LVI.—LOVE OF COUNTRY AND OF HOME.
MONTGOMERY.
1. There is a land, of every land the pride,
Beloved by heaven o’er all the world beside;
Where brighter suns dispense[421] serener[422] light,
And milder moons imparadise[423] the night:
A land of beauty, virtue, valor, truth,
Time-tutored age, and love-exalted youth.
2. The wandering mariner, whose eye explores
The wealthiest isles, the most enchanting shores,
Views not a realm so bountiful and fair,
Nor breathes the spirit of a purer air;
In every clime, the magnet[424] of his soul,
Touched by remembrance, trembles to that pole:
3. For in this land of heaven’s peculiar grace,
The heritage[425] of nature’s noblest race,
There is a spot of earth supremely[426] blest,
A dearer, sweeter pot than all the rest,
Where man, creation’s tyrant, casts aside
His sword and scepter, pageantry and pride,
While, in his softened looks, benignly[427] blend
The sire, the son, the husband, father, friend.
4. Here woman reigns; the mother, daughter, wife,
Strews with fresh flowers the narrow way of life;
In the clear heaven of her delightful eye,
An angel guard of loves and graces lie;
Around her knees domestic duties meet,
And fireside pleasures gambol[428] at her feet.
Where shall that land, that spot of earth be found?
Art thou a man? a patriot?[429] look around;
Oh! thou shalt find, howe’er thy footsteps roam,
That land thy country, and that spot thy home.
[421] Dis-penseˊ, deal or divide out in portions or parts; distribute.
[422] Se-renˊ-er, clearer; more soothing.
[423] Im-parˊ-a-dise, make very happy; render like Paradise.
[424] Magˊ-net, the loadstone; that which attracts.
[425] Herˊ-it-age, inheritance; portion; an estate devolved by succession.
[426] Su-premeˊ-ly, in the highest degree.
[427] Beˊ-nignˊ-ly, graciously; kindly.
[428] Gamˊ-bol, dance and skip about in sport; play in frolic, like boys and lambs.
[429] Paˊ-tri-ot, a person who loves his country, and zealously supports and defends it and its interests.