fort much happier than any thing he ever afterwards attempted either in prose or verse. I must be content to follow him: I cannot presume to walk by his side. To soar with Johnson, when, in addition to his own powers, he was supported in his flight by the reanimated Phoenix of Aquinum, were a task no less presumptuous than vain.

1

THE

CONFLAGRATION OF MOSCOW.

HER royal nest the Russian eagle fires,
And to the wild recess-reveng'd-retires;

Her talons unexpended lightnings arm,
And high resentments all her courage warm.
Tempt not, thou fiend of France, her arduous track!
Ambition spurs thee on-defeat shall goad thee back
False friends in rear, in front a stubborn foe,
Thy caterer, famine,-and thy couch the snow:
Then view that fiery cope with ghastly smile,
Tis thy ambition's grand funereal pile.

10

Blaze on, ye gilded domes, and turrets high,

And like a furnace glow, thou trembling sky!
Be lakes of fire the tyrant's sole domain,

And let that fiend o'er flames and ruins reign;
Doom'd, like the Rebel Angel, to be shown
A fiery dungeon, where he hop'd a throne.

Blaze on! thou costliest, proudest sacrifice,

E'er lit by patriot hands, or fann'd by patriot's sighs.

By stubborn constancy of soul, a rock

That firmly meets but to return the shock,

By all that power inflicts, or slavery bears

By all that freedom prompts, or valour dares-

By all that bids the bright historic page

Of Greece and Rome inspire each after age-
By all of great, that must our wonder raise

In direst, worst extremities, we praise

A deed that animates, exalts, inflames

A world in arms-from Tanais to the Thames!

20

Hail! nobly-daring, wisely-desperate deed:
Moscow is PARIS, should the Gaul succeed

Then perish temple, palace, fort, or tow'r That screens a foeman in this vengeful hour; Let self-devotion rule this righteous cause,

And triumph o'er affections, customs, laws;

With Roman daring be the flag unfurl'd

Themselves they conquer'd first, and then the world; Be this the dirge o'er Moscow's mighty grave,

She stood to foster, but she fell to save!

80

Her flames like Judah's guardian pillar rose

To shield her children, to confound her foes;

40

That mighty beacon must not blaze in vain,

It rouses earth, and streams high o'er the main.

The sacrifice is made, the deed is done,

Russia! thy woes are finish'd, Gaul's begun!

G