Anna Letitia Barbauld

Eighteen Hundred and Eleven Anna Letitia Barbauld

Still the loud death drum, thundering from afar, O'er the vext nations pours the storm of war: To the stern call still Britain bends her ear, Feeds the fierce strife, the alternate hope and fear; Bravely, though vainly, dares to strive with Fate, And seeks by turns to prop each sinking state. Colossal Power with overwhelming force [2] Bears down each fort of Freedom in its course; Prostrate she lies beneath the Despot's sway, While the hushed nations curse him--and obey,

Bounteous in vain, with frantic man at strife, Glad Nature pours the means--the joys of life; In vain with orange blossoms scents the gale, The hills with olives clothes, with corn the vale; Man calls to Famine, nor invokes in vain, Disease and Rapine follow in her train; The tramp of marching hosts disturbs the plough, The sword, not sickle, reaps the harvest now, And where the Soldier gleans the scant supply. The helpless Peasant but retires to die; No laws his hut from licensed outrage shield, [3] And war's least horror is the ensanguined field.