Long had Columbus with delighted eyes Mark'd all the changes that around him rise, Lived thro descending ages as they roll, And feasted still the still expanding soul; When now the peopled regions swell more near, And a mixt noise tumultuous stuns his ear. At first, like heavy thunders roll'd in air, Or the rude shock of cannonading war, Or waves resounding on the craggy shore, Hoarse roll'd the loud-toned undulating roar. But soon the sounds like human voices rise, All nations pouring undistinguisht cries; Till more distinct the wide concussion grown Rolls forth at times an accent like his own. By turns the tongues assimilating blend, And smoother idioms over earth ascend; Mingling and softening still in every gale, O'er discord's din harmonious tones prevail. At last a simple universal sound Winds thro the welkin, sooths the world around, From echoing shores in swelling strain replies, And moves melodious o'er the warbling skies. Such wild commotions as he heard and view'd, In fixt astonishment the Hero stood, And thus besought the Guide: Celestial friend, What good to man can these dread scenes intend? Some sore distress attends that boding sound That breathed hoarse thunder and convulsed the ground. War sure hath ceased; or have my erring eyes Misread the glorious visions of the skies? Tell then, my Seer, if future earthquakes sleep, Closed in the conscious caverns of the deep, Waiting the day of vengeance, when to roll And rock the rending pillars of the pole. Or tell if aught more dreadful to my race In these dark signs thy heavenly wisdom trace; And why the loud discordance melts again In the smooth glidings of a tuneful strain. The guardian god replied: Thy fears give o'er; War's hosted hounds shall havoc earth no more; No sore distress these signal sounds foredoom, But give the pledge of peaceful years to come; The tongues of nations here their accents blend. Till one pure language thro the world extend. Thou know'st the tale of Babel; how the skies Fear'd for their safety as they felt him rise, Sent unknown jargons mid the laboring bands, Confused their converse and unnerved their hands, Dispersed the bickering tribes and drove them far, From peaceful toil to violence and war; Bade kings arise with bloody flags unfurl'd, Bade pride and conquest wander o'er the world, Taught adverse creeds, commutual hatreds bred, Till holy homicide the climes o'erspread. --For that fine apologue, writh mystic strain, Gave like the rest a golden age to man, Ascribed perfection to his infant state, Science unsought and all his arts innate; Supposed the experience of the growing race Must lead him retrograde and cramp his pace, Obscure his vision as his lights increast, And sink him from an angel to a beast.