"No impious Itch of Empire fires our Mind, / Nor are our Hearts to those base Thoughts inclin'd."
— Hamilton, William, of Gilbertfield (c. 1665-1751)
Place of Publication
Glasgow
Publisher
Printed by William Duncan [etc.]
Date
1722
Metaphor
"No impious Itch of Empire fires our Mind, / Nor are our Hearts to those base Thoughts inclin'd."
Metaphor in Context
Hear me kind Heav'n if still my Feet have trod,
In Virtues Paths, nor devious from my God;
Since first with Floods of Fears and constant Pray'r,
My weeping Parents gave me to thy Care.
When round my Head the Guardian Angels flew,
And conscious Heav'n approv'd my little Vow:
That if propitious Fate, increas'd my Span,
And lengthned tender Childhood out to Man.
My Country's Foes, shou'd always feel my Might,
Nor my Sword sparkle in another Fight;
Thence soon commenc'd my Woes, and hateful Strife.
With War embroil'd my tender Years of Life.
Oft has the Soldier, under my Command,
From Slav'ry base, redeem'd his Native Land;
But now opprest with Foes, we droop again,
And panting Liberty forsakes the Reign
Yet bold in Virtue's Cause, we nobly dare,
To raise the sleeping Embers of the War;
No impious Itch of Empire fires our Mind,
Nor are our Hearts to those base Thoughts inclin'd:
But our fierce Breasts glow with a holy Rage,
Thine are the Fields we fight, and thine the War we wage
But if Alass! Some unforseen Offence,
Lies latent in the Book of Providence;
For which the trembling Scot shall shameful fly,
And leave the Field to his fierce Enemy;
Then let me dye preventing all my Foes,
And close these Eyes, nor see my Country's Woes.
He ceas'd when he observed thro' the Sky,
A strange prodigious Meteor to to fly;
The Chief beheld it kindling as it flew,
And from the Sight a happy Omen drew:
And does consenting Heaven yeild he crys,
And better Hours from better Omens rise.
Now, now, the English shall the Danger fear,
And trembling fly before the Scotish Spear.
And now a growing Hope springs in my Mind,
And leaves vain Jealousy and Fears behind;
Then blew his Horn, well known in Wars alarms,
To call the hardy Soldier to his Arms.
To the shrill Notes Heav'n answers all around,
And Scotia takes new Vigour from the Sound.
Spreads wide the Noise and undulates on high,
And reach the Soldiers where dispers'd they ly,
Inflaming ev'ry Breast with love of Liberty.
In Virtues Paths, nor devious from my God;
Since first with Floods of Fears and constant Pray'r,
My weeping Parents gave me to thy Care.
When round my Head the Guardian Angels flew,
And conscious Heav'n approv'd my little Vow:
That if propitious Fate, increas'd my Span,
And lengthned tender Childhood out to Man.
My Country's Foes, shou'd always feel my Might,
Nor my Sword sparkle in another Fight;
Thence soon commenc'd my Woes, and hateful Strife.
With War embroil'd my tender Years of Life.
Oft has the Soldier, under my Command,
From Slav'ry base, redeem'd his Native Land;
But now opprest with Foes, we droop again,
And panting Liberty forsakes the Reign
Yet bold in Virtue's Cause, we nobly dare,
To raise the sleeping Embers of the War;
No impious Itch of Empire fires our Mind,
Nor are our Hearts to those base Thoughts inclin'd:
But our fierce Breasts glow with a holy Rage,
Thine are the Fields we fight, and thine the War we wage
But if Alass! Some unforseen Offence,
Lies latent in the Book of Providence;
For which the trembling Scot shall shameful fly,
And leave the Field to his fierce Enemy;
Then let me dye preventing all my Foes,
And close these Eyes, nor see my Country's Woes.
He ceas'd when he observed thro' the Sky,
A strange prodigious Meteor to to fly;
The Chief beheld it kindling as it flew,
And from the Sight a happy Omen drew:
And does consenting Heaven yeild he crys,
And better Hours from better Omens rise.
Now, now, the English shall the Danger fear,
And trembling fly before the Scotish Spear.
And now a growing Hope springs in my Mind,
And leaves vain Jealousy and Fears behind;
Then blew his Horn, well known in Wars alarms,
To call the hardy Soldier to his Arms.
To the shrill Notes Heav'n answers all around,
And Scotia takes new Vigour from the Sound.
Spreads wide the Noise and undulates on high,
And reach the Soldiers where dispers'd they ly,
Inflaming ev'ry Breast with love of Liberty.
Categories
Provenance
HDIS (Poetry)
Date of Entry
08/22/2004
