  No bridges stood uniting shore with shore And houses, bounded by the busy stream On either hand, were few; men caught a gleam Of crippled Boston, through whose highways tore The troops; embarking, on they swiftly bore 'Mid roaring cannon and the awful scream Of shells; poor puppets of a royal scheme To King Taxation's iron rule restore. The honest sod recoiled from their hot tread, But baffled fury trod with reckless haste Till hemmed about by their own slaughtered dead When twice the dizzy charge had been retraced; They found no weakling foe was that ahead And shivered at the task which yet they faced. Above doomed Charlestown bombs were bursting shrill, And flaming steeples pierced the pitying sky As eager feet kept marching, marching by To where the cheer triumphant sent a thrill Athwart the loyal breast of Bunker Hill. "Aim low and fire!" Well might the red-coats fly Before the "echo" of brave Prescott's cry, A cry that speared them with defeat's cold chill. Though twice Columbia's pulse victorious stirred, Ere twilight could her sable shield prepare, A long derisive "British yell" was heard To summon forth battalions of despair; When it was only victory deferred To even lure the "Lion" from his lair. With muskets clubbed our fathers held the slope Which midnight saw them arming for the fray, And still they strove to keep the foe at bay; Beside the fence they saw their comrades cope With those who would fore'er the star of hope Eclipse behind the slavery cloud and say:— "Thus Monarchy subdues her rebel prey." Although the fields were red they would not grope But dared the "Glasgow," dared the lance, the gun; And, founders of a nation, boldly sought On Prospect's brow the rest so nobly won, While other lands the blessed tidings caught Of daring deeds by "mere provincials" done, |
|
