Flashed a sudden blinding glare;
Roared a fearsome battle-peal;
Rang the gloomy vasts of air;
Seemed the earth to rock and reel;
While adown that fiery breath
Rode the hurtling bolts of death.
Woe for him, the valorous one,
Now a silent clod of clay!
Nevermore for him the sun
Would make glad the paths of day;
Yet 'twere better thus to die
Than to cringe to tyranny!—
Better thus the life to yield,
Striking for the right and God,
Upon Freedom's gory field,
Than to kiss Oppression's rod!
Honor, then, for all time be
To the brave Montgomery!
Clinton Scollard.
Though the Americans had lost Canada, they were soon to gain Boston. During the winter of 1775-76, a great number of captured cannon had been dragged on sledges from Ticonderoga, the drilling of the army had gone steadily on, and at last Washington felt that he was able to assume the offensive, and on the night of March 4, 1776, he seized and fortified Dorchester Heights.
A SONG
[1776]
Smile, Massachusetts, smile,
Thy virtue still outbraves
The frowns of Britain's isle,
The rage of home-born slaves.
Thy free-born sons disdain their ease,
When purchased by their liberties.
Thy genius, once the pride
Of Britain's ancient isle,
Brought o'er the raging tide
By our forefathers' toil;
In spite of North's despotic power,
Shines glorious on this western shore.
In Hancock's generous mind
Awakes the noble strife,
Which so conspicuous shined
In gallant Sydney's life;
While in its cause the hero bled,
Immortal honors crown'd his head.