But why alone commemorate the dead, And pass those glorious heroes by, who yet 195 Breathe the same air, and see the light with us?-- The dead, Leander, are but empty names, And they who fall to-day the same to us As they who fell ten centuries ago!-- Lost are they all that shined on earth before; 200 Rome's boldest champions in the dust are laid, Ajax and great Achilles are no more, And Philip's warlike son, an empty shade!-- A Washington among our sons of fame Will rise conspicuous as the morning star 205 Among the inferior lights:-- To distant wilds Virginia sent him forth-- With her brave sons he gallantly opposed The bold invaders of his country's rights, Where wild Ohio pours the mazy flood, 210 And mighty meadows skirt his subject streams.-- But now delighting in his elm tree's shade, Where deep Potowmac laves the enchanting shore, He prunes the tender vine, or bids the soil Luxuriant harvests to the sun display.-- 215 Behold a different scene--not thus employed Were Cortez, and Pizarro, pride of Spain, Whom blood and murder only satisfied, And all to glut their avarice and ambition!-- _Eugenio_ Such is the curse, Acasto, where the soul 220 Humane is wanting--but we boast no feats Of cruelty like Europe's murdering breed:-- Our milder epithet is merciful, And each American, true hearted, learns To conquer, and to spare; for coward souls 225 Alone seek vengeance on a vanquished foe. Gold, fatal gold, was the alluring bait To Spain's rapacious tribes--hence rose the wars From Chili to the Caribbean sea, And Montezuma's Mexican domains: 230 More blest are we, with whose unenvied soil Nature decreed no mingling gold to shine, No flaming diamond, precious emerald, No blushing sapphire, ruby, chrysolite, Or jasper red--more noble riches flow 235 From agriculture, and the industrious swain, Who tills the fertile vale, or mountain's brow. Content to lead a safe, a humble life, Among his native hills, romantic shades Such as the muse of Greece of old did feign, 240 Allured the Olympian gods from chrystal skies, Envying such lovely scenes to mortal man. _Leander_