THE GENERAL; An Alegory

Mars and Bellona from Elysium came, To form a warrior of distinguish'd fame; And as a sample of their art display'd The bold ingredients other heroes made; Assyrian, Grecian, Roman and what not— For all these wonders right this pair had got.

Mars call'd Minerva from th'Elysian Field, And straight the Goddess joined with spear and shield; This noble trio then decreed to form The daring youth that Stony-point should storm, (For revolutions, and each nation's rise, Both past and future, gods have in their eyes)

To work they went—But Mars to shew his skill, Produc'd the wonders that his youth should fill— First the great pow'r he shew'd without disguise Of fearless bold Leonidas the wise: Whose arm took strength as dangers clos'd around, And for his country only felt the wound, Liv'd but to raise it, dy'd but for the same, And ere he went immortaliz'd his name. The merits then of Philip's son he shew'd, From which an universal empire flow'd; A love of conquest with ambition mix'd, A wish unbounded and a courage fix'd, That grasp'd dominion wheresoe'er he spread His flowing banners or the plumed head. Then Caesar's spirit similar he held, Fam'd in the Senate as the warlike field, A soul that look'd to empire as his god, And aw'd inferior minions with his nod; Subdu'd the Briton, spread his conquest o'er Where human empire ne'er had liv'd before. Then daring Hannibal the god disclos'd, That gather'd strength as danger interpos'd; That led his armies o'er the Alpine hills, On every hand beset with threat'ning ills; That aw'd e'en Scipio to respect and fear, As num'rous armies thronging drew a-near. These various merits Mars disclos'd to view, Minerva lik'd them genuine well and true.

Mars and Bellona, agreeable to plan, With these ingredients form'd the fav'rite man: Their part completed, soon a living soul Minerva breath'd, and dignifi'd the whole; Mars gave the name, and hence 'tis very plain This noble Trio call'd their fav'rite Wayne.

'Twere needless here his seats of arms to tell, Each true American reminds them well; And while our empire rises and grows great We'll recollect his service done the state.

But not to war his merits are confin'd, For other beauties store his fertile mind; And while the hero from the field of war, The soldiers toil and victors splended car, Retires to taste the rights his sword has gain'd Those rights are firmly by him still maintain'd; He pleads with firmness for his country's cause, And in the senate vindicates her laws.

Deep as the ocean, fann'd by gentle gales When vessels glide beneath a load of sails, Smooth we admire the level surface shew, Struck with the vast profoundity below; A master's hand we own that form'd the whole, And feel the intimation of a soul: But change the scene—Let boreal blasts descend, And from the mast the swelling canvass rend, Plough up the deep and fluid mountains rise Whose summits mix with dread conflecting skies, Shew devastation spreading wide around And fearful man a dying at each sound— Those bold vicissitudes engross the heart With sacred wonder at the heav'nly art: Now to apply—see Anthony display His deep abilities with force and sway; Whene'er the theme demands his patriot tongue, Respect is seen the list'ning croud among. Smooth are his periods, grand the glowing thought, Bright the conception with conviction fraught; Well pleas'd the senate lends a studious ear, His elocution sweet and deep to hear:— But when the subject claims a nobler rage, In which the patriot only dare engage, The front of war is seen in ev'ry look, His pointed satires thrusting knaves rebuke; The smart reply, the repartee at will, And keen conviction flow with rapid skill— We know not which, his eloquence or ease, Most to admire, for both as certain please. Sometimes he feels embarrassment, 'tis true, But was not Cicero embarrassed too? The man that speaks and ne'er a blush betrays, Is much in love with ev'ry word he says, But those that want to be convicted right, Must own their faults in rank ambition's spite.

Some future bard when poring o'er the page, May catch the glories of the present age, Feel all the force superior merit fires, Awake to virtue with its bright desires; While the rapt spirit counts his actions o'er, And gives a plaudit quite unknown before, Wrought in the song immortal as the sun, That will be known till nature's course is run —O for one spark from Homer's daring flame, To give his merits to immortal fame.