XLV.

Lo, where th’ Albanian spreads his despot sway

O’er Thessaly’s rich vales and glowing plains,

Whose sons in sullen abjectness obey,

Nor lift the hand indignant at its chains:

Oh! doth the land that gave Achilles birth,

And many a chief of old illustrious line,

Yield not one spirit of unconquer’d worth

To kindle those that now in bondage pine?

No! on its mountain-air is slavery’s breath,

And terror chills the hearts whose utter’d plaints were death.