In future years, if right the Muse divine, Some great memorial on this bank shall shine; A column bold its granite shaft shall rear, Swell o'er the strand and check the passing air, Cast its broad image on the watery glade, And Bristol greet the monumental shade; Eternal emblem of that gloomy hour, When the great general left her storm-beat shore, To tempest, night and his own sword consign'd His country's fates, the fortunes of mankind. Where sealike Laurence, rolling in his pride, With Ocean's self disputes the tossing tide, From shore to shore, thro dim distending skies, Beneath full sails imbanded nations rise. Britain and Brunswick here their flags unfold, Here Hessia's hordes, for toils of slaughter sold, Anspach and Darmstadt swell the hireling train, Proud Caledonia crowds the masted main, Hibernian kerns and Hanoverian slaves Move o'er the decks and darken wide the waves. Tall on the boldest bark superior shone A warrior ensign'd with a various crown; Myrtles and laurels equal honors join'd, Which arms had purchased and the Muses twined; His sword waved forward, and his ardent eye Seem'd sharing empires in the southern sky. Beside him rose a herald to proclaim His various honors, titles, feats and fame; Who raised an opening scroll, where proudly shone _Burgoyne and vengeance from the British throne._ Champlain receives the congregated host, And his husht waves beneath the sails are lost; Ticonderoga rears his rocks in vain, Nor Edward's walls the weighty shock sustain; Deep George's loaded lake reluctant guides Their bounding barges o'er his sacred tides. State after state the splendid pomp appalls, Each town surrenders, every fortress falls; Sinclair retires; and with his feeble train, In slow retreat o'er many a fatal plain, Allures their march; wide moves their furious force, And flaming hamlets mark their wasting course; Thro fortless realms their spreading ranks are wheel'd, On Mohawk's wrestern wave, on Bennington's dread field. At last where Hudson, with majestic pace, Swells at the sight, and checks his rapid race, Thro dark Stillwater slow and silent moves, And flying troops with sullen pause reproves, A few firm bands their starry standard rear, Wheel, front and face the desolating war. Sudden the patriot flame each province warms, Deep danger calls, the freemen quit their farms, Seize their tried muskets, name their chiefs to lead, Endorse their knapsacks and to vengeance speed. O'er all the land the kindling ardor flies, Troop follows troop, and flags on flags arise, Concentred, train'd, their forming files unite, Swell into squadrons and demand the fight.