Gazette Of The United States

BIRTH-DAY
OF THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
1796.

I.
Hence! pale envy's step profane
Hence! foul faction's slanderous tongue,
Hence! the heart that knows to feign,
Hence, the soul that harbours wrong!
Within thy joyous walls be found,
No hand that gives the secret wound,
No breast where rankling vengeance reigns—
Son of malice venture here,
No voice that dares be insincere,
Presume to join our raptur'd trains.
To WASHINGTON the notes we raise,
Let grateful millions join to praise
His deeds of matchless worth:
And swell the loud triumphant lay,
To celebrate the happy day
That gave Columbia's Hero birth.

Chorus—Raise the note of rapture high!
Echo rend yon arch above!
Patriots from the spangled sky
Applaud our gratitude and love.

II.
Lo! now, to fancy's eyes
Wide burst yon azure skies,
And from their starry thrones sublime,
Columbia's martyr'd Champions bend
To hail their Leader and their Friend,
Foremost immortal Warren's ken
And he who fell among the slain
On Abram's snow clad plain,
And He of Eutaw, long lamented Green,
And those of ancient days,
The great, the brave, of every clime,
Who freedom's legions led,
The elder Brutus at their head,
And Cincinnatus nobly great,
Who thrice preserv'd a falling state,
All join Columbia's matchless Son to praise!
For millions, snatch'd from foreign chains,
Demand from Heav'n and earth the strains,
To deeds of noblest worth;
Then swell the loud triumphant lay,
To celebrate the happy day
That gave Columbia's Hero birth.

Chorus—Raise the note of rapture high!
Echo rend yon arch above!
Patriots from the spangled sky
Applaud our gratitude and love.

III.
Ah! not to all, the grateful meed
To merit due, their country paid!
Deserted and forlorn
See Scipio bow the exil'd head,
No friend to close his languid eyes,
His big heart bursts,—he falls—he dies.—
Amid the gloom of solitude!
The wreaths he pluck'd on Zama's plain
Where Carthage bled at every vein,
By the rude hands of envy torn,
Are blasted,—wither'd—dead
Such, such was Roman gratitude!-
Not so Columbia's sons behave,
They venerate the great, the brave!
Their Country sav'd on Trenton's plain,
Demands from them the grateful strain,
To deeds of daring worth!
Then swell the loud triumphant lay.
To celebrate the happy day
That gave Columbia's Hero birth.

Chorus—Raise the note of rapture high!
Echo rend yon arch above!
Patriots from the spangled sky
Applaud our gratitude and love.

IV.
When o'er the western mountain's brow
Sedition rear'd her impious head,
And Tumult wild his legions led,
Serene and great, the Patriot rose.—
Yet in his breast conflicting throes
Of mercy, pity, check'd the impending blow:
He view'd them with a father's eye,
Dimmed by the tear Humanity!
Reluctant Justice half unsheath'd the sword!
Scar'd at the awful sight
Sedition shrunk in realms of night,
And Order saw her peaceful reign restor'd.
Her trophies wild ambition brings.
To lay them at the thrones of kings,
Or deck the blood-stain'd warrior's brow!
More real praise the victors gain
Returning from the bloodless plain
Than all those crimson wreaths can e'er bestow.
A country sav'd from discord's reign,
And Order's sway restor'd again,
Are deeds of public worth;
Then swell the loud triumphant lay,
To celebrate the happy day
That gave Columbia's Hero birth.

Chorus—Raise the note of rapture high!
Echo rend yon arch above!
Patriots from the spangled sky
Applaud our gratitude and love.

V.
On broad Ontario's distant Shore.
The yell of war is heard no more.
No more the hostile banners ride
Triumphant on the waves beneath;
No more the savage warriors lead
Their painted bands to deeds of death!
No more on Afric's scorching sand
Our hapless brethren toil in chains;
Soon, soon they'll hail their native land,
And here in peace forget their pains.
From where the streams of Hudson pour,
Naiads urge their waters forth,
Where old Ganges rears his head.
Columbia's rising fame shall spread;
Respected by a friendly world,
Where'er her banners are unfurl'd!
His native land restor'd to peace.
Her sons confirm'd in wealth and ease,
Are deeds of noblest worth!
Then swell the loud triumphant lay,
To celebrate the happy day
That gave Columbia's Hero birth.

Chorus—Raise the note of rapture high!
Echo rend yon arch above!
Patriots from the spangled sky
Applaud our gratitude and love.