The Enquirer

"The Standard of Liberty." written by Mrs. Rowson, and recited by Mrs. Placide, on Wednesday night, in the character of the Genius of Columbia; at the close of the National Drama, of The Battle of the Eutaw Springs, and The Evacuation of Charleston, written by Dr. Joor of that city.

In former times, by ancient bards we're told,
Greece hurried on by wrongs, with pow'r grown bold,
Invested Troy's fair city, and at length,
By art, not force of arms, subdu'd her strength;
The guards by art assail'd, betray'd their trust,
And Troy's proud tow'rs were level'd with the dust.

At midnight a tremendous fire began,
And through the city as it furious ran,
A warlike youth, for deeds of glory fam'd,
But more for filial love, Aeneas nam'd,
Flew to his father's couch—haste! haste! he cries;
The city is surpriz'd, dear father, rise!
Then rushing in, with eager haste he bore
Anchises forth, and sought a distant shore.

Jove, from Olympus' height, with joy surveyed
The pious act, and thus benignant said,
"Ye nymphs and tritons, who delight to sweep
With beauteous limbs, the surface of the deep,
Be it your care, Aeneas is not lost,
But bear him safe to the Hesperian coast;
There shall he wed the daughter of a king,
And from their loves a mighty race shall spring,
Of warlike heroes, who aloft shall bear
My glorious standard through the fields of air."

Then from his hand majestic, forth he threw
The glittering Eagle—quick as thought it flew
To guard Aeneas' race, repel his foes,
'Till from their sons a mighty nation rose,
The Eagle grac'd the standard they unfurl'd,
And Rome became the mistress of the world.

Long, long she bore the universal sway,
The world obsequious heard, but to obey,
What e'er were her commands—but to relate
The sudden, sad, the strange reverse of fate,
That veil'd her glory, luxury and pride,
With avarice and ev'ry vice beside,
Blasted her laurels, check'd her soldier's pow'r,
And Rome's vast empire fell to rise no more.

By vice and folly, thus expell'd from Rome,
The Warlike Eagle sought another home:
In various circles o'er the ethereal plain,
Unfix'd, uncertain where to light again:
Jove's martial bird majestically flew
Till thy fair shores, Columbia, came in view:
On the new rising world he fix'd his eye,
And hover'd o'er it with exulting joy

Great Jove delighted, thus his will express'd,
"Go, in Columbia's shades, take up thy rest,
For there in shady grot and mossy cell,
My favourite daughter, Freedom, goes to dwell;
To her the arts, and muses shall resort,
Science with laurel'd brow shall grace her court,
Thither the brave and worthy shall repair,
And you shall grace the standard which they bear;
Nor ever fear to be expell'd again,
Columbia's standard ne'er shall know a stain!"

While thus the thund'rer spoke, the realms above
Re-echo'd with the voice of peace and love,
Long may Columbia flourish was the strain;
Long may her glorious Independence reign,
By Heav'n protected, may her children prove
The sweets of peace and pure domestic love:
The music ceas'd, the standard glorious rose,
A martial band, the heav'nly pledge enclose
To guard it, and repel invading foes:
While Liberty, in robes transcendent white,
Her brows encircled with a crown of light,
Thus with a smile the warlike legion owns,
Columbia is my home, her warriors are my sons.