Darkness and mourning, horrible and great!

And the stern despot in his madden’d wrath

Exulted wildly o’er thy low estate.

Nothing or great or beautiful he spared,

My country! the young warrior by him fell,

The veteran fell, and vile his war-axe glared,

Pleased all its fury o’er thee to impel.

Ev’n the pure maiden fell beneath the rage

Of the unpitying despot, as the rose

Condemn’d the summer’s burning sun to engage