Classic Poem

I.

C OLD , distant far, the Sun scarce seems
To give his salutary ray,
Moist vapours chill his struggling beams,
And cloud the transitory day.
Soon to his glowing south he flies,
And evening, deep'ning all her dyes,
Calls full orb'd Cynthia and her train:
To me yon starry choir appear
To sing the requiem of the year,
And hail the new-born babe, predestin'd now to reign.

II.

That new-born babe is hail'd by man,
Short sighted man, who soon shall mourn
That of his life's allotted span,
No portion shall again return:
Tho' time, now silent, steals away,
Rous'd by perceptible decay,
He shall the eagle's slight arraign,
Hang on the pinions of the year,
And beg, with agonizing fear,
The months, the days, the hours, so oft mispent, in vain.

III.

But go, departed year! and join
The numerous synod of thy sires;
Bid them produce their actions: Thine
A noble eulogy requires.
Hear some of martial exploits tell;
Others on plagues and famines dwell;
A few of gentler aspect boast
Of seas explor'd, of truths explain'd,
Of provinces from ocean gain'd,
Of many a well-form'd state, or new discovered coast.

IV.

Yet envy not the garland, Fame
Grateful around their mem'ry twines;
Go, for thyself the laurel claim,
Which high in Freedom's temple shines;
For lo! in thy auspieious reign
The awak'ned nations heard the strain
Her energetic voice impress'd;
When, with divine Astrea join'd,
The goddess visited mankind,
Blew her inspiring trump, and bade the world be bless'd.

V.

Before her, in effulgent light,
With dove-like aspect Science came,
She dar'd false sophistry to Fight,
And triumph'd in her rival's shame.
She first disclos'd the lib'ral plan,
Which ascertains the rights of man,
Nor built on variable laws,
But at his first creation giv'n;
The priviledge bestow'd by heaven,
Whence he his generous love of independence draws.