, and walk, unseen,
Serenely grave, along the cloister pale,
Or grove, or glen, or on the shaven green;
O! still be mine to tend thee on thy way,
Like thee to feel, to glow with all thy flame,
Gentle and clear, as the sun's smiling ray
At dawn, yet warm as his meridian beam,
When wondering nations feel the piercing rays,
And think they view their God, and kindle into praise
For me, when I grow thoughtless, and thy name
Forget; should I wax cold, nor feel thy power,
Then may Fancy sleep, and, lost to shame,
Ne'er may I look beyond the passing hour;
May Beauty never smile upon my strain,
May I curs'd, to have some tyrant's tool
Whistle to his mean hogs, and my gain
Be this, to hear ambition call me fool;
Begin, and end at Folly's call my lays,
Dread the world's sneer, and truckle for its praise.