How long shall Splendid Guilt mankind deceive?
See Conqueror after Conqueror furious sweep
Across the Past! ambitious each to achieve
Time’s most unrighteous Victory, and so reap
Unequalled Sway, and make their Age one heap
Of bloody marvels for Slave-bards to weave
Into loud Verse; and finally, so leave
To Glory names that she should blush to keep!
How greater They, who Tyrants did debel,
And yet all Public Dignities disown
But such as were the means to Serving well!
Compare an Alexander’s wild renown
With the immaculate Memories that crown
The Souls of Hampden, Washington, and Tell.
Other works by Charles Harpur...
