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The circumstance related in the following lines occurred during the American War.¹ no alteration or addition has been made to the story.

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The guns have ceased their thunder! – dreadful pause – Hark! twas the shout of conquest – & again! Louder it rose. the flag of England floats Triumphant: from their ranks the victors rush They speed them to the spoil: – no human tongue Hath told what followed. to the distant shores Of England tidings came of victory; She heard, & in her bloody annals wrote One day of glory more. the conquerors deeds A prudent silence veiled, yet one was wrought That shall not be forgotten. To their prey They rushd in scattered troops from house to house. A band of four at one were entering When from the window came a female arm And fired its only weapon; one fell dead, The rest burst in & called with oaths for her Who did the murder. She came forth & said She was the murderer, & she askd for death – A Woman – a young Woman, who that day Had seen her brother slaughtered, whom that day Had widowed. They were men & Englishmen: And they took counsel or to murder her Or glut their lust amid t her agonies And let her live polluted. There was one Amid these ruffians to whom God had given A heart that war & sociate wickedness Had not corrupted quite. he drew his sword And swore that should not be. – in after years He told the tale; – aye with a bitterness That made his eye look terrible, he told How he had done thus much, & cursed himself, For he stood by, stood patiently & saw His comrades strip even her last garments off Then spurn her forth all naked on the world.²

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Descriptive Fragment.

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—— Every where Nature is lovely; on the mountain height, Or where the embosomed mountain glen displays Secure sublimity, or where around The undulated surface gently slopes With mingled hill & valley, – every where Nature is lovely. Even in scenes like these Where not a hillock breaks the unvaried plain The eye may find new charms that seeks delight. At eve I walk abroad: the setting sun Hath softened with a rich & mellow hue The cool, fresh, air; below, a bright expanse, The waters of the Broad lie luminous. I gaze around – the unbounded plain presents Ocean immensity, whose circling line The bending heaven shuts in.³

[MS missing]

And naked in thy paramours embrace, Till the avenging sword awake & strike.⁴

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