Canst thou, my muse, such desolation view-- Such dreadful havoc 'mong the loyal few; Vile murders, robbery, consuming fire; Mothers, with tender infants, starv'd, expire; Daggers and death in ev'ry hideous face Threat'ning destruction to the northern race; Villains contending with a dev'lish joy Who first shall plunder, or who first destroy; Successful tyranny and laurell'd vice, The gods assisting him, who Heav'n defies; Seeming to spurn the good, th' illustrious youth, Renown'd for mercy, piety, and truth; Reluctant fighting passage to a crown Which none but bigot-whigs deny his own? Can'st thou behold, and still thy grief suppress, Our prince and country in so deep distress? Nor, fir'd with indignation, aid my pen To lash the cruel deeds of guilty men? Rouze, rouze, my muse, and curse the hated cause Of lost religion, liberty, and laws! Thy freedom, Scotland! in one fatal hour Is sacrific'd, alas! to lawless pow'r. All, all is lost! No spark of hope remains; Death only now, or banishment and chains. Hard fate of war! How hast thou changed the scene! What just, what glorious enterprize made vain! Pale Nature trembles; general decay Succeeds the horrors of th' unlucky day. The good, the brave, in sympathy unite, [Sidenote: _fol._ 390.] Amaz'd that Heav'n did not maintain the fight. Despairing beauty languishes to see Such virtue vanquished in a righteous plea. Has godlike Charles (such matchless glories past!) Conquered so oft to be subdued at last? These valiant chiefs, whom native courage fir'd, Then exil'd king's and country's wrongs inspir'd, T' assert the rights each one enjoy'd before, And king and country's liberties restore; Failing in that, with just contempt of life, Resolv'd to perish 'midst the glorious strife; Must these true heroes, these great patriots yield And the usurper's forces keep the field? A bloody, perjur'd, mercenary crew, Who fled but lately whom they now pursue Like fiends of hell, by worse than demon led, They _kill the wounded_ and they rob the dead. O! Act of horror! more than savage rage Unparallel'd in any former age! Curst be the barb'rous executing hand, And doubly curst who gave the dire command. A deed so monstrous, shocking ev'n to name, To all eternity 'twill damn their fame.