But chief--the multitude that crowds the field, That points the spear, and lifts the Gorgon shield, Breaks from the slimy marsh and swampy plains, Where proud _Benin_ in triple bulwark reigns. Call'd by the zenith sun, the putrid band Spreads its corrosive poisons o'er the land: Myriads of sprites their gather'd venoms throw, And _acrid_ arrows fly from ev'ry bow.
Rang'd in broad horror, with extended line, In dread battallia the grim spectres shine, Unnumber'd, gory standards wave around, And shrieks and groans (their native music) sound, But now, a dreadful pause--spread wide and far-- Throws more than terror o'er the baleful war. Such dreadful pause shall frighted Nature feel, 'Ere the last trump resounds th' eternal peal, For full in front--in shadowy greatness rear'd Their ghastly leader, Night-born _Death_ appear'd! They rend the wounded air with shouts abhorr'd; Their ruthless monarch gives th' horrific word; Marshals, elate, the rav'ning squadrons o'er, And leads his Furies to the fated shore.
And now the Bark, advancing o'er the main, Drags her disastrous store of guilt and pain-- Approaches, baneful, spreads her dazzling snares, Her glaring instruments of woe prepares, To catch, malign, with many a practic'd wile, And all the mazes of Delusion's guile, The impious native, whom Corruption's hand Has led to desolate his injur'd land.
Wide o'er the soil dire agents wing their way Insatiate prowl for the devoted prey. Unfeeling Avarice deals the galling wound, Destructive hurls the flaming brand around. See--his fell torches spread devouring fires! The peaceful village in the blaze expires. Sunk in the terrors of their burning rage, Lie helpless _infancy_ and feeble _age_: And _vigour_--flying the consuming ray, } 'Scapes--to more poignant ills the wretched prey, } To drag, in tears, and chains his lingering day. }
The harmless cultivator of the soil, Returning from the task of pleasing toil, Torn from the shelter of his kindred grounds, Is dragg'd to bonds, to stripes, and smarting wounds. Meanwhile his anxious wife, with eager eye, Looks on the homeward path, and evening sky. Children, bereft, the nightly boon require, And anxious call their slow-returning sire. Ne'er shall returning sire his children bless-- Ne'er shall the weeping wife her husband press-- Destruction bursting ev'ry tender band, Sweeps, like a deluge, thro' the hapless land!