Mercy Otis Warren

“ Stop'd on the way---forbid on pain of death, With their complaints---their idle tales of wrong--- T'invade the regal dignity of thrones, Or whisper murmurs in a monarch's ear. Resentment, and a noble thirst of fame, Must rouse the bold, reanimate the brave, And brace the arm with vigour to repel These bold invasions on great nature's rights. Don Pedro Ghiron
Has then the band of Dutch and Flemish race, Who hover round, clos'd up the monarch's ear, And steel'd his heart against the cries of Spain? Ambition low' ring on a lordly brow May yet subdue the citizens of Spain. ”

“ The noblest blood that ancient Spain can boast, Thrills through their veins, and warms their gallant chiefs With great ideas of liberty and law. They claim the rights their ancient fires possess'd, When, ere allegiance sworn, or fealty paid, They bade the sov'reign recollect the claim, That each, as good by nature as himself, Were, when united, arm'd with power replete, To smite the brow, and dash the scepter'd hand That dare invade the meanest subject's right. ”

“ But thinks the era of her freedom lost, Since first Ximenes' artful subtile wiles, Threw such a weight in the despotic scale; A standing army at the sov'reign's nod, Which makes the monarch master of the laws, And gives at will both liberty and life. Yet Conde Haro has a noble soul, Nor is less virtuous than truly brave. Donna Maria
Virtue must spring from the maternal line If it adorns the Conde Haro's breast. Don Francis
Tomorrow proves him what the world reports, And weaves a garland to adorn his brow, Or leaves his trunk a headless sacrifice, To stamp fresh glory on Don Juan's name. ”

“ Not like the lover, but the hero talk--- The sword must rescue, or the nation sink, And self degraded, wear the badge of slaves. We boast a cause of glory and renown; We arm to purchase the sublimest gift The mind of man is capable to taste. ”

“ The fickle goddess waves her glossy plume, And holds an era in the life of man, When all is hung suspended on his choice; Election made, judiciously he stands On the proud summit of all human fame; But judgment once erroneously form'd Oft fixes his ill fate through life's career; While a strong current bears him down the tide, And wrecks his peace on every ripling stream. ”

“ The morn may smile propitious on our cause--- May make us free, or more completely slaves;--- Unrive the manacles, or drive the bolts, And clank the shackles round the Spanish world. Canst thou forget the soft Louisa's tears, And chase her brother through the field of blood? Thou, like a lion leaping on his prey, Must aim thy javelin at De Haro's heart. Don Francis
Name not Louisa---I would forget she lives--- Or that she is the sister of my foe. Mistaken man!---he deprecates this war That lights his country in a wasting flame ”

“ Inaction or delay will ruin all, And place the fav'rite nurs'd in fortune's lap, Beyond the reach of aught but heaven itself, To teach him what from man to man is due. A battle ere tomorrow's sun retires Shall shew the world our pedigree and fame ”

“ The sword is drawn, and down the gulph of time, Perhaps, its useless scabbard may be toss'd, 'Till years roll on, and revolution's wheel Whirls nations down, and empire sweeps away, Ere peace benignant smiles on hapless Spain. ”

“ I own my weakness---yet forgive my love; My life and honour sacredly I plight, To aid a brave and veteran band of chiefs, Whose fathers fearless, dip'd the glittering sword, Whet with revenge, in tides of Moorish blood, To save their sons from servitude and chains. ”

“ When virtue arms, and liberty's the prize, No cloud should set on brave Don Francis' brow. The love of glory, victory and same, A noble sense of dignify and worth, Is the best birth right of Castilia's sons:--- Inur'd to glory, and the feats of war, Our fathers held their freedom from the gods. A jealousy for freedom kept alive Precludes the softer passions of the mind. Don Francis
Nurs'd in the fierce and hostile field of war, I, from long ancestry, may boldly claim That innate force and vigour of the mind Which mocks the sense of danger or of death ”

“ The furious courser lists his dauntless head, Fierce snaps the bit, and rolls his eye abroad, Sees death and carnage mark th' empurpled field, Neighs for his prey, and tramples o'er the dead. The happy steed may bite the blood stain'd ground, Untaught by reason, sympathy or love--- Unconscious of the pains---the ten fold pangs, That check the warrior in his bold career. ”

“ Men rail at weaknesses themselves create, And boldly stigmatize the female mind, As though kind nature's just impartial hand Had form'd its features in a baser mould: But nice distinctions in the human soul, Adopted follies, or inherent vice, May be discuss'd in calmer times than these:--- We'll reason then---if possible regain Whatever nature, or its author gave. ”

“ To make atonement for the guilt of men, Altars are dress'd, and saintly relics shine:--- Instead of real sanctity of heart They churches decorate with costly gifts:--- But reason, bursting from a fable cloud, On a bright throne erects her regal stand, And gives new sanctions from the voice of God, To free the mind from superstition's reign. ”

“ The kingdoms of great Ferdinand are left, To hunt for crowns in Germany and France, While here Velasco plunders all the states. Our delegates have yesterday return'd, Without an audience at the sov'reign's court ”