Family Distress

See from his seat th' indignant Briton start, Fire in his eyes, and freedom at his heart; Resolv'd to brave the dangers of the day, Tho' hell should yawn, and fiends obstruct his way: His faithful wife, with sorrow's gloom o'ercast, And trembling for the future by the past, Implores his stay by all the tend'rest ties, And fills the mournful mansion with her cries! Their numerous offspring catch the mother's fears, And urge their joint request with pray'rs and tears; The youngest born, distrest, it knows not why! While silent anguish swims in either eye, Sobs on its mother's breast, till tears o'erflow, And with its screams completes the scene of woe.

Is there in nature ought so dead to sense, At so much softness, so much innocence! Distress so urg'd to pierce the hardest heart, Could stand unmov'd—nor bear a manly part.

His tears the father could no more controul, But felt their sorrows to his inmost soul, Silent he paus'd—unwilling to decline; Yet half relenting of the great design! When to his soul fair freedom stood confest, Effac'd the sense of grief, and steel'd his breast.

"Dear to my soul—forbear the ungrateful task, "Nor press my stay—ye know not what ye ask! "Oh can a Briton unconcern'd behold, "His rights invaded, and his country sold! "See freedom tottering on the brink of fate, "Her friends imprison'd and her foes elate! "No—one more glorious struggle will we make— "And if we fail—we'll perish for her sake.

"And thou, my dearest wife, thy tears restrain, "To wish my stay, were criminal as vain, "Women still love the gen'rous and the brave, "And would'st thou for thy husband clasp a slave? "A willing slave—and on fair albion's isle!— "The wilds of Afric know no slave so vile. "And you, my loves, when some few years shall roll, "And freedom's joys shall open on the soul: "You, who hang round me with imploring eyes, "And vanquish nature with your tears and cries, "Should we the grand occasion now forego, "Shall brand the authors of a nation's woe; "Wretches who leagu'd their country to enslave, "And me—ev'n me—shall curse when in my grave, "Curse me for having basely skulk'd away, "And left your heritage the russian's prey!

"Oh at that dreadful thought, from ev'ry part, "The tide tumultuous rushes on my heart! "All coward fears henceforward I dismiss, "Ev'n death is lovely in a cause like this! "Freedom alone to life can relish give, "And ceasing to be free—I'll cease to live."