Here Britain's sons, and here Canadians
Were slaughtered by the ruthless enemy,
Who swept the country o'er in furtherance
Of their unjust desire to gratify
Their evil wish, to tear from England's hand
The part still left her in this Western land.
XXXI.
Americans, how sadly should ye mourn
The action of your rulers on that day,
When unrelenting enmity was sworn
Against your fathers' land. Ye cannot say,
As six and thirty years before ye said,
That gross oppression justified your deed.
XXXII.
Nay, ye were young, and, in ambition's youth,
Ye sought to raise you to a greater state,
And waited not to think of honour's truth,
But rushed to war in hope to alienate
The fair domain of Canada, which lay,
Apparently, a not unwilling prey.
Speak not of Council Orders,[E] nor essay
To prove that these alone provoked the war.
The orders were rescinded ere the day
Of fighting broke.[F] Not these ye battled for.
Nor did the Rights of Search[G] enrage ye so
As to compel your being England's foe.
Ye wanted more dominion—this alone
Provoked your action; and, since every nation
In Europe in a state of war was thrown,
Your action merits not such condemnation
As otherwise it would. The rage of war
Is quickly spread to nations near and far.