THE 
 
 MOUNTAIN MUSE.
 
 THE 
 
 MOUNTAIN MUSE, 
 
 COMPRISING 
 
 THE ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 DANIEL BOONEi 
 
 AND 
 
 THE POWER 
 of 
 
 VIRTUOUS AND REFINED BEAUTT. 
 
 BY DANIEL BRYAN. 
 
 9F RQCKIXGHAU COUNTr, VIRGINIA. 
 
 HARRISONBURG : 
 
 Printed for the Author : 
 
 BY DAVIDSON &c BOURNE. 
 
 1S13.
 
 District of Virginia to wit j 
 
 ,JJE IT REMEMBERED, That on the eleventh day of 
 September, in the thirty eighth year of the Independence 
 of the United States of America, DANIEL BRYAN of 
 the said district, hath deposited in this Office^ the title 
 of a book, the right whereof he claims as Author, in 
 the words following, to tail : 
 
 " The Mountain Muse : comprising the Adventures 
 of Daniel Boone ; and the power of virtuous and 
 refined Beauty. By Daniel Bryan, of Rockingham 
 County, Virginia." 
 
 In Conformity (o the Act of the Congress of the 
 United States, entituled, tl An act for the encourage 
 ment of learning, by securing the copies of maps, 
 charts and books, to the Authors and Proprietors of 
 such copies, during the times therein mentioned." And 
 also to an act, entituled, "An act supplementary to 
 an act, entituled, " An act for the encouragement of 
 learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and 
 books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such copies, 
 during the times therein mentioned. And extending 
 the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, 
 mnd etching historical and other prints." 
 
 WILLIAM MARSHAL, 
 Clerk of the District of
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 T, 
 
 HE world of Man is a mixture of con 
 trarieties. The source of his sweetest enjoy 
 ments is often the fountain of his bitterest 
 anguish. Like the drops of the weeping cloud, 
 illumed with the momentary bursts of radience 
 which gleam from the sun, as he breaks thro' 
 his floating veil; the tears of woe and mel 
 ancholy often sparkle in the smiles of the 
 same countenance. Those avocations and a- 
 musemenis which grasp the energies, absorb 
 the reflections, animate the Fancy, and electrify 
 with vivid raptures and inextinguishable fas- 
 cination, the spirits of one man, awaken no 
 extacy, no pleasure in the bosom, but excite 
 the contempt, or kindle the hatred of another. 
 Perhaps this unition of extremes in the same 
 , person, and incongruity of dispositions in dif 
 ferent persons, are not any where so strikingly 
 evinced, as among the votaries of the poetic 
 Muse, and between them and the insensate 
 drudges of avaricious cupidity. What pictures of 
 2 
 
 186330
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 mingled light and gloom we behold delineated 
 by the pencil of D' Israeli ! The mere enumera 
 tion of their names would fill a page. Let the 
 case of Collins exemplify the fact of the most 
 exquisite happiness and misery flowing from 
 the same source. His heart was alive to every 
 delicate preception of joy or sorrow. Its chords 
 responded to every vibration of the Muse's 
 Lyre. In the days of his juvenility, they were 
 constantly thrill'd with the delicious breathings 
 of Hope. In those of his maturity, they trembled 
 between the alternate touches of transport and 
 despondency. But, in the dark period of his 
 premature decline, they were tortured with the 
 agonizing shrieks of phrenzy, and the sullen 
 moans of Despair ; until they bled and broke ! 
 Yet even in the moments of his keenest suf 
 ferings, his delirious Muse could throw spells 
 of wild delight across his frantic mind. For 
 even then her song was sweetest melody ; 
 and her influence, as it had been through all 
 his life, irrcsLtable ! The more he endeavor'd 
 to ily from her, the closer she pursued him, 
 and the more deeply he became enamor'd with
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 .he magic of her strains. Thus too, it happens, 
 with those who are less gifted with the divinity 
 of Genius than was the seraphic Collins. The 
 \uthor of the feeble" effusions which compose 
 this Volume, without presuming to intimate, 
 3r daring to believe that he possesses a spark 
 of that Miltonip fire which burns in the pages 
 of loftiest Verse, is compel'd to say, that he 
 has experienced the counter operations of that 
 diversity of emotion, which is so characteristic 
 of those who worship at the shrine of the 
 Muses. He has reveled on the pleasures of 
 an employment, which, while it was too alluring 
 for him to resist, was, he seriously apprehended, 
 and still fears, disseminating for him the seeds 
 of a Harvest of Penury and Melancholy. Why, 
 it has been frequently ask'd him, does he con 
 tinue to disregard these salutary premonitions 
 of his deliberate judgment ? As well might 
 it be ask'd, why does the heedless Candle Fly, 
 which has already scorch'd its wings in the 
 ilame, still flutter around it until it perishes? 
 The Author found himself sliding into the 
 delusive regions of Fancy, and had neither
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 that a person in his circumstances should 
 suspend his preparations for a profitable pro 
 fession, to engage in the proverbially unfruitful 
 employment of the Muse. 
 
 When he was first prevailed upon to add 
 his name to the list of Literary Adventurers, 
 it was his intention to form a Volume from 
 the miscellaneous scraps of his juvenile Rhy 
 ming ; with the addition of a piece upon each 
 of the subjects mentioned in his proposals. 
 But after commencing " Boone's Adventures," 
 he soon found that it would be impossible 
 to do any thing like justice to that subject 
 without giving to it a much greater extension 
 than was at first contemplated. Upon this course 
 therefore, in consonance with the suggestions of 
 his own judgment, and the persuasions of 
 his friends, he determined. He thought it 
 most advisable too, to interweave with the 
 History of Boone the narrative of the "Allegany 
 Robbers and Lost Maid." From the extent 
 therefore, to which these subjects have been 
 amplified, it has become necessary to omit the 
 insertion of all the others of minor magnitude, 
 except that with which the Volume concludes.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 As to the organization and style of these 
 poems, the Author has nothing to observe. 
 Their merit must be tested in the crucible 
 of discriminative Taste and cultivated Intellect. 
 To the decisions of these, and these only, 
 he will bow with submissive deference. 
 
 To those persons, who have kindly con 
 tributed their exertions to promote the diffusion 
 and prosperity of his humble productions, he 
 cannot refuse himself the pleasure, of here 
 tendering the ardent homage of a sincerely 
 grateful heart. Nor can he conclude without 
 indulging himself in the happiness of declaring, 
 that he views in the generous smiles of their 
 encouragement in his own case, that laudable 
 spirit of national emulation, and that zeal for the 
 expansion of literary glory in this prosperous 
 Republic, which, from the amplitude of their 
 operations, must embrace, cherish and in 
 vigorate, all the branches that bloom on the 
 flourishing Stock of American Science. 
 
 HARRISONBURG, 
 November 4th, 1813.
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 IMMEDIATELY subsequent to the transformation 
 of Chaos into order, and previous to the creation of 
 light, the Angels ivho superintend terrestrial affairs 
 assume their stations ; 1 to 47. Tempests, ' Tornados., 
 Conflagrations, Earthquakes, Pestilence, War and Re 
 volutions, flow from their invisible agency ; 48 to 74. 
 Newton, Herschel, Locke, and Reid were illumined by 
 their infusions ; 76 to 93. Devotion is enkindled, and 
 Infidelity intimidated by their inspiration ; 94 to 114. 
 Statesmen are embued with patriotism, and Mariners 
 with intrepidity by the interposition of the celestial 
 Hosts, to whom the general direction of sublunary e- 
 vcnts is committed', 115 to 155. Satanic delusion is 
 more potent than Angelic instructions, in consequence 
 of human Depravity ; 156 to 185, Upon important 
 events the Guardian Spirits hold solemn consultations ; 
 186 to 192. A FIRMAMENTAL HALL erected on the 
 summit of Alltgany ; 193 to 287. The Seraphs as 
 semble, and commence their deliberations with prayer ; 
 28*8 to 304. TRUTH addresses them; 305 to 409. 
 HUMANITY declares his opinions; 421 to 516. ZEAL 
 speaks ; 527 to 792. ENTERPRISE proposes to delegate 
 DANIEL BOONE for the exploration and settlement of 
 Kentucky ; 796 to 893 Of which the Council unani 
 mously approve, and commend him to that Seraph's 
 PROTECTION ; 894 to 900. Having resounded the praise 
 of God ; 901 to 909 RELIGION implores the divine, 
 blessing ; 910 fo925 . The Assembly is dissolved) 
 and the Seraphs return to their appointed spheres.
 
 THE 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 DANIEL BOt).\E. 
 
 BOOK. I. 
 
 WHEN first their dark and yet untravel'd rounds 
 
 Through the inane expanse of pristine Night, 
 
 The planetary conglobatious roll'd ; 
 
 Before the GREAT ETERNAL'S sacred eye, 
 
 Upon the gloom of the sidereal orbs, 5 
 
 Their pure-beam'd, time-enduring splendors flash'd ; 
 
 Ere on Attraction's mystic centre pois'd 
 
 By the Almighty's sun creating hand, 
 
 The blazing ball that lights our solar sphere, 
 
 From the ecliptic^zone his radiance pour'd ; 1(5 
 
 When from their chrystal palaces in Heaven's 
 
 Unmeasur'd heights of bright and cloudless day, 
 
 Th' Angelic Spirits view'd Creation's God, 
 
 Ale 
 
 long th'unresisting void of space, 
 In numberless succession, roiling worlds ; 
 From their celestial ranks they bade descend, 
 
 15
 
 1.6 BOONE'S 
 
 To rule the vast machinery of the globes, 
 
 Supernal hosts with holy power endued. 
 
 With joy, obedient to the kind behest ; 
 
 In robes of interwoven light array 'd, 20 
 
 The delegated phalanx, darting through 
 
 The rayless deeps qf uncreated Night 
 
 A keen pervasive glance, their snow-white vans 
 
 Outspread ; and from th'empyreal battlement's 
 
 Gold-spangled summits, down th'untravers'd void 25 
 
 T'assume their stations on the new made spheres 
 
 Descended, wide diverging as they sail'd. 
 
 So on tenebrious midnight's welkin glooms, 
 
 Disparting balls electrical explode 
 
 Their streaming splendors ; and the moonless Heavens 
 
 With bright but evanescent paths illume. 31 
 
 In numerous points of the expansive bounds 
 Through which conglobate matter rolls, their posts 
 The Seraph Guardians take : their several tasks 
 As multifarious, as remote the climes 35 
 
 They occupy. To some it is assign'd, 
 From headlong violence with care to guard 
 The bold career of flying worlds ; to curb 
 Th'impetuous speed of wild Projection's flight, 
 And Gravitation's centripetal force 40 
 
 Restrain ; these powers conjoin'd to harmonize, 
 And through th'elliptic orbits make them wheel 
 The circumvolving spheres. To some, the Winds, 
 And Seas, and Elements, embowel'd deep
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 17 
 
 Iti Earth's dark-winding caves, 'tis given to rule. 45 
 They are the Agents of th' Almighty's wrath, 
 And they on man His benedictions shed. 
 When Ocean's tides in foaming conflicts roar, 
 And from their massy-heaving billows dash 49 
 
 The crashing Ships, and guzzling whirlpools whelm. 
 The shatter'd wrecks When swift Tornados sweep 
 The suffering' land, demolish loftiest domes, 
 And from their heights the roaring forests hurl 
 When Flames, from house to house, from street to street, 
 Infuriate, wasteful ! spread their blazing wings, 55 
 And into ashes sink a Kingdom's pride- 
 When from their burning bases, mountains burst, 
 And dreadful Earthquakes tear the yawning globe- 
 When Pestilence his miasmatic breath 
 Diffuses o'er the land, and on the lungs 60 
 
 Of pallid millions putrefaction pours 
 When these tremendous scenes on nature's stage 
 Our God displays ; 'tis through the agency 
 Of those seraphic Guardians of the world. 
 
 But not to matter only is con fin 'd 65 
 
 Their superintending care and awful sway. 
 As ministers of God's mysterious laws, 
 They fan the patriot passions into flame ; 
 Bid War his gorgon crest erect, and roll 
 His gory Chariots o'er th' ensanguined fields ; 7f> 
 Bid Monarchs die, and tottering Kingdoms fall ; 
 On Re-volutions, Revolutions rise ;
 
 18 BOONE'S 
 
 And conquering Freedom build on crumbling bones 
 Of slaughter'd Tyranny, her hallow'd fanes ! 
 
 Th' unexplor'd recess of Nature's deeps 75 
 
 They bid th' adventurous sons of science sound ; 
 Her darksome seas, her mazes wild, disclose, 
 Where scarce the sun's refracted beams e'er pierc'd, 
 Or fervid Fancy's eagle vision glanc'd. 
 On glorious Newton's science-scaling soul, 80 
 
 They pour'd the flame of Astronomic zeal ; 
 And bound to Herschel's telescopic mind 
 That wing of sunbeam-speed, and Angel-strength ; 
 Which bore it like a comet through the Heavens, 
 To where nine hundred million miles beyond 8 
 Cold Saturn's orb, the Georgium-Sidus rolls ! 
 
 To Locke and Reid they gave th' ingenious skill 
 T ' unfold the labyrinthian web of mind ; 
 To teach us how the variegated weft 
 In different parts, peculiar tints assumes ; 90 
 
 How light runs into shade, and shade to light, 
 Untill in mingled hues, the changeful whole 
 A beauteous intellectual landscape forms. 
 With sacred ardor, they, those minds endue, 
 Whose fame for piety and wisdom, shed 
 Unfading glory on the favor'd age 
 In which they live. They kindle on the tongues 
 Of God's devout Ambassadors the flames 
 Of melting eloquence ; with tender zeal 
 Their hearts inspire ; with kind persuasion fill 100
 
 ADVENTURES. 19 
 
 Their placid eyes ; and with seraphic grace 
 
 Their fervid action clothe ; untill portray'd 
 
 fn prospect bright, on every feeling mind, 
 
 The bliss of Heaven enraptures and sublimes. 
 
 And if obdurate INFIDELITY 105 
 
 His flinty ramparts round the heart should raise, 
 
 And bar the soft emotions out; empower'd 
 
 By their inspiring Guardians' potent aid, 
 
 [n pure and dread solemnity enshrin'd ; 
 
 The sinner-shaking bolt of Gospel law, 110 
 
 Truth-aim'd against th'opposing walls, they hurl ; 
 
 'Till down the rotten-pi llar'd masses sink 
 
 And ope the avenues, to where expos'd 
 
 On Hell's black verge, the cold affections sleep ! 114 
 
 The ardent Statesman's breast with patriot love 
 Those sacred Spirits swell ; his toil intense 
 Assist ; while he with sleepless eye explores 
 Politic tomes of elder years, and turns 
 Attentive o'er the crumbling page of time ; 
 While he in midnight silence meditates 120 
 
 Or* Empires buried in the grave of years ; 
 How they from sickly infancy arose 
 To proud Colossal strength : and how they thence 
 Descended down Destruction's dangerous steeps, 
 Till prematurely sunk in Ruin's gulphs 125 
 
 They rise no more what causes gave their day 
 Of prosperous grandeur, spread their features o'er 
 With Freedom, Gladness, Health and virtuous Smiles j
 
 20 BOONE'S 
 
 Or what their sunny brightness overcast 
 
 With baneful blackness, the foundations min'd 13tf 
 
 Which prop'd their fame what canker'd all their hopes, 
 
 And tumbled their proud Monuments in dust. 
 
 The daring Mariner's intrepid soul 
 
 With the bold zeal of glorious Enterprise 
 
 And venturous Emulation, they inflame : 135 
 
 Through freezing seas his frightful passage steer, 
 
 Direct him how the icy shoals t'escape, 
 
 And where to find the long-sought savage shore. 
 
 They bid him fearless, tread the desert wild, 
 
 And undismay'd, its tawny tenants meet; 140 
 
 Their blood-fed fierceness gently turn aside, 
 
 And by familiar smiles their kindness win. 
 
 As man, refin'd adventurous man appears, 
 
 They bid the cheerless forest-glooms disperse, 
 
 And o'er the wastes the polish'd ARTS extend. 1 45 
 
 The life-exterminating Beasts are slain, 
 
 The merciless arm of savage rage is bound 
 
 In Law's corrective pale, and Pain, and Blood, 
 
 And Plunder cease. 
 
 Thus from Creation's hour, 150 
 In every province of our planet Earth 
 Throughout the mighty bounds of Universe, 
 In all the various spheres which appertain 
 To matter and to mind, Angelic power 
 Has exercis'd a superintending rule. 155 
 
 But iince from Hell the poisonous breath of SIN
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 2[ 
 
 1'irst tainted an apostatizing world 
 
 Th' infernal FOE of man's felicity 
 
 Has ever envious opposition made 
 
 To all that purpos'd good to him on earth, 160 
 
 Or in his future life has station'd thick 
 
 Through every province of the peopled globe, 
 
 I [is Hell-train'd swarms of evil-working fiends, 
 
 Who keep uninterrupted watch for means 
 
 I'D counteract the power of Angel-zeal 165 
 
 On man : \vho hold or turn in Satan's paths 
 
 His blundering steps, and mail in horrid scales 
 
 Kis clouded eyes ; oft too deriving aid 
 
 From man's own will, their hellish schemes succeed: 
 
 And they the conflict oft long-while maintain 17O 
 
 E'en when defeat at length their efforts ends. 
 
 For man in cases which affect his doom 
 
 When brought before the Great Eternal Judge, 
 
 Th' advice which Angel intimations give 
 
 Has always power to follow or reject. 175 
 
 In clogging with embarrassments the plans 
 
 Which Man's seraphic Monitors devise 
 
 T'effect his melioration, Hell's grim King 
 
 And goblin minions feel malignant joy. 
 
 But notwithstanding all the stygian realm 180 
 
 Disgorge on Earth its legions, to oppose 
 
 The Guardian Seraphs ; yet when not withstood 
 
 By man's own will, in matters which pertain 
 
 To his immortal state, the sacred hosts
 
 22 BOONE'S 
 
 The prize of glorious victory always win. 185 
 
 When subjects of momentous weight arise, 
 When great occasions claim their righteous aidj 
 And vast extensive interests are involv'd ; 
 Those superintending Spirits then are wont 
 In great and solemn council to convene, 190 
 
 And consultation hold on all the points 
 Which to the grand concernment appertain. 
 'Twas thus the immortal Spirits who preside 
 O'er the vast regions of the WESTERN WILD, 
 In grand assemblage met ; when call'd to weigh 195 
 Th' important interests which its cause involv'd. 
 
 When nought but Beasts and bloody Indians dwelt 
 Throughout the mighty waste, and Cruelty 
 And Death and Superstition triple-leagued, 
 Held there their horrid reign, and impious sway ; 200 
 The Guardian Seraphs of benign REFORM 
 With keen prophetic glance the worth beheld 
 Of the immense expanse, its future fame, 
 Its ponderous moment in the golden scales 
 Of Freedom, Science, and Religious Truth , 20.5 
 
 When by Refinement's civilizing hand 
 Its roughnesses should all be smooth'd aws 
 With zeal the animating prospect fir'd 
 The glowing Guardians, fili'd with views sublime 209 
 Their lofty minds, their enterprising powers awak'd, 
 And urged them to this laudable resolve 
 That o'er Columbia's Western Wilderness, 

 
 ADVENTURES. 2*3 
 
 Politic Wisdom should her reign extend 
 And Emigration pour her splendid swarms. 
 
 With ease, their glorious purpose to achieve, 215 
 And spare excessive waste of human blood ; 
 Those sacred friends of Culture's spreading power 
 And humanizing energy, announced 
 To all the station'd Seraphs who preside 
 O'er the benighted WEST, their, high design ; 220 
 And summons gave them quickly to convene 
 In their aerial Courts. Meanwhile command 
 Was given th' ethereal Guardians to prepare, 
 High o'er the Alleganean Mountain-Heights, 
 For the Divan, a FIRMAMENTAL HALL. 23 
 
 Anon, obedient to the high behest, 
 The mighty Spirit of the welkin deeps 
 Bade convoluted winds, with furious flight 
 And curvilinear sweep, encompass all 
 The Atmospheric bounds ; and dash and roll 230 
 To the appointed place of Rendezvous, 
 With all their fulminating Magazines, 
 Th' encircled Regiments of mingled clouds ! 
 The gloomy Vast, impetuous bowlings pierce; 234 
 The Northern Gates, tempestuous Whirlwinds burst ; 
 And Mountain-Caverns wide-expanded, vent 
 Their hissing blasts. Against impinging clouds, 
 With driving strength, th' encircling Tempests rush 
 And from their boundary's wide circumference roll 
 Converging, the dark billowy-mixing mass, 24>
 
 24 BOOKE'S 
 
 From cloud to cloud, in blazing torrents stream 
 
 Th' avvaken'd fires electric : flashing flames 
 
 In forky grandeur, with ethereal light, 
 
 Projected peaks of rolling vapour crown ; 
 
 And all the nubilous involutions paint 245 
 
 With intermitting Lightning's vivid tints : 
 
 While glancing scintillations spangle thick 
 
 With dancing lustre all the clouded gloom ; 
 
 And Angry Meteors, flaming as thy fly, 
 
 With burning paths their ragged way emblaze. 250 
 
 From ridge to ridge of the big Mountain-Mass, 
 
 Dark sullen Thunders by the conflicts wak'd, 
 
 Their sky-convulsing detonations pour. 
 
 Their destin'd point, th'embattled volumes reach ; 
 
 And rest. The grand, the wonderous Edifice, 255 
 
 The great th'ethereal Architect begins. 
 
 Wide over Allegany's summit spread, 
 
 Of close impacted, squared and polish'd clouds 
 
 Constructed, the extended base appears ; 
 
 And of the same compressed material form'd, 260 
 
 Octagonal the burnish'd walls ascend, 
 
 Sublimely towering through the midway skies ! 
 
 Broad sheets of lightning constitute the roof, 
 
 Whose flashing splendors flood with day the Heavens, 
 
 When Night spreads o'er the sun her darkling wings. 
 
 Reflected from the Fabric's upright squares, 266 
 
 Prismatic tinctures paint the fragment-clouds, 
 
 Which float unused in widening fleeces round
 
 ADVENTUHSS. 25 
 
 Its myriad windows and its thousand gates 
 
 V'"ere all of pure translucent ether wrought, 270 
 
 ^nd all with bright festoons superbly hung 
 
 Of pansied clouds, and wreathed lightnings made. 
 
 B^th North and South of the maguific dome, 
 
 Iii grand Corinthian style and towering state, 
 
 On Meteor-Pillars rear'd, refulgent shone 275 
 
 Its roomy porticos. Innumerous seats, 
 
 Of downy clouds composed, and white and soft 
 
 As Cygnet plumes, in graceful circles ranged; 
 
 Around th'mterior of the shining hall, 
 
 All ready for the Angel host appear'd. 
 
 A canopy ot' Rainbows intertwined 
 
 In spiral union, forming in the whole, 
 
 A beauteous arch of intermingled hues 
 
 As rich as Fancy's pencil can portray ; 
 
 And variegated as the tints of light 285 
 
 In all their gayly blended forms can be, 
 
 High o'er each line of dazzling sofas bends. 
 
 The glorious edifice in all its parts 
 Consummate, the seraphic Guardians lift 
 Their snow-white pinions on the cloudless air, 290 
 A: id reach the gorgeous gates. In robes attired 
 Of purple ether, the Majestic Spirit 
 Oi clouds and storms, with Angel courtesy 
 Th 'enraptured Host address'd, and mildly ask'd 
 Fiom their united souls a prayer devout, 395 
 
 li That Heaven's benedictions might descend, 
 C
 
 
 26 BOONE S 
 
 * * 
 
 And consecrate the new-erected Fane." 
 The courtesy with sweet benignant grace 
 They all return'd, and humbly breathed to God 
 Their pious supplication. This perform'd, SCO 
 
 In majesty sublime, with sacred air 
 And lofty mien, the solemn-musing host 
 Ingression made, and as they advanced, assumed 
 Their plume-soft seats. Awhile, in silence deep 
 They sat till TRUTH'S complacent Angel rose, 305 
 And in perspicuous style, at large disclosed, 
 The causes multifarious, which conspired 
 T'enlist with animated zeal their powers 
 In prosecution of the glorious finrl, 
 For which they were in solemn synod call'd. 310 
 The pure-eyed Seraph thus his feelings spake- 
 " Immortal Guardians of this Western World ! 
 Your wisdom now a mighty theme demands 1 
 Let all the beams of bright Divinity, 
 Which to your minds illumination gives, 
 And sanctifies your pure and spotless hearts, 
 Now on your mental vision clearly shine ; 
 Till its keen glances every point explore 
 Of the immense concern that brings us here. 
 The Almighty's glory and his creature's weal, 320 
 Which moved his holy power this well-plan'd globe? 
 And all that is to form, have ne'er attaiu'd 
 In the uncultured regions of the West 
 The splendid elevation HE design'd.
 
 ADVENTURES. 27 
 
 ] i various other provinces of Earth, 325 
 
 Where less prolific means of life and health 
 Kxist Where sterile soil, and freezing winds 
 Against the industry of man contend, 
 And starve, and choak kind Nature's friendliest growth ; 
 Where states ambitious, hostile, feast on War, 380 
 And stain with blood the snowy Crest of peace ; 
 K'en there, Refinement's pleasure-dealing hand, 
 The bliss which fits the soul for tasting Heaven, 
 And gives existence all its honied zest, 
 Hath scatter'd wide and copiously around . 335 
 
 E'en there, a thousand consecrated Fanes, 
 To glorify our God, in grandeur rise. 
 Why then should mild, and more congenial climes, 
 Where the maternal hand of Nature rears 
 Salubrious plenty from her fruitful soil, 340 
 
 Diffusing through the aromatic air, 
 The pleasant fragrance of mellifluous blooms ; 
 Where softest Music pours perennial songs, 
 And summer-cooling Rivers roll their floods, 
 Inviting Population to their banks, 345 
 
 And cheering Commerce to their crystal waves; 
 O ! why should climes distinguish'd thus by Heaven, 
 Tli* afifirofiriate residence of cultured life 
 In dark barbarian glooms continue wrap'd, 
 Th' abode of prowling Savages and Beasts 350 
 
 Llilood-Ujpigering fierce? No portion of this Earth 
 o nurture Hell's infernal grisly brood,
 
 28 BOONE'S 
 
 Was by its holy Maker e'er design'd ; . 
 
 Or to remain a dark and frightful waste, 
 
 When wisely furnish'd for the residence 355 
 
 Of rational, humane and polish'd Man. 
 
 For HE the righteous Author of the World 
 
 Design'd, that we, as Guardians of his work, 
 
 And Agents of his holy will ; that We, 
 
 Should open in the regions of the West 360 
 
 A sanctuary from the foes of VICE, 
 
 Who from Oppression, Cruelty, and Wrong, 
 
 And all the ills of European climes, 
 
 Have fled, a refuge here lo find, beneath 
 
 Tli' Angelic wings of Liberty and Peace. 
 
 The sacred duty thus to us assign'd, 
 
 We only have as yet in part perform'cl. 
 
 Wide stretching from the Alleganean Mount 
 
 Far westward and towards north and south, vast bounds 
 
 Of rich and beauteous country unreclaim'd 370 
 
 From dreary wildness, ask our culturing aid. 
 
 God's wisdom and munificence declare, 
 
 'Tis not his will, that those luxuriant climes 
 
 Should be monopolized by scatter'd hordes 
 
 Of rude preciaceous men, who feed on blood, 37 j 
 
 And all their days through dismal darkness grope ; 
 
 White crouded into unproductive nooks, 
 
 In other regions, polish'd millions starve. 
 
 Lo ! how already, trom th' Atlantic deeps 
 
 ,Xo where this Mountain lifts its clouded brow, 3fc. 
 
 , 

 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 Our influence, has th 'effulgent floods diffused, 
 
 Of Revelation's everlasting light ; 
 
 Dispersing superstition's sombre shades, 
 
 And settling science on her splendid, seat, 
 
 Serenely bright, seraphic, and sublime ! 385 
 
 How have we clothed a wilderness with smiles, 
 
 And made the gloomy heaths and deserts bloom ! 
 
 Mow to the exiles of a tyrant land, 
 
 A home, and all the joys of life we've given ! 
 
 Erecting in this new-discover'd World, 390 
 
 A bless'd Asylum for sweet Liberty, 
 
 And for each sacred Virtue that adorns 
 
 The Patriot's and the Christian's hallow 'd lives. 
 
 But westward of these mighty mountain piles, 
 
 Th' illuminating blaze of Gospel day, 395 
 
 Our civilizing influence ne'er has spread. 
 
 Now is tii* auspicious time for us to plant 
 
 Our beaming banner firmly in those wilds. 
 
 For now, the East with population teems, 
 
 And gallant thousands would our call attend. . 400 
 
 For now the tide of Emigration rolls, 
 
 The sons of Europe to Columbia's shores, 
 
 And swarms are sighing for a land to call 
 
 Their own. O ! then, immortal seraphs muse ! 
 
 Profoundly muse, on the momentous theme, 405 
 
 And your impressions give ; that all the light 
 
 Of our united minds may clearly shew, 
 
 In prosecution of the high design,
 
 30 BOONK'S 
 
 The best, the wisest course, for us to take." 
 
 Thus spake the Angel of celestial Truth. 410 
 
 HUMANITY'S bright seraph next, 
 With sweetly melting grace, divinely rose. 
 As innocently meek as Infancy, 
 When mildly slumbering in an Angel's arms, 
 His lovely features \vere ; a tender smile 415 
 
 With holy grandeur mingled, o'er them beam'd ; 
 And in his eye the tear uffeding' shone. 
 Fiom underneath his snowy mantle, forth 
 His beauteous hand he waved ; and from his lips 
 In mild seraphic melody, effused 420 
 
 TV ensuing strain. " Ye venerated hosts ! 
 Our great compeer with transport have I heard, 
 And much his weighty counsel do approve. 
 So comprehensive was his general view, 
 That our peculiar interests; if we may 425 
 
 Peculiar call, what are so intertwined ; 
 His kind benevolent feelings to engage, 
 Seem VI little less, if less, than did his own. 
 In every fibre of my throbbing heart, 
 His every word a lively echo found. 430 
 
 O yes ! companions in the joys of bliss ! 
 We will refine, exalt, and humanize 
 Th' uncivilized Barbarians of the West. 
 The bloody-minded Wretch who now can see, 
 Without a single pitying sigh or tear, 43$ 
 
 Beneath the ruthless hatchet's dreadful edge,
 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 An inoffensive Infant bleed and die ; 
 Can hear unmoved the Captive Mother plead, 
 Tuat her sweet, dariing innocent may live ; 
 Can, when the writhing of her Babe has ceased, 440 
 And death its little eyes in night hath seal'd ; 
 The fainting Mother to a doom devote 
 Still more ferocious ! More infernal still ! 
 The tusk, the Godlike task be ours, that wretch 
 In bright Refinement's golden crucible 445 
 
 Tw melt, to decompose and sublimate 1 
 Untill to pity's thrilling touch alive, 
 Ht; thinks, he acts, and feels, as social MAN ! 
 How comforth-ss ! with misery how replete, 
 Th' unenlightenM Indian's barbarous life ! 450 
 
 Their golden billows o'er the smiling plain, 
 For him, no plenty-yielding Harvests wave ; 
 For ' i u, in fields no flocks domestic raa^e ; 
 For him, no fruitage-purpled gardens blush; 
 Nor ripen'd Orchards on the dewy grass 455 
 
 Their mellow burdens drop, emitting wide 
 A honied fragrance on the fluttering gales. 
 For him, no rich and fiavorous viands crown, 
 
 For mirth-inspiring Wines, the social feast ; 
 
 lo ornamented dome for him unfolds 460 
 
 Its sculptured doors No decent cottage screens, 
 the bleak winter blasts, his thin-clad limbs ; 
 
 for easy couch e'er rests his aching frame. 
 
 lut penury, and cold, and weariness
 
 52 BOONE S 
 
 Are the attendants of his joyless life. 
 The forest H<. rb ge and the Mountain Beasts, 
 Through wind, and rair., and snow, with danger sought, 
 His meagre store of doubtful food supply. 
 Half-starved, and shivering, through the driving blasts, 
 Successless oft, the CATERER returns, 470 
 
 To where beneath his smoking hut of bark, 
 His pining wife, and naked babes, he left ; 
 And finds them butchcr'd by a neighbouring foe, 
 Or torn, and slaughter'd by blood-drinking Beasts ! 
 It much behoves us then, August Compeers ! 475 
 Among the wild barbarians of the West, 
 The humanizing Arts to introduce; 
 To bid industrious Agriculture pour 
 His cheering comforts through their needy tri 
 And bury Carnage, Penury, and Woe, 
 Beneath the bosom of the furrow'd soil. 
 But oh .' how delicate the glorious task ! 
 How hard t' achieve without the waste of blood 
 Short-sighted, blind to all that can adorn, 
 Exalt, illume, and dignify their lives, 485 
 
 The WHITES, the jealous Indians view as foes, 
 Who purpose their extinction from the globe. 
 With means so badly suited to the end, 
 'Tis not within the compass of our power, 
 So great a work t'effVct, without the loss 490 
 
 Of many lives, unless an agency 
 We interpose, so Jialjiably divine
 
 ADVENTURES. 33 
 
 As to transcend the boundaries of our sphere, 
 
 And overwhelm with Miracles the mind 
 
 Of dim-eyed man. But still our rightful power 495 
 
 Embraces such extent of various means, 
 
 For the performance of our rig '\t-ous plans, 
 
 That much the interests of my ,<-fi>- cial cause 
 
 Depends on the selection of a course, 499 
 
 Through which our great design must be achieved : 
 
 That course, though tardiest, and of pomp devoid, 
 
 Whose progress, least sanguineous traces stain, 
 
 And slightest vestiges of suffering mark, 
 
 Is doubtlessly the one we should prefer. 
 
 But other spirits here there are, who b<-st 505 
 
 Can designate the peaceful plan we wish 
 
 Who understanding best the; savage heart, 
 
 Its passions, dispositions, whims, and views, 
 
 Know best the means its confid. r.ce to win. 
 
 Yes, s-tcred Guardians of the d>:sfrt W-st ! 510 
 
 From you we claim the necessity light 
 
 On- weighty subject needs. Thus much we've said, 
 
 That you the cause might clearly comprehend 
 
 Of this our great and sacred convocation : 
 
 We now tli' expression of your holy views, 515 
 
 In silence wait." A musing pause ensued ; 
 
 Till on a signal given by his colleagues, 
 
 To whom, with him, peculiarly pertains 
 
 The govern mce of those expansive wilds, 
 
 The holy Spirit of Superintending Zeal, 520
 
 34 BOONE S 
 
 And Delegated Trust, whose labors were 
 
 Within no s/iecial province circumscribed ; 
 
 But an auxiliary aid to all 
 
 The Western Peers imparted, and for them 
 
 The cares of Embassy sustain'd, arose, 525 
 
 And thus with glowing animation spake. 
 
 " On the abundant energizing zeal, 
 In this sublime concern so promptly shewn ; 
 With warm congratulations from the heart, 
 This reverend convocation I salute. 530 
 
 At length, immortal peers ! th' eventful voyage 
 Of sailing Time has brought us to a sea, 
 O;i whose wide breast ten thousand scenes appear 
 In prospect changeful, as in number great. 
 Here fruitful islets, gay in flowery robes, 
 Perfume the gales and cheer the gazing eye. 
 There frowning rocks high heave their gloomy heads 
 And cast, their shady horrors wide around. 
 H. re, soft-wing'd breezes kiss the slumbering waves 
 And gently fan the brilliant flame of joy, 540 
 
 Keeping alive the spark in Hope's bright eye. 
 There, death-jaw'd Tempests howl for prey, 
 And lash with league-long wings the tumbling deeps. 
 But when we reach this sea's magmfic shore, 
 Bright glory's richest treasures wait us there : 54.:- 
 And though we meet obstructions on the way, 
 Our God, th' unerring pilot of the just, 
 Will guide us safely through each threatening pass. 
 
 ff,
 
 ADVENTURES. 35 
 
 At length, Angelic colleagues ! dawns the day, 549 
 Which will with due reward our labors crown : 
 The day when all th' innunierous treasur'd stores 
 By us prepared in our immense domain, 
 Will yield their splendors to exulting Man, 
 And magnify the glory of our King, 
 By nurturing millions in our fertile Wilds, 555 
 
 His name to celebrate, and courts to croud. 
 E'er since, at God's behest this massy Orb, 
 Its annual rounds commenced ; our powers divine 
 Have sway'd unconquer'd, though by Hell's black fiends 
 Oft times opposed, that vast unpeopled land ; 560 
 And from successive dangers with our shields 
 Angelic, guarded all the wide expanse. 
 Rememuci , Peers ! th'exertion of our might, 
 We erst bestow'd to save that vast domain, 5fi* 
 When God's almighty vengeance glow'd from Heaven 
 Down through this sinful globe, and fast exhaled 
 Her boiling waters from their foaming gulphs, 
 Their rumbling reservoirs, and roaring seas, 
 And fill'd with floods the frowning firmament ; 
 Untill from bursting and o'e\-burden'd clouds, 570 
 Throughout the lapse of " forty days and nights," 
 O'erwhelming deep and wide the drowning globe, 
 Profuse the congregated Oceans gush'd. 
 Remember, Peers I how then our posts we kept, 
 By all the watery terrors undismay'd : 575 
 
 And scenes like those> so woe-fraught, vast, and dread,
 
 36 BOONE'S 
 
 In times before, or since, have ne'er transpired. 
 
 Seraphic language can't portray, nor mind, 
 
 Unless it siw, conceive the prospect, we 
 
 On that occasion view'd ; the terrors, which, 580 
 
 To guard from Wreck our realm, we then withstood* 
 
 We saw and heard the tumbling torrents roll 
 
 Wiih roaring rage, o'er crags, and rocks, and steeps 
 
 Of thundering mountains, and of trembling hills ; 
 
 And thence swift down the winding dells descend. 
 
 Till on the deluged plains their Oceans pour'd ; 
 
 In dreadful desolation, burying deep 
 
 Citation's mii!io;s! Man, and Beast, and Fowl; 
 
 All save the favor'd remnant in the Ark ; 
 
 While cities, domes, and fanes, the wealth and pride 
 
 Of haughty prince dom's, sweli'd the ro"s vi-ci,k. 
 
 Athwart the turbid uccps outstretch'd, immense ! 
 The sturdy criants we beheld roll back 
 With strong nerved arms, the darkly tumbling waves* 
 Till with fatigue o'erpower'd, in mad despair, 595 
 They grasp'd convulsively the floating drifts, 
 'Whence soon by strongly driving torrents swept. 
 Amid the gulphs vertiginous they sunk : 
 Still hugely heaving through the swallowing tide, 
 Till from their spouting nostrils gush'd their lives. 
 His raven-color'd flag, full-feasted Death 601 
 
 Spread on the frothy flood and grin'd with joy, 
 To see on every surge his trophies float. 
 In that unequal'd hour of his dread reign,
 
 BOONE'S .37 
 
 What horrors hover'd o'er the woeful wreck, 60S 
 Around the Heavens, a dismal darkness frown'd : 
 No glance of light the dreary gloom could pierce, 
 Save what the rushing meteor swiftly shot ; 
 Disclosing thickly through the murky glare, 
 Ten thousand grisly ghosts, and on the waves 610 
 As many froth-white corses, ghastly, wan ! 
 
 We saw the swelling floods, like battling hosts 
 In foaming vengeance, roll their adverse tides, 
 And meet, and break, and roar. Still higher rose, 
 And higher still, the counter-torrents ; dark, 615 
 
 Stupendous, raging, desolating, wild ! 
 Amid the watery wars, VOLCANOS burst ; 
 And through the deeps, their hissing lavas belch'd. 
 Tremendous thunders shook the shud'ring world ; 
 Wide-circling whirlpools stretchM their gulphy jaws. 620 
 The hills were swept away ! the mountains torn 
 Aside, and tumbled through the rolling Vast ! 
 While black. DAMNATION'S legions scream'd with joy ! 
 'Twas then immortal Spirits ! our powers were tried. 
 Amid commotions, horrors, groans, and death, 625 
 Our souls were stay'd ! No fears our valor chill'd ! 
 The crashing wrecks we brav'd, and bore aloof 
 From our domain, the desolating DRIFTS 
 Of broken mountains, hills, and rough-edg'd rocks ; 
 Which driven in ridgy masses, rudely tore, 630 
 
 And furrow'd up with ruinous force, the LAND, 
 So steep'd, and yielding then, -wheree'er they roll'di 
 
 D
 
 38 ADVENTURES. 
 
 And as the waning inundation sunk 
 
 We still our powers preservative employ'd : 
 
 Our soil from the accumulated PILES, 
 
 Outweighing then the weakning waves, to guard. 635 
 
 That time from threatening injury thus sccur'd 
 Our beauteous realms ; through all vicissitudes 
 Of changing elements, they still have been 
 Our unneglected charge, our constant care. 
 When from the gen'ral surface of the globe 
 The deep o'erwhelming DELUGE disappeared; 
 To qualify for future use, t'enrich 
 And beautify the land, we spread a Lake, 
 Expansive, pure, throughout a wide extent 
 Of the delightful west, and rear'd of rock 
 A mound, to bar its access to the main 
 South west ward ; long within its meted bounds, 
 With principles of fertilizing power 
 Keplcte, the beauteous inland sea remain'd, 650 
 
 Discharging through the channels of the, north 
 Its suficrabounding floods. Its end attain'd, 
 We bade explosive matter form a train, 
 And through the mountain-ledge a passage burst. 
 With rapid flow, to Mexico's great gulph, 655 
 
 The unsustain'd, immense of water gushed ! 
 And left the bosom of th'enriched expanse 
 T'cr,joy the temp'rings of a genial sun. 
 To those high-favor'd regions, to impart 
 Still prouder charms, salubrity, and wealth, 66 > 
 
 UJV
 
 BOONE S 
 
 And give them commerce with th'enlightened world ; 
 
 We bade from distant mountains, rivers rise, 
 
 And roll their currents through the mcllow'd plains; 
 
 Meanwhile, wide o'er its surface Vegetation sprang, 
 
 And trees in shady pride majestic grew ; 665 
 
 Around whose virent branches, thickly twined 
 
 Luxuriant vines. Large-grown, gay-tinted flowers, 
 
 The groves with intermingled beauties cloth'd j 
 
 And sprinkled odorous sweets on every gale. 
 
 The tender melody of feather'd love, 67 
 
 Its animation spread. With raptur'd life, 
 
 Each spray was bending. Each successive season, 
 
 Successive beauties brought. E'en Winter's reign, 
 
 Though Vegetation fell beneath his frown, 
 
 With more fertility the soil endued. 67s 
 
 Thus, holy guardians ! had our care prepar'd, 
 Long ere his foot had press'd this western world, 
 In it for man, a rich and charming home. 
 And yet than bloody beasts and savages, 
 No other habitants can there be found. 480 
 
 E'er since from Asiatic climes arriv'd 
 The tawny legions, still our guardian zeal, 
 With unremitting fervency has glow'd. 
 ow oft when elemental conflicts roar'd 
 
 ,Vithin our beauteous country's blooming bounds, 65> 
 And threatened with convulsions to destroy 
 Its elegance, and worth, have we restrain'd 
 
 Their devastating rage, and laid asleep
 
 40 ADVENTURES. 
 
 The jarring ferment. Recollect, O Peers ! 
 
 That awful day, the slaughter'd Mammoth fell! 
 
 Against satanic spirits then was roll'd, 
 
 The thunders of our wrath. What powers of soul I 
 
 What energy of nerve ! was then requir'd 
 
 To slay the ravening tyrants of the West ! 
 
 The dreadful monarchs of the trembling beasts ! 695 
 
 And vanquish their infernal aids from Hell ! 
 
 Yet this we did, seraphic peers, and more ! 
 
 But why our guardian feats enumerate, 
 
 Since every eye in this divan, declares, 
 
 Divine determination to pursue 70o 
 
 The glorious object which conven'd us here. 
 
 It would, with angel wisdom ill accord, 
 
 Such zealous vigilance to exercise; 
 
 And such illustrious labors to perform ; 
 
 Without a consummation Of the views 
 
 Which gave them origin. 'Tis Folly's part 
 
 To toil, and not enjoy. To clear the soil, 
 
 And leave it, t'expend with pains his time, and wealth 
 
 In building mansions for the vagrant winds. 
 
 What next demands attention is the means 710 
 By which our object best can be achiev'd. 
 And here the Seraph who address'd you last, 
 Has kindly yielded preference to us, 
 Colleagues divine ! as understanding best 
 The savage heart, and therefore best prepar'd, 
 To say what course is likeliest to ensure
 
 BOONE S *J 
 
 Our cause suecess. The means which I propose. 
 As best adapted to the great design, 
 Is some adventurous woodsman to select ; 
 And secretly his soul inspire to choose 
 A band of daring comrades, to explore 
 In hunting guise, our wide unsettled realm ; 
 That while unwak'd the savage jealousies 
 Remain ; such general knowledge may be gain'd 
 Of that delightful land, as will invite 
 Columbia's enterprising heroes there. 
 But let the chief on whom our choice alights, 
 lie one, in whose expanded breast are found, 
 The great, ennobling virtues of the soul ; 
 Benevolence, Mercy, Meekness, Pity, Love, 730 
 
 Benignant Justice, Valor lion-like, 
 And Fortitude, with stoic nerves endow'd. 
 And those with whom his fortune is combin'd, 
 Let them be great and virtuous like himself. 
 For if unable to dispose the hearts 735 
 
 Of the fierce sanguinary savages 
 To friendship with the whites with these to share 
 The uncultivated regions of the west ; 
 Adventurers thus humane, from vice thus free, 
 At least would not by cruelty, and crimes, 740 
 
 Awaken all the flames of Indian ire ; 
 Nor purposely do aught we could condemn. 
 Since Heaven on us the power has not bestow'd, 
 Elsewise than through a medium to achieve 
 So great a work, such let that medium be, 746 
 
 2
 
 42 ADVENTURES. 
 
 As best with God's own sacred will accords ! 
 
 If for the task were delegated first, 
 
 Without a guide, or previous knowledge given, 
 
 A jumbled multitude, discord, and blood, 
 
 Distress, and final failure would attend 
 
 The enterprise ; unless by miracles 
 
 A supernatural power were interpos'd. 
 
 In prosecution of the safest course, 
 
 We still an opposition, bred in Hell, 
 
 Will have to meet. Pei'haps th'infernal host 755 
 
 Appriz'd of our convention, even now 
 
 Have emissaries station'd, to observe 
 
 Our consultations. Cunning, artifice, 
 
 A.nd machinations croud the courts of Hell ; 
 
 And keep the demon-legions ever keen 
 
 In vision, to espy, whate'er within 
 
 Their restless rambles through the roomy earth, 
 
 May offer means to them, man's weal to mar. 
 
 But if the savage soul should not be sear'd, 
 
 And callous made, by Satan's caustic arts, 
 
 To Reason's force : if open yet to proof, 
 
 That NATURE'S common right demands of them, 
 
 Partition with the Whites, of their wild lands; 
 
 That Christian Domination there would shed 
 
 Unknown delights upon their gloomy hearts, 770 
 
 And banish thence their thorny woes, and wants j 
 
 Diffusing through their unillumin'd minds 
 
 The ravs of mental light that christianizM
 
 
 BOONE'S 43 
 
 
 And philanthropic man can ne'er delight, 
 
 In the distresses and extermination 
 
 Of his own kindred men ; but the reverse ; 
 
 That he, sweet animating joy derives 
 
 From seeing happy millions round him swarm ; 
 
 And never is more bless'd himself than when 
 
 He makes the wretched bless'd- if Indian minds 780 
 
 Can possibly be brought to feel these truths, 
 
 The plan adapted best t'effectuate 
 
 An end so great, is that which I propose. 
 
 To prove that man's professions are sincere, 
 His practices should therewith coincide ; 785 
 
 And virtuous conduct in a multitude, 
 Where Satan has more pow'r to operate, 
 Is not so frequent found as '.mongst a virtuous few. 
 But sacred Spirits ! more is needless here. 
 Your searching minds, the theme throughout have scan'd : 
 If they approve the measure I propound 791 
 
 So will you now declare." 
 
 Through all the hall 
 A vote of cheerful approbation ran. 
 Then rose the guardian Spirit of Enterprise, 
 And thus address'd the Angelic convocation. 795 
 
 " Benevolent ministers of love ! we well. 
 On this momentous era of our reign, 
 With gratulations may each other greet. 
 In fascinating perspective I see 
 Refinement's g-olden temple spread 800
 
 44 ADVENTURES. 
 
 Its softly-temper'd blaze, o'er all th'expansej 
 Which from th'Alleganean Mountain's base, 
 Westward to the Pacific deeps extend 
 I see its brilliance beaming from the Lakes, 
 Whose billows b^at the cold Canadian shores ; 
 Along Ohio's smooth majestic stream, 
 And Mississippi's mighty flood to where, 
 In statelier pomp their mingled currents roll, 
 O'er distant Mexico's blue-bosom'd bay. H^^^ 
 Withsun-bro-.vn'd cheek, and brow with odorous wreaths 
 Of clover-bloom engarlanded, I see, S 1 1 
 
 Young Agriculture smiling o'er the west; 
 While Labor's healthful sons around him flock, 
 And wait his mild commands. 1 see rich fields, 
 Green-waving Meads, and flosculous Gardens spread 
 Beneath his gladden'd eye, their copious stores : 816 
 While Plenty, Happiness, and Peace, and Joy, 
 Religion, Science, Truth, and Love, and all 
 The VIRTUES vivify, illume, refine, 
 Exalt, and sublimate, the NEW-BORN WORLD ! 
 Th'enrapturing scenes we soon shall realize, 
 Winch warm prophetic Fancy here depicts, 
 If in pursuit of the benevolent end, 
 On which we have resolved, we delegate 
 To the high charge, a Hero, whom I long 835 
 
 Have train'd, with cheerful ease to undergo 
 Privations, dangers, pain, and solitude. 
 When oft thro' frigid storms, and forest-snow^, 
 "Without a friend, or ire, or even food, 

 
 
 BOONE'S 45 
 
 Save what the desert gave, I've seen swift speed 830 
 To rouse from his thick lair, the antler'd Buck ; 
 Or from their dark and solitary dens, 
 In dingles deep, or wildly-jutting cliffs, 
 To startle forth the grim predaceous Beasts ; 
 The bounding Catamount, and meagre Wolf, 835 
 The surly Bear, and slaughter-hungering Panther: 
 A Hero whom no terrors can appal : 
 Whose bosom feels no fear, when lost in woods 
 The wildest that in all the mountain waste 
 By wintry winds are swept : whose sinewy limbs 840 
 Can scale the roughest mountain's rocky steeps 
 With vigorous ease, nor feel a fibre fail, 
 Nor quicken'd breath, nor fluttering pulse, bespeak 
 Fatigue. But in his breast there beats a heart, 
 In which the warmest blood of Pity flows. 845 
 
 For though to him the chace affords delight. 
 As warranted by the Almighty's grant, 
 Within a limited extent; yet such 
 The Hero's tenderness, his soul revolts 
 From needless cruelty, to meanest life. 850 
 
 He would not crush with wanton tread a fly, 
 Nor e'en with useless agonies of pain 
 Torment the poisonous snake. The tear of woe 
 ws from his breast the sympathetic sigh, 
 
 Sorrow's plaintive tale, and mournful mien, 855 
 Commisseration's tender throb awakes 
 Within his feeling heart. No passion reigns }
 
 46 ADVENTURES. 
 
 Tyrannic o'er his reason, Patriot love 
 
 With during majesty his soul inspires, 
 
 And would with equal valor make him brave 
 
 The lurking dangers of the savage wild ; 
 
 Or face in open field the frowning front 
 
 Of thundering Battle. Generous, guileless, kind, 
 
 The gripe of sneaking Avarice ne'er compress'd 
 
 His princely heart. No mean dissembling smiles, 805 
 
 Nov smooth, deceitful speech, his views conceal, 
 
 Nor form a feint his unsuspecting friends, 
 
 Within a venal snare to lure. He gives 
 
 To modest indigence, with bounteous will, 
 
 A liberal portion of his little store. 
 
 The ostentatious pageantry of power, 
 
 The moon-shine splendors of high-titled bird 
 
 And fluttering Fashion's vain, fantastic pomp ; 
 
 For his sage mind, no more attractions have, 
 
 Than shining gossamer upon the winds, 
 
 Or glittering froth, upon the turbid streams. 
 
 In fine, no Hero whom I've e'er inspir'd; 
 
 With more or higher Virtues is endued, 
 
 Or better qualified to fill the. place, 
 
 For which we are about to make a choice, 
 
 Than DANIEL BOONE, th'adventurous Hunter, 
 
 I recommend. And he, by knowing well 
 
 The human heart, and having friends, whose souls 
 
 Like his, can dauntless, brave the stormy wilds ; 
 
 Who th'anguish'd plaint attend, and kindly soothe 835
 
 BOONE'S 
 
 With sweet condolence Misery's bleeding woes 
 Whose souls with magnanimity expand, 
 Sublimely soaring o'er the tinseled swarms, 
 Of Pride, and Fashion. With such means possess'd, 
 Companions for the tour he can enlist, 
 \dapted well to such divine emprise. 
 .if then, Angelic Peers ! your judgments deem 
 [lim worthy of the trust, so will you say." 
 
 With undivided suffrage, the Divan, 
 The enterprising Angel's choice, approv'd: 89* 
 
 And by their solemn institution gave, 
 To him, protection of the new-made CHIEF-W 
 TO Aim, by secret inspiration t'excite 
 The Hero's valorous soul, to undertake 
 The glorious enterprise, the task they gare. 900 
 Their great design for action^ thus matur'd, 
 Th'enraptur'd convocation ere they rose, 
 Their praise in loud seraphic peans pour'd, 
 To that transcendently tremendous GOD, 
 Whose frown, an UNIVERSE, in gloom can shroud; 903 
 Whose smile, Illumination's purest blaze 
 Through an infinitude of Night can spread ; 
 And with Refinement's ever-living blooms, 
 Creation's wildest WILDERNESS can clothe I 
 RELIGION'S sacred Seraph next, gave sign, 9 It 
 II is hallow'd MAJESTY in prayer t'addres* * 
 When bowing low in suppliant attitude^ 
 Their animated adorations forth, 
 The reverential congregation breathed ; 

 
 *8 ADVENTURES. 
 
 And in a tone af warm pathetic zeal 915 
 
 Effused from lips bedewed with melting sweets ; 
 With the nectarean quintessence of Love ! 
 And honied balm of holy Eloquence ! 
 Th'Almighty's kindly prospering smile implored, 
 Around the Hero's dreary path to beam, 920 
 
 And light him safely through each winding maze, . 
 Until success his great adventure crowned. 
 Their pious service clos'd, the kneeling host 
 Arose, and nought their Session to prolong 
 Remaining now, the holy Synod was dissolv'd. 92J 
 
 Each Seraph spread his sparkling pinions wide j 
 And from the plume-bespangled portico, 
 Light bounded on the gently buoyant gales, 
 And swiftly sail'd to his appropriate Sphere. 
 
 So from their anchorage launch'd, majestic Ships, 93f 
 The liquid deeps, in gallant beauty skim; 
 And seek o'er Wilds of Ocean far remote, 
 In various distant Realms, their native ports.
 
 THE 
 
 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 DANIEL BOONE. 
 
 BOOK II. 

 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 FROM the council-dome, the missioned Seraph flics in 
 search of Boone, whom he discovers on the TOWER of 
 ARARAV, immersed .in paJjdalic jnj^italipjis^} to which 
 the Angel by secret inspiration, gives additional ferven 
 cy. 1 to 91. Animated with the prospect of discovery, 
 usefulness, and fame, which his immagination had de- * 
 picted ; he selects Jhe Companions of his adventures ; at V* 
 the appointed season bids adieu to his Family ; and com. * i 
 mences his destined tour. 92 to 293. On the heights of ^i 
 Allcgany, after several days progress, the Travellers W< 
 are at midnight aroused from their slumbers, by the \ 
 scream of a Panther ; in pursuit of which, they make an 
 unsuccessful sally, and again betake themselves to re 
 pose. 300 to 318.^ short time elapses, and they are 
 alarmed by the sight of VULOSKO and MELVILLE 
 in quest of MELCENA, who had been forced by ruffians 
 from her Lover, when on her return with him to her pa 
 ternal abode, from visiting his father. The Strangers 
 join Boone's encampment, and the night is passed in mu 
 tual inquiries and explications , which terminate with 
 Vulofiko's ^narrative. 326 to 828 At the close of which, 
 Boonc promises the disconsolate parent all possible as- 
 tistance, in the recovery of of his beloved daughter*
 
 THE 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 DANIEL BOONE. 
 
 Bobc'ji. 
 
 WITH meteor-swiftness, from the council-dome, 
 High through the azure heights of Atmosphere, 
 His lofty way the missioned Seraph wing'cl ; 
 Till poised above the Carolinian hills, 
 He sought with searching view, th 'ad venturous BOONE. 
 Along the silver-shining Yadkin iirstj 6 
 
 Where stood the Hero's rural mansion, glanced 
 The Angel's vigorous eye, thence o'er the Hills, 
 His usual Ktinting-gfound, which bounds the vales, 
 And thence swift o'er the Mountain's gloomy Mounds; 10 
 Ui.til tli'august sublimity and pomp 
 Of that stupendous TOWER, whose rocky brow 
 Fiona towering Ararat's blue summit frowns,
 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 
 In threatening grandeur o'er surrounding plains, 
 And proudly fronts the Apalachian Mounts, 15 
 
 The daring Angel's eagle view cnchain'd. 
 For it so much the power of God display'd, 
 That e'en to Cherub eyes it had a charm 
 Sublime. As there the holy Seraph gazed, 
 He, on the holy Battlement espied 
 In Contemplation's solemn stole enrobed, 
 The high-soul'd Hunter. The magnific PILE, 
 As through contiguous woods the Hero ranged, 
 His thoughtful soul with rapturous awe had swell'd ; 
 And urged him to ascend its perilous crags, 25 
 
 And narrow-winding chasms, until he gain'd 
 The dizzy height I Well suited was the scene, 
 T'attune his feelings for th'inspiring breath, 
 Of ardent Enterprise as Boone advanced, 
 Their steep retreats the strong-wing'd Eagles left, 30 
 And sought the solitude of trackless skies. 
 In pomp, and variegated glories clothed ; 
 Their awful heads, cloud-crested mountains heav'd, 
 High in the North Horizon. And towards South, 
 In Spring's new verdure dcck'd a vast Campaign : 
 Disclosing here and there its splendid streams, 
 Extended far beneath th'impending Tower. 
 Sublimed with cxtacy, the Hero stood, 
 Surveying round, the soul-exalting scene, 
 Which seem'd for Meditation's rye prepared. 
 Along the ragged precipice he saw
 
 BOONK 3 5j 
 
 The lightning's rifted path. Each flickering breeze, 
 That swept the grcy-brow'd turrets, seem'd to shake 
 The elevated mass 1 So high it was, 
 It seem'd t'invade the starry bounds of Heaven I 45 
 So high the Hero thought, his air-fan'd locks, 
 Were lifted by the pure empyreal Winds. 
 Ifis raptured Fancy's reverential eye, 
 Was raised to see th'ExERNAL's blazing THRONE,- 
 And the impetuous gush of thought o'erwhelm'd 50 
 A while his mind. Meantime, the Angel view'd 
 Th'extatic agitations of his soul ; 
 And in a spiritual form unseen, approach'd 
 Th'enravishM Hero ; breath'd upon his heart 
 A vigorous glow ; and raised him from his trance. 55 
 Collected now, and the presumptuous wing 
 Of temerarious Fancy check'd ; his mind 
 Contemplates ether less o'cr-powering scenes, 
 dapted more to finite ken. With love 
 
 God and Man inspired, and with the zeal 60 
 Of new-enkindled Animation rapt ; 
 His view expanding, with ih'expanding range 
 Of far seen hills and plains ; his towering soul 
 Disdaining life's inferior toils, which cramp 
 With dull employ, the nerves of virtuous Power ; 65 
 Which chill the glowing warmth of great resolve, 
 And chain t'an inch of soil those energies, 
 Tnat were design'd to dignity a World ! 
 His patriot bosom panted for a stage,
 
 ^VENTURES. 
 
 On which, for his loved Country's benefit, 
 
 To act that daring, that heroic part, 
 
 Which was commensurate with his lofty views. 
 
 Again his fervid soul the Angel touch'd, 
 And spread before his perspicacious eye, 
 A theatre of ample magnitude, 
 Full quadrate to the Hero's boldest wish, 
 The wild dominions in Columbia's WEST ! 
 
 Upon his Fancy's pictured tablet, shone 
 In splendid tints, a thousand varied scenes ; 
 Embellishing a dark Barbarian World ! 
 Refinement's golden file with smoothing sw 
 Reducing swiftly from the savage mind, 
 Its heathen incrustations kindling light 
 And splendor, where investing glooms and rust 
 The Indian's intellectual treasures spoil'd. 
 A thousand valorous, soul-ennobling feats 
 Attendant on the patriot enterprise, 
 Grandly preparing, an expanded sphere 
 Fur Commerce, Wealth, and all the brilliant Arts, 
 Where they before had never cast a beam, 90 
 
 In brilliant prospect warmed the Hero's soul. 
 Descending down' the shatter'd precipice, 
 He sought with haste, Companions for th'emprise ; 
 And from his brave associates in the chase, 
 Th'adventurous Findley, Stewart, Holden, Cool, 
 And Monay, chose; a small, but daring band! 
 Soon for the hazardous cxplorement was
 
 v'uiticum p 
 
 SOONii S 
 
 vepared. 
 
 Now came the day 
 
 Of keenest grief, that e'er the breast transplcr,: 
 Of the immortal Boone. A clay on which 100 
 
 : le was conslrain'd to leave domestic bliss, *' 
 The sweet endearments of Connubial Love 
 Caresses fond of Babes,. and kind devoirs 
 )f friendly neighbors. These he had to leave, 
 Not for his wonted time, a few short weeks; 105 
 But numerous, dreary, long- and tedious Months ! 
 To travel, not familiar woods, where Man 
 Meets nought but timid beasts ; nor cultured realms, 
 Where Peace and Love and social Science charm ; 
 And Hospitality with smiles adorn'd, 1 10 
 
 Huns open-armed to meet him at the Gate : 
 But where a dark and dreadful desert spreads, 
 Between the Hero's home and destined land ; 
 V/hcre Monstsr Beasts with fierce blood-hungering howl, 
 The sounding woods, and echoing caverns fill, 115 
 And death-delighting Indians lurk for life, 
 In every bosky nook and wild retreat. 
 .Ground the sadden'd Chief his darling sons, 
 .4ml daughters, and his sorrow-wounded wife, 
 In weeping circles drew. In vain, he strove 120 
 Their sobbing hearts to sooth ; in vain, he tried 
 T'assuage the bitter woe, that swell'd his own. 
 One mournful burst of sorrow fill'd, with sighs., 
 d sobs and tears, the melancholy house.
 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 The tenderest eloquence of mourning love, 
 At length broke from the sweet impassion'cl lips 
 Of his affectionate spouse. " My Boone !" She cried, 
 And press'd him to her groaning breast ; " My Boone 1 
 How can you leave your Home, your Wife and Babes, 
 Your life in bloody woods to jeopardize, 
 Among the murdering Indians' cruel tribes? 
 My God ! the horrid thought I cannot bear! 
 How shall I rest in peace, when dangers watch 
 To take away my dear Companion's life ? 
 How, when the dreadful, silent, solitude 135 
 
 Of dark and cheerless Night, surrounds my Bed ; 
 When Fancy's gloomy spectres flit along 
 My dreary chamber, and your bleeding Corpse 
 By grinning Savages or glare-eyed Beasts, 
 Before my sleejiless eyes is rudely drag'd ; 
 How shall I then support my sinking heart ? 
 How then the bodings of my rueful thoughts 
 Endure ? Oh then ! whut answer shall I give 
 Our darling Infants, when their lisping tongues 
 The cause inquire, that makes me wet with tears, 14J 
 Their little cheeks, and steep with briny dew 
 My sigh-warm'd pillow ? What answer shall I give 
 The tender prattlers, when they sweetly ask 
 The time, their absent Father will return ? 
 Oh, do not go! MY HUSBAND! do not go! I5t 
 T'allure you from your peaceful Home, 
 What does, what can, the dangerous desert yield
 
 BOONE'S 57 
 
 T lat would our Miseries, Woes, and painful Fears 
 
 R< pay ? O! if you go; this NOBLE BREAST 
 
 I .car, will heave its last in savage flames, 155 
 
 Or by the Indian's butchering vengeance gash'd, 
 
 Pcur on th'ensanguin'd ground its crimson life! 
 
 If there you fall, no tender hand will Mash 
 
 Yc ur clotted wounds, nor shroud jour pallid clay ; 
 
 No sorrowing friends will bear you to the grave, 160 
 
 Nor screen from prowling violence your iimbsj 
 
 Then lifeless cold ! If such your fate should be; 
 
 How could my widow'd heart sustain the pang 
 
 Of cruel Grief, that then would lacerate 
 
 Its wasting tendrils? Oh my Boone ! my Boone ! 165 
 
 How could how could I then endure to see 
 
 Our Orphan-Infants weep their Father's Death ; 
 
 And hear them cry, "oh God! he's gone! 
 
 Forever gone /" Here Grief her voice suppress'd 
 
 A mournful pause ensued such as succeeds 170 
 
 jTT-he last impressive words, of some adored, 
 
 SoLie dear-loved, dying friend, when round his bed 
 
 Tlrj weeping clusters croud, and see the beams 
 
 Of trembling life fade in his closing eye. 
 
 From every pore the Hero's manly heart 175 
 
 Rari blood. His guardian Spirit hovering near, 
 
 And witnessing his deep-depressing grief, 
 
 Inspirited, again his drooping soul. 
 
 He kiss'd his languid Consort's tear-dew'd check, 
 
 Am! to appease the pang that slung her breast 180
 
 .58 ADVENTURES. 
 
 Addrcss'd her thus. " My bosom's dearest love 1 
 
 The splendors, titles, honors, wealth, and power, 
 
 And all the glittering garniture of earth, 
 
 To me are trash, compared with what regards 
 
 The Peace and Happiness of you, my Wife, 185 
 
 And these our lovely Cherubs ! Sooner would 
 
 1 groan my life away in servitude, 
 
 Or waste my days in dismal dungeon-cells : 
 
 Yes ; sooner would I brave the blazing stake, 
 
 Or sink amid the Caldron's boiling waves, 19C 
 
 Than doom to woe, my darling Wife and Babes. 
 
 But ivoe, my dear ! though tasted now, this hour 
 
 Of painful parting, Heaven's benignant hand 
 
 Will soon avert. For Innocence ne'er drinks 
 
 Long time, much less through life, its bitter cup. ; 195 
 
 And oft is sipping rirhly-flavor'd sweets, 
 
 When thought by most to quaff the hateful gall. 
 
 The task that separates us now awhile, 
 
 My Angel ! is not self-imposed. My soul 
 
 Of late is by an ardent impulse urged, 208J 
 
 The grand emprise to vmdeitake: a power 
 
 From Heaven, must actuate unseen, my will 
 
 For so detenninecl, warm, impulsive, bold, 
 
 It never heretofore has been ; and all 
 
 Its ardor to the self-same object tends. 
 
 Such influence to resist, were to oppose 
 
 The powers divine. Those po\vers,my dear! your Boone: 
 
 When in the desert's yelling gloom can guard,
 
 BOONE'S 59 
 
 Oi Indian's bloody Camp; as well as when 
 
 In Carolina's harmless fields. Those powers, 
 
 "Which erst protected in the roaring cn 
 
 Oi dreadful Beasts, the sacred man of God ; 
 
 Those righteous powers, which from the gulphy bowels 
 
 Oi the huge monarch of the Deep, brought forth 
 
 U ilvurt, Repenting Jonah they can shield 
 
 Rom flying Tomahawks the naked head ; 
 id guard it from the horrid scalping knife, 
 hen I am absent, think of this, my love ! 
 id be consoled. That same benevolent God, 
 ."Whose hand the Raven's callow nestlings feeds, 220 
 Whose eye \vith merciful regard observes 
 His humblest work ; each little Sparrow knows ; 
 *And on the valley's temlerest Floweret sheds 
 J^The beams of life and beauty that kind God, 
 | When I'm away, the Father of our Babes 
 ?*Will be; and with divine protection's wing 
 f Will guard their pious Mother. Cease then, Love ! 
 To weep ; and on That ROCK of safety rest 
 | Your hopes, your cares The sovereign law of Heaven 
 | Requires, that man should oft the sweets forego 
 >Of loved Society, Companions, Friends, 
 Relations, Children, tender Wife, and all 
 To tread th'adventurous stage of grand empris* 
 To scatter knowledge through the Heathen wilds, 
 And mend the state of Universal Man ! 
 By Duty's stern but salutary voice,
 
 
 60 ADVENTURES. 
 
 Affection's feeling fibres oft are jarr'd ; 
 
 Till pain-wrung blood-rills streaming thence, d 
 
 The plumes of^Pcace. Yet duty's needful call 
 
 Must be obey'd. For keener still's the pain 
 
 Of disobedience to the will of Heaven, 
 
 Than all the torturing pangs of sunder'd love. 
 
 When parted by the Wilderness, my spouse ! 
 
 Anticipated bliss will animate 
 
 Our anxious hearts, and cheer our darkest days ; 
 
 And well it may, for sweet will be the time, 
 
 And richly, flowing with beatitude, 
 
 When from my grand adventures I return. 
 
 Then will we on the shaded green recline, 
 
 Or round th'enlivening fire ; renewing joys, 
 
 Short time suspended for our country's weal, 
 
 And musing on the wonders of the West, 
 
 And the protecting goodness of our God." 
 
 Observing now his consort more composed, 
 The Hero paused, and heard her thus reply. 255 
 
 " My dear companion ! now I yield, convinced, 
 Thy conscience touch'd by holy breath from Heaven, 
 Commands thee to the great, the perilous task. ^ 
 On Duty's pure immaculate Altar, now 
 I sacrifice the tenderest wish of Love ! 160 
 
 My prayers shall plead; when each new morning's dawn 
 Breaks on the fading glooms of parting Night, 
 And when each Evening's mantle shrouds the day ; 
 Shall plead for God's almighty shield to ward
 
 ADVENTURES. 61 
 
 From ill, my absent Boone !" Thus was her heart 265 
 
 From deep depression raised by breath beaign 
 
 Of kind Humanity's Seraphic Spirit, 
 
 Whose feeling eye had mark'd her painful grief, 
 
 And on her soul its cheering influence beam'd. 
 
 Now close the designated hour advanced, 270 
 
 His partners at th'appointed spot to meet. 
 
 Again the Hero's heart, a poignant pang 
 Transpierced Again with sorrow's sickening throes, 
 His sweet Companion's snowy bosqm throb'd, 
 Again his tender children loudly wept ! 275 
 
 He gave his wife the fond farewell embrace, 
 And on her lips the soul-enkindled kiss 
 Imprinted ; press'd his sobbing Babes, 
 Shook all their ham's, and look'd a long adieu ! 
 
 Attended by his viewless Angel, now, 280 
 
 The Hero wends to meet his comrade band ; 
 When join'cl, they westward take their pathless way. 
 
 To beautify their route, and cheer their march ; 
 The Queen of Spring, mellifluous-breathing May, 
 Walk'd with them o'er the wood-land wilds, ana steep'd 
 In honey-dews the young expanding leaves; 286 
 
 And through the fleckered forest flung perfumes; 
 While flowerets, blooms, and fragrant foliage fill'd 
 The extended boundaries of her balmy reign. 
 Along the wilds, ai;d feather-winnow '4 air, 290 
 
 In animating undulation* flow'd 
 The sweetly modulated songs of Spring ; 
 F
 
 62 BOONE'S 
 
 As if, the journeying Heroes on their march, 
 
 To hail, with Gr at ulat ion's melody ! 
 
 With vigorous speed, o'er plains and hills they hied ; 
 
 Each night reposing round the unshelter'd fire. 296 
 
 Soon on the lofty Alleganean peaks 
 
 They tread. Here Nature's rudest hand had rear'c" 
 
 CONFUSION'S Battlements sublime ; 
 
 And here had SOLITUDE'S dark dingles delv'd ! 300 
 
 One night encompass'd by the wildest cliffs, 
 
 That jut in shaggy prominence high o'er 
 
 The rugged mounds, around their glimmering fi 
 
 Our Heroes lay 'Twas midnight's silent hour: 
 
 Unsleeping Cynthia's waning, silvery disk, 305 
 
 Smiled on the shadowy hills, and palely shone 
 
 Along the Mountain's slant dew-glistening rocks 
 
 The restless cascade murmur'd on the winds 
 
 The Wolf-howl echo'd down the distant dells 
 
 The Zephyrs were on wing. Our Heroes slept 310 
 
 A passing Panther snuff 'd them on the breeze, 
 
 For blood alhirst; hull' resolute, half scared, 
 
 He crouching, crept near by, and fiercely scream'd, 
 
 Then farther fled. The sleepers startling, woke; 
 
 Their rilies seized, and clamber'd o'er the cliffs. 315 
 
 Far on the moon-illumined rocks, Boone spied 
 
 The bloody prowler; and hi* gun discharged, 
 
 But miss'd the flying mark. Soon back return'd ; 
 
 They stir their dwindling fire, and rest again. 319 
 
 Some time elapsed ; each eye save Boone's in sleep
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 closely sealed but his, to aid hi; 
 As on the midnight mountain scenes it mused, 
 Now view'cl the blue star-twinkling vault, now glanced 
 Along the high-raised, dim-seen, distant woods, 
 And now along contiguous cliffs ; on which 325 
 
 Beneath slow-waving tree.s, the moonshine danced. 
 Here as his wakeful eye the Hero cast ; 
 He astonish'd, saw two human forms slow move 
 Like shadows o'er the rocks wild wonder rush'd 
 Across the Hero's heart The time and filace 330 
 Denied beliefj that mortal men they were. 
 But in their hands he saw their swords' dim gleam, 
 As o'er a moon-light space they softly passed ; 
 And soon again, what seem'd like guns he spied. 
 Warm vose his blood; ".e snatch'd his rifle up, 335 
 And shook in haste his sleeping fi iends. They roused ; 
 When instant, disappear'd .behind the rocks, 
 The unknown beings. Boone gave charge to hide 
 Among the cliffs; when loud, "Meicena!" cried 
 The darkling strangers ; then, " my child ! my child !" 
 Re-echoed quickly through the sounding woods. S4l 
 Again, "Infernal Ruffians! Fiends of Hell! 
 May God's eternal vengeance blast with woe, 
 Your future lives!" "My God 1" said Boone," what does-, 
 What can this mean ?" And then, thus question'd loud: 
 " Where is your child ? And vvhoin Heaven's name 346 
 
 Are you ? " Mock not an aged Father's grief," 
 
 Replied the Stranger; " give to- my ai'ms again,
 
 64, BOONE'S 
 
 My lovely Child ! Oh ! if your cruel hearts. 
 
 No fear of that all-just tremendous POWEK, 350 
 
 Whose thunders soon in wrath.shall wake, and leagued 
 
 With his red lightnings, drive to Hell's black gulphs 
 
 Your demon souls ; can move you to repent 
 
 Your hellish guilt, and make you yield my Child, 
 
 Let .gold restore her ! for by Him I swear, 355 
 
 Who made yon Moon, and her bright retinue ; 
 
 That if you will give back to me, my child, 
 
 Ten thousand Guineas shall the deed reward : 
 
 Of which as surety, my own life to you 
 
 In pledge I'll give, until the ransom's paid; 
 
 Which shall amid these mountain wilds be done." 
 
 Then Boone " You are mistaken, Sir, I swear 
 
 By him, by whom you've sworn, we are not those 
 
 You think; poor* inoffensive travellers, we! 
 
 By day our course directing to the land. 
 
 Along; the mighty Waters of the West, 
 
 We 1 sojourn here rio longer than this night : 
 
 Be not of us afraid, come to our Camp, 
 
 And teil your tale of wrong. If aught of aid 
 
 We can impart, il shall be promptly given. 
 
 We invoke the God of Holiness and Truth, 
 
 To witness, that no evil we design 
 
 To living man, and that whatever is 
 
 Of her the fate, whom in these wilds you s 
 
 We neither know that fate, nor are its cause.' 
 
 The undesigning seriousness of tone,
 
 II 
 
 ADVENTURES. ' 65 
 
 
 With which the Hero spake ; in part dispell'd 
 The Father's first belief, and to his friend 
 He said " That voice, that language, seems to speak, 
 Methinks, a soul sincere ! perhaps, dear youth ! S80 
 We wrong those men ; they may be innocent ; 
 It" so, they will our anxious search assist. 
 I'll know ; remain you here mean while, young friend ; 
 And if I'm slain, or captive made ; then haste 
 You home, and summon to these Hills a Host 385 
 To seek my darling child, t'avenge my fate, 
 And do whatever Wisdom may devise. 
 Without my dear, my lost Melcena ; life 
 Is little worth my care. But you are young; 
 And should not rashly risk a life that may, 390 
 
 An ample share of bliss enjoy ; though lost 
 To her whose plighted Love would soon have fill'd 
 With Hymeneal sweets, your happy soul. 
 Enough! if/bes, they may surround us here: 
 You shelter in these rocks until my call, 395 
 
 Or friends or foes, proclaim." Th'impatient youth 
 w Let me, O Father ! share thy doom, my Arm 
 Feels strong ! my life, without my Love, than thine 
 Is worth no more If not the VILLAINS, then 
 We're safe : If they, no better chance again 400 
 May e'er occur, to wrest, from their curst hands, 
 My dear Melcena let us then advance 
 Together, and abide the worst : my sword 
 Shall shield thy head ; my gun shall do its part." 
 2
 
 66 
 
 BOONE'S 
 
 
 415 
 
 Too well Vulosko knew the ardent fire 405 
 
 That flam'd within the youthful Melville's breast, 
 To struggle long its daring course to check. 
 He gave assent that both should dare the peril : 
 And on, o'er intervening crags they went ; 
 Till at the Camp ; then told their presence there. 410 
 Forth from their refuge dark, our Heroes came ; 
 For prudence bade them not expose their lives, 
 By staying at their fire, where death might see 
 To aim his slaughtering tube ; and as they came, 
 Their peaceful views in solemn terms declared. 
 Suspicion's eye, with mutual sternness marked, 
 From either side, the other's every look : 
 Until asseverations, statements, style, 
 Demeanor, equipage, and dress conspired, 
 All doubts and fears from every breast to drive. 420 
 
 In converse now the remnant of the night 
 Was pass'd. At Boone's request, Vulosko told, 
 How from his heart, in unpropitious hour, 
 Was torn his dear Melcena prefacing 
 With a brief narrative of his own life 
 The painful tale. " I am the son," he said, 
 " Of an adventurous Nobleman, who left, 
 The blazing clash of European WAR, 
 In the wild Forests of this Western World, 
 To seek the silent shades of bloodless PEACE. 
 His infant days in innocence and joy, 
 Among the ALPINE scenes of Love, were spent,
 
 ADVENTURES. 67 
 
 A id pastoral pleasure ; and around his path, . 
 
 T le Sun of Peace, for fifteen summers, pour'd 
 
 It - pleasing splendors " Switzerland !" Him oft 435 
 
 "When musing on his juvenile days, I've heard 
 
 With melancholy extacy exclaim; 
 
 "O Switzerland! Sweet land of Liberty! 
 
 T lou Nurse of Virtue, Piety, and Truth, 
 
 T lou sacred seat of cheerful Industry, 440 
 
 O. daring Independence, Science, Peace, 
 
 A.id all that purities, exalts, sublimes, 
 
 A id sanctifies the HUMAN HEART Dear Land ! 
 
 By NATURE guarded from Oppression's gripe ; 
 
 Whose sinewy sons with sweeping strength can hurl, 445 
 
 From their rough Mountains' rich and rugged heights. 
 
 The insulting Myrmidons, who dare invade 
 
 The precincts of their PEACE-PROTECTED homes. 
 
 DEAR LAND ! where CANDOR'S fair expanded brow, 
 
 And steady-beaming eye, the lofty soul 450 
 
 And generous philanthropic Heart declare. 
 
 How sweetly would my unambitious life, 
 
 Among thy cultured shades have glided on, 
 
 Had not the glare of gorgeous War allured 
 
 My youthful eyes, and drawn me to the din 455 
 
 Of distant dangers." Well might he lament 
 
 The infatuation that possess'd his brain, 
 
 When he his gentle home exchanged for fields 
 
 Of Blood. For, fighting in a foreign War, 
 
 His life he nearly lost. His parents died 460
 
 6S BONE s 
 
 He visited a German relative, 
 A famous General in the imperial reign 
 Of Leopold, and was smitten with the pomp 
 Of MARTIAL POWER, and the splendid Fame 
 Of Military conquest Raptures filled 465 
 
 His eye, whene'er he heard the Soldier's song, 
 The conquering Warrior's brilliant deeds resound. 
 With pride, his Kinsman view'd each vivid glance; 
 And through his influence, for the ardent youth, 
 An office under Prince Eugene obtained. 479 
 
 'Twas when the Elector of Bavaria rolled, 
 In junction with the French, the bloody flood 
 Of desolating Battle, o'er the vast 
 Germanic Empire ; soon my Father's fire 
 .Was join'd to the confederate flame, which burn'd 475 
 To oppose the Hosts of Tallard and Marsin. 
 On BLENHEIM'S glorious field his arm was tried 
 Wheree^er he moved, the thunders of his might 
 Before him drove the dreadful storm of Death ; 
 And ere the Battle half was o'er, his name 480 
 
 Was shouted through the ranks; and Glory's wreaths 
 Around his towering brow profusely hung. 
 But dearly were his laurels bought ; the price 
 Was copious torrents of his glowing blood ! 
 A veteran Horseman's slcti his bosom gashed, 485 
 And laid him bleeding on the smoking sward ! 
 The roaring conflict ceased ; and Victory's voice- 
 In shouts along the Icaugcd Battalions broke.
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 69 
 
 A. tended by the skill'd Physician's aid, 
 Ii an adjacent tent my father i.iy 490 
 
 H. slumbering senses werj ^vith cordials waked 
 He heard the loud triu :>eals, and smiled! 
 
 B it soon, the mournf.. ! -tvaii of WIDOWED WIVES, 
 Who had at distance /Kvv'd the slaughtering fray 
 The anguished groans of thousands pained with wounds ; 
 A id Death'sblood-strangled gasps, his heart assailed, 496 
 And wraped in Pity's glooms his pallid Face .' 
 Ii all their tender melancholy forms, 
 RRFLECTION'S soft sensations now awoke 
 Within his breast His native Mountain joys, 500 
 \ T!ie mild pacific intercourse of Love, , 
 That binds in one harmonic friendly band, 
 The unambitious family of Swiss; 
 In contrast with the Carnage, Blood and Dea.th 
 That spread the plains of fierce unhappy WAR; 505 
 Upon his soul were vividly portrayed. 
 "Ambition's steely casements, from his heart, 
 -Humanity's dissolvent gush removed; 
 And Valor's wild intemperate flame was quenched, 
 In the soft-flowing flood. By tender care, 510 
 
 His wounds were healed, and his sunk health restored. 
 
 s feelings now were changed, they loathed at War ! 
 id though his native Hills he loved ; he sighed 
 For freedom from the bloody storm, that howl'd 
 With frightful clamor, round tiie neighboring world. 
 His patrimonial property was large: 516
 
 70 BOONE'S 
 
 He sold it all, and sought o'er surging seas, 
 The solitude aud peace for which he sigh'd. 
 In Massachusetts 'province, he first breathed 
 
 Columbia's aromatic gales There LOVE, 520 
 
 Enchanting poison, through his veins infused, 
 And bound in talismanic trance his heart- 
 Awhile in pain he loved ; but PLEASURE came, 
 On the white pinions of inspiring HOPE, 
 And turned his dubious passion all to bliss. 525 
 
 Him, soon the Queen of his affections crown'd 
 By Hymen's hand, the Monarch of her Own. 
 
 In search of still profounder solitude, 
 To Carolina they soon after came ; 
 And there awhile the quietude they wished, 
 Enjoyed. Their wealth was ample, and they lived 
 In happy ease. The peasants scattered o'er 
 Their fruitful farm, with joy their wants supplied. 
 I was the only child that crown'd their love. 
 To impress with virtuous truth my ductile mind, 535 
 And teach me how a dangcrou* world to shun ; 
 Was all their occupation. Smoothly flow'd 
 Their unimbittered stream of life; until 
 The cursed Coree and Tuscarora tribes 
 Of Savages with sanguinary rage, ; 
 
 Enwrap'd in Night's thick-muffling darkness rush'd 
 "Wild through the sleeping Colony, and plunged 
 Their gory daggers in the unguarded breasts 
 Of shrieking Females, stiuggiing Babes, old Merit
 
 
 ADVENTURES, 71 
 
 And high-soul'd Heroes strong- in vigorous youth ! 545 
 That Night my FATHER died ! and MOTHER too ! 
 That tender Mother ! whose benignant face, 
 "Whose mild benevolent voice, and melting eye, 
 I yet remember well: O yes, she was 
 Too kind, too good, for Memory e'er to slight! 550 
 Of her, my dear, my lost Melcena is 
 A perfect semblance. O ETERNAL GOD ! 
 Do have compassion on thy grey-hair'd Servant! 
 A gain to him his darling child restore ! 
 The only living comfort that remains 
 To sweeten life's gall-mingled sediment ; 
 The last supporting pillar now that's left, 
 To prop a few more years, his sinking heart; 
 And keep awhile his shatter'd, tottering frame, 
 From tumbling into the engulphing grave / 560 
 Excuse, O friends, the vehemence of soul 
 
 fr.at interrupts my tedious Narrative, 
 now proceed. Before the murdering FIENDS 
 
 Could reach my bed, my dying parents' groans 
 A'-lmonisli'd me to fly a window near 565 
 
 Afforded egress to my shuddering limbs ; 
 To seek a neighboring peasant's aid, 1 van ; 
 But ere I reach'd his house, I heard the scream 
 Of murder, mingled with the Ruffians' yell. 
 In the dark woods till morn I trembling lay; 570 
 Then ventured slowly through a grove of trees, 
 Wnich waved adjacent to my Father's house.
 
 72 
 
 BOONE'S 
 
 Great God/ what dread emotions then convulsec 
 
 My aching breast ; I thought my beating heart 
 
 Would burst. A drear, soul-sickening silence cast 575 
 
 A death-expressive gloom around. In vain 
 
 I hoped to see my Parents, though gore-stain'd, 
 
 And mangled sorely with blood-dripping wounds ; 
 
 Look from their mansion-door to seek their son. 
 
 I fear'd to call, or nearer to approach 580 
 
 The woeful scene of midnight violence ; 
 
 Lest still the Ruffians might be lurking there. 
 
 The Sun rose high, my last faint hope expired ; 
 
 The bosom-racking misery of DESPAIR 
 
 Now wrung my anguish'ci heart-strings, and I sunk 5?>5 
 
 T-Tpon the naked earth At length, I heard 
 
 The voice of men. I rose, and saw a band 
 
 Of arm'd militia, marching to the House ; 
 
 And soon i recognized my Father's friend 
 
 Dulonz, to whom, I faint and trembling ran. 590 
 
 He took my hand, and led me to the Door; 
 
 Whence, O soul-pieicing sight / I see it yet .' 
 
 We saw my murder'd parents, lifeless, pale / 
 
 I kiss'd their livid lips, a^d in a swoon, 
 
 Sunk senseless, on their cold and mangled breas 
 
 Dulonz convey'd me to his fiienciiy home, 
 
 The guardian of my infant years, became : 
 
 And with a Father's care upon my heart, 
 
 The principles ci PJ.ty impressed, 
 
 The light of Esudi'ion o'er my mind, 6(,0 
 
 In all its variegated tints diffused,
 
 ADVENTURES. T.S- 
 
 And carefully my Heritage preserved. 
 
 Ten years with him in amity I lived, 
 
 My period of Minority expired 
 
 And now, my fortune to myself resign'd, 655 
 
 The nations of the European world, 
 
 I formed a resolution to survey, 
 
 And thither sail'd. From court to court I went ; 
 
 Until of men and laws I knew enough ! 
 
 Alas too much 1 Ashamed, disgusted^sick, 61 
 
 At sight of Perfidy, Corruption, Vice, 
 
 And Parasitic meanness, I return'd 
 
 To Carolina's uncorrupted shades, 
 
 And wed the object of my earliest love, 
 
 The charming daughter of the kind Dulonz. 515 
 
 'With her in fondest quiet, twenty years 
 Of uncontaminated bliss I pass'd. 
 Two noble sons, and one sweet daughter crown'd 
 Our happy love. But ere Melcena ceased 
 The lacteal breast to draw, a Fever drank 620 
 
 The fountains dry, whence flow'd her Mother's life. 
 Again my heart with agony was torn ! 
 And ere the assuasive balm of friendly Time 
 Could mitigate their keen afflictive pangs, 
 The blood-effusive Wounds were tortured o'er : 625 
 For greedy Death, unsatisfied with Aer, 
 Snatch'd from my doating arms my eldest son ! . 
 To banish from my breast the clouds of Woe, 
 That hover'd thick and black about my heart, 
 G
 
 74 BOONE S 
 
 I sought the sunny cheer of social Friends ; 
 But in my search for friends was much deceived. 
 Where one was faithful, ten were basely false ! 
 I found the Hypor.ritic taint, the breath, 
 The infectious breath of Europe's poison 'd sons, 
 Had reach'd Columbia's shores. To Solitude, 6 
 To Books, and to the instruction of my son 
 And daughter, therefore, did I turn for peace, 
 For consolation. These at times I've found. 
 But such the changeful Fate of woe -born Man, 
 To day his eye with cloudless joy is bright, 
 To morrow Misery's blood-steep'd tears bedim 
 Its fading beams; (he next its lustre dies! 
 A faithful Tenant on my Farm I placed ; 
 Bade farewell to my few unfailing Friends ; 
 And in these solitary Mountains sought 645 
 
 Exemption from the hum of bustling life. 
 A situation suited to my taste, 
 A deep retreat, a picturesque wild I found, 
 Where human foot perhaps had never trod; 
 Tljere did I think the shattered stock, which yet 650 
 Of my storm-beaten life remain'd, would stand 
 From hurricanes of mortal woe secure ; 
 Until by Nature's calm decay to earth 
 It gently fell Imparting while alive 
 Its. richest succulence to the young shoots, 
 Which from it Ui a happier season sprang. 
 From SJN and all its hateful brood remote ;
 
 ADVENTURES. 75 
 
 1 thought to ingraft upon the flexile minds 
 
 Of my surviving Infants, such deep love 
 
 Of Honesty, Benevolence, Virtue, Truth, 
 
 And all that dignifies immortal minds ; 
 
 l.efore the examples of the dangerous World 
 
 Had power to fascinate their youthful hearts, 
 
 And slain their purity ; that all the force 
 
 Of Hell's allurements should successless prove 665 
 
 Their firm-establish'd rectitude to warp. 
 
 How far my hopes would have been- realized, 
 
 Is merely matter of opinion now. 
 
 For ere through one complete Decennial course, 
 
 The annually revolving orb of Time 670 
 
 Had roll'd my hopeful Charles; by fierce Choctaws, 
 
 On the rude rocks of these wild Hills, was shed 
 
 His taintless blood, and his fair body drag'd 
 
 Far from his mourning Father's sad abode. 
 
 As by permission, with his gun he scaled 675 
 
 In search of feather'd game the adjoining Mounds ; 
 The tawny demons spied the manly Boy 
 Aud in his body lodged the murdering lead. 
 
 1 heard the dread report, the dying plaint, 
 
 And fierce exulting yell But ere I reach'd 680 
 
 The blood-suin'd spot the savage fiends had fled. 
 
 2 saw them rising o'er a distant hill, 
 
 Ai.d caught a transient glance of my dead BOI>, 
 
 Whom, with them they in hellish triumph bore. 
 
 In deep deprossion many months I mouni'd ; *85
 
 BOONE'S 
 
 When to my mansion opportunely came 
 
 This young man's Father, my warm-hearted Frien 
 
 DELOME. He learn'cl from my old servant Ralph, 
 
 Whom to the settlement on horse I'd sent 
 
 To purchase viands for my simple board ; 590 
 
 Of him he learn'cl my recent loss and woe, 
 
 And journey'd hither through the forest maze, 
 
 To pluck the thorn of anguish from my breast, 
 
 And o'er my hills, which mournful sadness gloom'd, 
 
 A gleam of heart-enlivening radiance shed. 695 
 
 He with him too his manly Melville brought, 
 
 The melancholy vacancy to fill 
 
 Occasion'd by my hapless Charles's Death; 
 
 And have, as my old friend was pleased to say, 
 
 His tender mind with those grave truths embued, 
 
 Which my experience fitted me to teach. 
 
 This is the youth of whom I speak ; the son 
 
 Of my good friend. When home his Father went, 
 
 Young Melville staid ; the flush of thirteen years 
 
 His healthy cheek suffused. His mind was quick, 705 
 
 Inquiring, strong His heart vivacious, kind; 
 
 His body vigorous, firm. I loved him muc 
 
 And much he merited my warmest love ; 
 
 For all his powers were ceaselessly employe 
 
 To drive dejection from my drooping heart, 
 
 And sweeten my Mclcena's lonesome life. 
 
 To h.er his kind devoirs proceeded soon, 
 
 From a diviner source than mere good tviL 
 
 For soft infantile LOVK, in their young bre
 
 ADVENTURES, 77 
 
 B :gan his honey-dripping wings to spread, 
 And through their wild-vibrating veins to breathe 
 Delicious raptures, thrilling, tender, strange! 
 How sweetly I have seen them sit beneath 
 The dark pine-shade, or oak's broad canopy, 
 
 E.x.tiMcting the mellifluous quintescence 
 
 C'f Milton's Paradise ! at every melting line 
 
 I \pressing transports with commutual glance, 
 /..nd interchanging softening sentiments, 
 At almost every soul-entrancing pause ! 
 
 How oft I've seen him climb the dewy cliff, 
 And pluck its flowery beauties to adorn 
 The unartificial ringlets which o'erhung 
 
 Her snowy temples. O ! those days though dash'd 
 
 At times with bitter Memory's sickening gall, 
 
 Were sweet, compared with these I now endure. 750 
 
 O 1 then, when sorrow's tear roll'd down my cheek. 
 
 How kindly wculd my darling wipe it off, 
 
 A:id sing her wildest notes of soothing song 
 
 To exhilarate my sorrow-sobbing breast: 
 
 .^;id Melville too, to aid her kind design, 735 
 
 The dulcet tones of his soft-warbling lute, 
 
 With her seraphic melody would pour 
 
 In sweet accord. Those times alas are past ! > 
 
 They lasted though with little change, save what 
 
 The increasing years of the young lovers brought ; 740 
 
 Until that painful period of Distress, 
 
 When from her Lover, and her Father too, 
 
 -Was torn my darling daughter 1 Strangers! You 
 
 2
 
 BOONE S 
 
 
 Perhaps ne'er suffered the keen-torturing pangs, 
 
 Which lacerate in bloody shreds the heart 745 
 
 Of an affectionate Father, when the grave 
 
 Ingulphs a tender child his bosom's firide .' 
 
 If not, you can but faint conception form, 
 
 Of that tormenting Wo, which wounds the breast 
 
 Of him who is by cruel fiends bereft ; ' 
 
 liy savage demons far more fell than Death ! 
 
 Of her his lovely, only living child ! 
 
 The soothing solace of declining life ! 
 
 At intervals with Edwin and old Ralph ; 
 Melcena, during several happy years ' 
 
 Was wont to visit my dear friend Delonic : 
 Where with a small but pleasing circle, they 
 In sweet Xinvitiated mirth employed 
 The pinion'd Hours. Returning thence again, 
 To me their blythe felicities they told j / 
 
 And with the cheering letters of Delome 
 Gave Friendship's raptures to my leaping heart. 
 The day at length, which Was in Hymen's fane 
 The virtue-kindled Love of the young pair 
 To consecrate, drew near. But ere their vows 765 
 W r ere at the holy altar sealed, once more 
 My venerated friend they visited ; 
 Received his ready sanction to their views, 
 Their juvenile peers invited to partake 
 The nuptial joys, continued a few weeks, 
 And then again their journey back commenced. 

 
 ADVENTURES. 79 
 
 ;i.s through the forest's gloomy wilds they rode, 
 
 A band of Hell-excited Villains fierce, 
 
 Terrific huge ! from the deep thickets rush'd 
 
 With pistols and with branclish'd broad-swords arrn'd ! 
 
 With raging fury, Melville's startled Steed 77G 
 
 Like thunder through the sounding thickets burst. 
 
 The exploding pistol's sound, which sought in vain 
 
 His master's life, still higher rous'd his fire, 
 
 And drove him headlong o'er the clattering hills. 780 
 
 The snaggy boughs swept Melville's whistling ear! 
 
 His naked head glanced many a threatening tree ! 
 
 And verge of precipice and pit was broke 
 
 At almost every bound ! Attempts were vain, 
 
 The impetuous storm to check. The rein was lost! 7S5 
 
 Still Edwin clinging to the tossing mane 
 
 And bending to the Horse's straining neck, 
 
 His seat maintain'd, until an oak's huge branch 
 
 Resistless, drag'd him to the shuddering ground. 
 
 He rose unhurt: and o'er the rugged space, 790 
 
 To the disastrous spot where ruffian hands 
 
 Had seized the pleading Maid, with speed return'd, 
 
 Resolved to oppose unarm'd the bloody band, 
 
 If there. But they had fled he knew not whither. 
 
 Vain was his eager search their route to find : 795 
 
 Nor ear, nor eye, could aught avail, to give 
 
 His phrenzied heart a clue to its lost love !- 
 
 O'er hills of horrid height, and rough ascent, 
 
 Fur from his home-conducting path he ran ;
 
 80 BOONE'S 
 
 Until in the dark tops of towering pines 800 
 
 Began to sink the westering prince of light. 
 Convinced, unless he sought the pathway soon, 
 That NIGHT would hold him in the Hemlock gloom r 
 And waste the time which then was dear as life ; 
 He swiftly traversed hack the desert-steeps; 8 
 
 Regained the path before the ascending shades, 
 Had o'er the beetling peaks their squadrons rollY: ; 
 And ere my head was on its pillow laid, 
 The dreadful bosom-rending tale announc'd. 
 If on my naked heart the fiercest flames > 
 
 Of burning pitch had been, in pointed stream 
 Profusely pour'd, and all its feeling kept 
 Alive, the pain would hardly have surpassed 
 
 What rack'd my bosom on that woe-fraught night ! 
 
 When o'er my cottage, morning's early gleam 8 1 5 
 
 Was shed; I hasten'd Ralph to good Delome, 
 
 With a request to gather with all speed 
 
 A company of men to aid our search. 
 
 Then Melville and myself our arms prepared 
 
 And hither to these rocky ridges hitd, 
 
 Conceiving them to be a fit abode 
 
 Of predatory ruffians. The whole day, 
 
 In diligent but unsuccessful search 
 
 We spent. This Night, as on a lofty peak 
 
 We lay; your gun's deep-ringing peal we heard, 
 
 And then ascenuiag a still higher clifl' 
 
 Your fire espied. Thus, Sirs, in brief contour,
 
 
 BOONE'S 
 
 SI 
 
 The features of my misadventured life 
 
 I've sketch'd. Your friendly coadjuvancy 
 
 In our momentous quest shall gratitude, 830 
 
 .vnd prayers for your felicity receive." 
 
 Thus answer'd Boone Our aid we'll freely grant. 
 Conduct us where your wisdom may advise, 
 Nor cliff, nor cavern shall be unexplored.
 
 THE 
 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 DANIEL BOONE. 
 
 BOOK III.
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 AT morning's approach, Boone and his associate* 
 unite with Viilosko and Melville, in search of Melccna. 
 I to 15. While traversing the forests they discover 
 Vonploor, one of the Allegany Robbers, covered with 
 blood and enfeebled by wounds. 15 to 31. He gives a 
 brief detail of his hfe, and relates the cause of his 
 wretched situation, from which, they learn that Melccna 
 has probably escaped from her Captors. 31 to 129. 
 Animated with the intelligence, they convey him to Vu- 
 losfco's Cottage, where, according to their anticipation, 
 they find Delome attended by an auxiliary force, await 
 ing their arrival. 129 to 272. At the dawn of the n-xt 
 day, having received necessary directions from Vonpi^or, 
 they proceed to the Ridge in which the ruffians huve 
 their subterraneous abode. JVot far distant thence, while 
 seated in consultation, they are transported by the pre 
 sence of the LOS? MAID ; who, after the first emothna 
 of extacy subside, relates the history of her escape and 
 anxieties. 172 to 321. At the close of h^r recital the 
 whole Company, Vulosko, Melccna and Melville exccpt- 
 ed, hasten to the Robbers' Cavern, and surprise t/<em 
 while en gaged in the dissection of a slaughtered Buffalo. 
 321 to 336. Several are slain, and the rest captured. 
 336 to 397. The Cavern explored and described. 402 
 to 448. The ensuing night is passed in the Robbers' Tent' 
 The sleepers are awakened by a dreadful tempest. 
 The sole remaining Thief arrives and is taken. 448 to 
 548. Having returned to Vulosko' s Cottage, Melville 
 and Melcena are married; after which, Bo one and hit 
 companions bid farewell and proceed on their journey.
 
 THE 
 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 DANIEL BOONE. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 THE Queen of morn, in crimson robes array'd, 
 The shadow-woven curtains now withdrew 
 From round her roseate couch, and lilting high 
 Above the Orient God her blushing cheek. 
 Soft, amorous smiles, upon him cast, and woo'd 5 
 Him from his blazing chamber Boone advised, 
 Though dappled darkness yet had not retired 
 From the drear dingle's, Hill-o'er shadowM deeps, 
 To march forthwith on the important search. 
 Vulosko seconded the advice, and said, If 
 
 'Twas best they should, so shape their course that day, 
 As at his home that evening to arrive, 
 Where he expected they would find Delome 
 With an assistant force. 'Twas so agreed ; 
 And o'er the dew-bathed rocks they onward went. 15 
 Some miles they journey'd o'er the frowning crags
 
 80 BOOXE S 
 
 And oak-crown'd Hills ; when from a glady dell 
 Borne on the flickering breeze, a doleful moan 
 Their ears alarm'd! In still suspense they stood 
 It came again Its source with cautious step 20 
 They sought, and found enveloped in stiff gore, 
 Exhausted, ghastly, pale, a wounded Wretch 
 Upon the cold and humid earth out stretch'd. 
 His blood-disfigur'd head he feebly rais'd, 
 His pain-swol'n eyes upon the strangers turn' 
 And piteously their kind relief implored. 
 They bore him to a distant stream, assuaged 
 With cooling draughts his fever-heated thirst, 
 The burning of his blister'd tongue allay'd, 
 His fester'd wounds deterg'd, and to them bounc 
 The juicy leaves of herbs medicinal. 
 His languid powers in some degree revived, 
 They now inquired what was the hapless cause 
 Of his adverse condition. He replied: 
 My generous Benefactors, you behokl 
 In me a man deserving direst Death ! 
 'Tis meet, thus on Eternity's dark verge, 
 And soon to face the Almight;. 1 bar, 
 That I should cease, by j;es or 
 To add to that soul-sinking load. 
 That burns e'en now with Hell's h- 
 But oh kind Strangers ! sp 
 
 Which yet of my most wre'-.ucd life remains; 
 That I may all its fervors dedicate, 
 
 HUT sin, 
 guilt 
 
 L flames, my heart ! 
 waning spark
 
 I 
 
 ADVENTURES. 87 
 
 To pleading with the good benevolent Gocl, 45 
 
 ,Yho heard the death-doom'd Thief, that with hinj hung 
 pon the cruel cross, and spared the suppliant's soul." 
 Wliiie thus he spake, conflicting hopes, and fears, 
 With agitation shook, the anxious breasts 
 Of Melville and Vulosko. He continued. 
 * I once had honor, credit, wealth, and friends; 
 But by MISCHANCE was of my ri-lics robb'd 
 And all the rest soon fled. My creditors, 
 Though few were hard they plunged me into prison ; 
 I swore Insolvency and was released. 55 
 
 My Friends grew cold, and .Scorn's contemptuous sneer, 
 And pitiless grin, iny morbid heart clisturb'd, 
 Where'er I went. INTEMPERANCE promised peace ; 
 
 At least some respite from oppressive pain. 
 
 wed the infernal Piostitute, and soon, 60 
 
 n deepest Poverty, and Vice, was whelm'd. 
 
 To save myself from drear duress again, 
 
 A league of predatory Rogues J joined 
 
 ho in these Mountains have a crag-hid Cave 
 la whicii they live and hoard their spoils." "Oh God!" 65 
 
 In extacy, Vulosko cried. " Oh G;>d ! 
 
 We adore thy Mercy, thy Benignity, 
 11-gracious Father, humbly we adore ! 
 
 Thou wilt again restore our bosom's love ! 
 
 Then eager Melville thus. u Unfortunate man I 70 
 
 Proceed and tell the fate of that sweet Maid, 
 
 vVnom late, tVo.n Happiness and Peace you tore : 
 
 : 
 
 1 
 W 
 
 A 
 
 T
 
 BOONE'S 
 
 Oh quickly tell!" The astonish'd wretch resumed: 
 
 " Oh Jjirs ! you rend my heart with wounds more deep 
 
 More poignantly severe than those which pain 75 
 
 My mangled body. The emotions shewn 
 
 In your expressive voice and looks, evince, 
 
 That she, the Maid whose fate you wish to Je 
 
 Is by Affection's tender ties, to you, 
 
 In close endearment bound. It makes to me, 
 
 My shame, my infamy more horrible ; 
 
 That they whom to injure most I've taken part 
 
 Are those who can such generous kindness she 
 
 Your pious firaise, when painfully oppress'd 
 
 By heavy woe, the Heaven-daring sins 
 
 Of my ungrateful soul by contrast paints, 
 
 In colors black as Hell's Tartarean shades. 
 
 Of that unhappy Maiden's dreadful state, 
 
 I can but little say- Not far we'd gone 
 
 From the accursed spot, where first our gri 
 
 Her lovely limbs cngrasp'd ; when to the charge 
 
 Of one more ruffian and myself was given 
 
 The weeping Innocent. To us bdorig'd, 
 
 To bear her on to the infernal den, 
 
 The magazine of our unvended spoil : 
 
 While o'er a different route our comrades spe 
 
 A small division of our band to meet, 
 
 Who were with plunder and provisions laden, 
 
 And from the settlement a smoother \v.iy 
 
 Pursued. As through this dreary glade we impel'd
 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 iie pity-supplicating Captive on ; 
 1 [y fellow-ruffian rudely shock'd her ear 
 With language lewd, indecent, taunting, base ! 
 A bandou'd, guilty, harden'd as I was; 
 My soul such shameful cruelty abhor'd. 105 
 
 tbacle him cease ! With huffish air he swore, 
 is tongue should never brook restraint in Hell, 
 ' 
 Inch less on earth. And -as he spake he grasp'd 
 
 I i his unmanner'd arms the shrieking Maid. 
 My Indignation rose, I seized him fast, 1 10 
 
 And broke his ruffian gripe. He drew his sword ; 
 Mine too was instantaneously unsheathed: 
 With wrathful clash they met, and adverse thrusts, 
 From mutual wounds, brought adverse spouts of blood. 
 Hot raged the fray, until my dexter arm 115 
 
 A deep, relaxing gash received, and dropM 
 Its reeking steel. Our pistols were uncharged; 
 My cursed antagonist now felt scour:', 
 And turn'd triumphantly around to claim 
 lie beauteous TROPHY When behold she'd fled .' 120 
 
 eye at distance caught her snowy form, 
 As near the margin of the open vale she sought 
 With timid speed, an ample laurel brake. 
 Tiie rage-invigorated Demon ran 
 
 In swift pursuit, although -with the red streams 125 
 Which issued from his wounds, his foot-steps smoked. 
 But ere the glade's bloom-purpled edge he reach'd 
 She pierc'd the mazy thickets virent gloom. 
 
 2 
 
 f\ 
 
 l
 
 BOONE S 
 
 He disappear'd No more I saw or heard." 
 
 " Oh then," Vulosko ardently cxclaim'cl 
 
 " Perhaps my darling daughter has escaped 
 
 The stygian pit which threaten'd to engulph 
 
 Her mortal peace ! Oh God ! she yet may live 
 
 Beneath thy hallow'd wing protected, safe 
 
 From Hell's horrific fiends ! Let's haste, my friend 
 
 HOPE whispers sweetly to my sorrowing heart ! 
 
 O ! if she has eluded the pursuit 
 
 Of her Satanic foe, she may e'en now 
 
 Beneath the shelter of her humble home, 
 
 Or in the solitary forest-shade, 
 
 Be pouring Gratitude, to that great God, 
 
 To whom, her kind deliverance she owes. 
 
 As speedily as possible, let's learn 
 
 Her situation ; if 'in these mountain-wilds 
 
 She wanders lost ; although a paradise 
 
 Compared to the tartarean den she scap'd ; 
 
 A thousand terrors yet must agitate 
 
 Her timid heart, and render quick relief 
 
 Supremely grateful. But, which Heaven forbid ! 
 
 But, if she groans a victim to the power 
 
 Of those predaceous Villains ; Hell itself, 
 
 Could scarce her pain augment, or render aid 
 
 More needful. Then 'tis meet that every nerve 
 
 Should to the tardy task exertion lend, 
 
 Of bearing hence this wounded, hapless man !" 
 
 Of flexile boughs a litter soon they wove, 
 
 \ 
 
 145 
 
 I 
 155
 
 ADVENTURES, 
 
 bore the penitential wretch. 
 commanding summit of a rich 
 1-unpaling pinnacles o'erlook 
 The wide-expanded stretch of all the Hills 16&> 
 
 between the Atlantic and Pacific Seas, 
 'ie pointed to their view the craggy mound 
 In which the Robbers had their dark abode. 
 Just as the sun his flaming face had bow'd 
 Behind the AHeganean peaks, they reach'd 
 Vulosko's lowly cottage. There Delome 
 In waiting with a little host they found ; 
 But no Melcena's animating smiie 
 The Father's and the Lover's hopes confiimM. 
 In converse on the theme of high concern 17Q 
 
 The melancholy evening linger'd off', 
 And Night to necessary rest was given. 
 
 At morning's dewy dawn the dauntless band 
 Arose innerv'd ; resolved ere night to burst 
 The infernal bolts that bar'd the rock-arch'd gate, ITS 
 Through which to their dark subterranean den 
 The hellish plunderers pass'd. Old Ralph was left 
 To nurse Vonploor, the wounded Penitent ; 
 From whom directions were obtain'cl, by which 
 Our Heroes best the horrid cave could find. 180 
 Before, the flaming wings of flying Day, 
 Had from the mountain's breezy summit brush'd 
 The morning's sparkling dews, the midway steeps, 
 With vigorous tread, the little phalanx scaled :
 
 92 
 
 And as the culminating orb of noon, 
 
 Roll'd blazing on the equinoctial plane, 
 
 Their breasts they bent high o'er the steepy Kxo 
 
 Of the rough Robber-sheltering RIDGE'S side. 
 
 When its cloud-shouldering summit they attain'd 
 
 In consultation on a shaded rock 19 
 
 They sat; and lo ! before them; wildly pale 
 
 Her dark-brown, breeze-buoy'cl locks, disorcler'd, loose 
 
 Swift-gliding through the storm-disniember'd shru 
 
 And thunder-riven rocks, in torn attire. 
 
 The lost, the unexpected MAID appeared! 195 
 
 Vulosko cried, u GREAT GOD! MY CHILD! MY CHILD !'' 
 
 And Melville too exclaim'd aloud, MY LOVE! 
 
 MY DEAR MELCENA! HOLY GOD OF HEAVEN, 
 
 MY ANGEL LIVES .' And both with phrenzied joy 
 
 And rapturous agitation ran to meet 200 
 
 The sweet transported Maid ; who heard and kn 
 
 The dear-remembered voice; and speechless met 
 
 Their loved embrace A soul-entrancing scene, 
 
 A warmly -melting time of ter.derest joy 
 
 Of Heaven-infused, o'erwhdming bliss, it was ! 
 
 A clown Vulosko's sorrow-channel':! cheek 
 
 The tears of fond paternal extacy 
 
 In rills translucent stream'd In thrilling tran 
 
 Both Melville and Melcena sweetly wept. 
 
 The silent transports, the delicious gush 
 
 Of their fond meeting o'er ; first having told 
 
 What information from Vonploor they'd gain'cl ;
 
 ADVENTURE3. 93 
 
 With ardent eagerness, the doating Father 
 
 And tender Lover tremblingly inquired, 
 
 What horrors, pains and fears she'd undergone, 215 
 
 Since the disastrous hour that ruffian hands, 
 
 With hellish violence, her angel limbs 
 
 Kngrasp'd. The languid Beauty thus replied. 
 
 " My dear, my ever kind affectionate friends! 
 
 The God whose thunder smites these ragged rocks, 
 
 His holy power has kindly interposed 221 
 
 To save me from the most unhappy doom 
 
 That Demons could devise, than dreadcst dtath 
 
 A thousand times more dire ! 
 
 The steely clash 
 
 No sooner had commenced between Vonploor 225 
 And the infuriate fiend with whom he fought, 
 Than from them with my utmost speed I fled. 
 By crouching closely to the mossy earth, 
 Deep in the laurel brake's anfractuous maze, 
 The conquering Villain's curs'cl pursuit I scaped. 230 
 Enchanting as a blooming paradise 
 The gloomy desert then to rue appeared. 
 But still to annoy my fluttering bosom's peace, 
 My Melville's fate and Father's frantic woe 
 Continually were present to my mind. 235 
 
 For much I feared my LOVE'S impetuous steed 
 With furious rage had dashed him on the rocks. 
 Or burst nis head against some fatal tree. 
 As NIGHT from the deep dingles darkening rose,
 
 94 BOONE S 
 
 Forth from a thousand dreary caverns crept 
 
 Her bestial brood. From hill to hill their howl 
 
 And blood-congealing; cries were wildly pour'd 
 
 Now scatter'd widely o'er the murky waste, 
 
 The glare-eyed Prowlers vent their echoing yells 
 
 Now gather'd in terrific groupes they growl, 245 
 
 They grin and gnash their teeth, while glyns and hills 
 
 Reverberate the wild vociferous sounds. 
 
 In unremitted dread the livelong night 
 
 I pass'd : each moment menaced me wrh death. 
 
 The panting Wolves and whining Panthers paced 2.5 
 
 Almost incessantly around the spot, 
 
 Where 'till the rise of dawn I trembling lay. 
 
 The morning beams drove to their dismal dens 
 
 The deathful herds. I rose, in hopes ere night 
 
 To find the path that would conduct me home : 
 
 But what direction I had best pursue 
 
 I did not know. For all around me, spread 
 
 A frowning forest, mountainous and vast, 
 
 In which my senses were bewildered, lost. 
 
 The cheering sun secm'd in the south to rise 2 JQ 
 
 And change his blazing orbit towards the North. 
 
 Hood-wink'd Conjecture was my only guide; 
 
 She pointed out her way, and on I went, 
 
 Slow-winding through the luurel-t/ngicd brakes, 
 
 And o'er the lofty, rough, and rock-brow'd hilis, 2 
 
 But found my blird conductress led me wrong. 
 
 Again the day-beams ceas'd to illume the wilds ;
 
 ADVENTURES. 95 
 
 /.gain the night in sleepless fear I pass'd. 
 
 Another morning shon^, another day 
 
 I oll'd tediously away; again the shades 270 
 
 Of howling darkness hung upon the Hills, 
 
 And found me still bewildered in the waste. 
 
 The air was warm, exhausted Nature claimed 
 
 The renovating aid of friendly rest. 
 
 I rak'd beneath a rock a couch of leaves, 275 
 
 On which my wearied system sunk to sleep; 
 
 The Owl's drear hoot, the Wolf's distressful howl 
 
 Invaded not my drc im-disturb'd repose. 
 
 Until the sunny streams of smiling clay 
 
 Pour'd warmly on my dew-damp'd cheek, I slept. 280 
 
 I then arose, and wandered on again 
 
 Almost despairing e'er to find the path, 
 
 Or pass the wildering Forest's frightful bounds : 
 
 N"t distant hence, more than a mile or two; 
 
 As o'er the steeps of this stupendous ridge 285 
 
 I clambered, lo ! among the rudest cliffs 
 
 "Which crown its craggy brow, all red with blood, 
 
 The horrid Villains, whose infernal hands 
 
 First drag'd me from your tender love, I saw! 
 
 From the huge body of some slaughter'd Beast, 290 
 
 The smoking hide they tore With shuddering fear 
 
 Their dread vicinity I quickly fled, 
 
 And had not yet my trembling flight relax'd, 
 
 When your enrapturing voice announced relief 
 
 From all the horrors that appall'd my soul. 29S
 
 96 BOONE S 
 
 O my dear friends ! your presence pours a flood 
 
 Of sweet felicity upon my heart; 
 
 And thence has swept away the waves 
 
 Of dark and terrible Despair, which drown'd 
 
 My Hopes, and bred DISTRACTION'S lizard Brood SCO 
 
 In crawling myriads through my dreary Breast ! 
 
 Since we departed from thy Father's House 
 
 My Melville ! no refreshing nourishment 
 
 Beside the mountain-stream has touch'd my lips." 
 
 " Excuse, excuse, my dear/" in tenderest tones, 305 
 
 The weeping Melville hastily exclaim'd ; 
 
 Our seeming negligence. O'er-powering joy 
 
 At meeting thus our Love alive, unharm'd .' 
 
 And anxious eagerness to hear detail'd 
 
 The scenes through which you pass'd, our souls a 
 
 And all attention to your present wants 
 
 Precluded. She aver'd the joy express'd 
 
 In their endearing extacy, convey'd 
 
 A more enlivening comfort to her heart, 
 
 Than all the pleasures which the sensual world 315 
 
 Could give, and that she felt keen Hunger's looth 
 
 As little then, as when they left Delome's, 
 
 So had their presence JiWd with bliss her soul / 
 
 Vulosko, while she spake, spread on a rock 
 
 Moss-carpeted, the little store of food 320 
 
 Their scrip supplied, and bade his daughter eat. 
 
 Boone now advised without delay to march 
 
 And seize or slay the Robbers ere again
 
 ADVENTURES. 97 
 
 T.ieir Den they enter'd : all forthwith agreed. 
 IVJelcena pointed out their course, and on 325 
 
 T iey hasten'd leaving her behind in care 
 O ' Melville and Vulosko, who both burn'd 
 T ) aid in the avcngement of her woes. 
 But through her tender importunities 
 Supported by the united voice of all, 
 T iey were at length prevail'd upon to stay. 
 Tie little host soon reach'd the craggy piles 
 "Which shelter'd the predaceous band, and soon 
 They saw the Ruffians closely clustering round 
 A butcher'd Buffalo, with reeking arms 335 
 
 Deep plunging in the dead Beast's bloody bowels. 
 While thus the unsuspecting Villains plied 
 Their sanguinary work ; our Heroes ken'd 
 The entrance of their subterraneous Den, 
 And secretly its open Gate approach'd. 340 
 
 'Twas not their wish the guilty fiends to kill; 
 But sieze and offer them a sacrifice 
 To offended JUSTICE, on tho sacred Altar 
 Of stern impartial LAW With this intent, 
 Perceiving that the Robbers were unarm'd ; 345 
 
 A part remain'd to guard the gate, and part 
 Crept slyly on to seize the unwary foe 
 When from behind the intervening rocks 
 The .Ruffians saw the approaching band emerge ; 
 They wildly ran for refuge towards the wood, 350 
 Whose gloomy borders bound the southern side 
 
 I
 
 8 BOONE S 
 
 Of the stupendous, rock-built Battlements. 
 
 Our Heroes follow'd on in swift pursuit; 
 
 And as the Villains raised a craggy ledge, 
 
 Boone and Delome gave word to Fire ! and Hills 35 
 
 And Ravines with the death-fraught thunders roar d, 
 
 And all the flying Wretches fell, save five. 
 
 These were pursued, and three were, quickly seized. 
 
 So fast their unarrested fellows fled 
 
 That all fell short in the pursuit save Boone 360 
 
 He unfatigued and ardent, drop'd his Gun and pouch, 
 
 And, like the springing Stag, with vigorous speed 
 
 Press'd swiftly on, and drew at every bound 
 
 Still nearer to the straining Caitiffs' heels. 
 
 They chang'd their course, and sought by stratagem 
 
 Their fleet pursuer's valorous life to end 
 
 The mighty mountain broke abruptly off 
 
 Near by ; and form'd a precipice immense, 
 
 Of awful height, and aspect rough and dark. 
 
 To its rock-frowning verge the Ruffians ran; 
 
 And wheeling round, sprang furiously at Boone ; 
 
 Who, so impetuous was his keen pursuit, 
 
 Had not the dread abyss disceru'd, but met 
 
 Their rageful might ! In vigorous grapplement 
 
 Upon the dizzy brink, with equal power 375 
 
 A while they tugg'd ; but soon with forceful blow, 
 
 Boone fcll'd the stoutest Ruffian to the ground, 
 
 And eve he rose, precipitately down 
 
 The dreadful steep his fellow demon hurl'd
 
 
 ADVENTURKS. 
 
 F om crag to crag with headlong force he fell; 380 
 His blood and brains bespattering, as he smote 
 Their jutting points His horrid dying groan 
 And last tremendous curse were vented, ere 
 Lis batter'd body sunk one third the gulph. 
 Aghast, through the wild gloom, his haggard ghost 385 
 All horror-giddy flew, while round it wheel'd, 
 Like hungry Condors round their fluttering prey, 
 1 1 clattering circles, claw-stretch'd, skinny, fierce, 
 Grim flocks of Hell's black Imps, a dire escort ! 
 And drag'd it screaming to their dark Domains ! 390 
 With ease, Boone managed now the fironlrate Wretch ; 
 Behind his back his brawny hands he bound, 
 And forced him on, to where his fellow fiends, 
 Some dead, some gasping out their dying breath, 
 And others miserably participant 
 Of his own frightful but deserved fate, 
 Lay gory on the blood-encrimson'd rocks 
 
 To animate the triumphs of the day, 
 Delome in haste a messenger dispatch'd, 
 To bring Vulosko and the enamor'd pair : 
 Who soon arrived and hail'd their Friends' success 
 To explore the murky cavern's rock-arch'd vaults? 
 Now the united band in haste prepare. 
 With glaring flambeaux down its dark descent 
 They pass'd a gloomy dank and drear abode 405 
 k was; which suited well u murderer's soul! 
 Its darkness seem'd from stygian dungeons drawn :
 
 100 BOOVE 
 
 A thousand elfish ECHOES muttering deep, 
 
 With mincing mockery issued back each sound 
 
 That floated through the gloom. With Wizard GROAKSJ 
 
 And grinning GNOMES, to Fancy's phrenzied ear 411 
 
 And wild distorted eye, the darksome Den 
 
 Seem'd thickly fill'd. Broad horror-sounding sheets 
 
 Of Petrifaction, from the arches hung; 
 
 To which the trembling hand of- timid FEAR 415 
 
 Would cautiously approach ; lest some rude touch 
 
 Might shake their hoarsely-hollow ringings forth ; 
 
 And rouse the fierce, fire-belching Monsters up, 
 
 The red-eyed FURIES, and grim Dragons huge, 
 
 To fill with yellings, slaughter, flames and blood, 4*20 
 
 With sulphurous stench, and rock-convulsing roar, 
 
 The subterranean clefts, and thundering vaults ! 
 
 When to the dark declivity's extreme, 
 They wound their way a level room received 
 Within its vast caliginous expanse, 
 The adventurous Heroes. Here they saw the spoils 
 Of many a midnight pillage, rudely stored. 
 Here rusted rifles, blood-stain'd scimitars, 
 And numerous horrid implements of Death, 
 On every hand promiscuously appeared. 
 Huge, shaggy Bear-skins, brindled Buffalo-hides, 
 The long-prong'd Antlers of the slaughter'd Elk, 
 The Wolf's grim jaws, the Panther's spotted pelt, 
 And paws, and horns, and claws, and bones, and sculls, 
 Vid all the gore-smear'd spoils that crown the chace, 435
 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 Y/ere seen uncouthly strewn around. 
 
 ^ nd here with Gold and Silver coinage filled, 
 
 Two wooden coffers stood; the hellish hoard 
 
 Of horrid Homicidal villainy! 
 
 Through each compartment, nook, and noisome cell 440 
 
 I Caving now the ruffian residence explored, 
 
 Our Heroes thence the treasur'd pelf removed; 
 
 And into equal parcels so arranged, 
 
 That with facility it might be borne, 
 
 To where their future pleasure should direct. 445 
 
 They next the corses of the Caitiffs slain, 
 
 Deposit in the dank and rayless Den, 
 
 And change their habitation to a grave ! 
 
 The sun had now his daily round perform'd, 
 And Twilight riding o'er the mountain peaks, 450 
 In her soft dusky Car, the starry gems 
 That beautify her concave Canopy 
 Disclosed, and warn'd our Heroes to prepare 
 A lodging for the Night. An ample Tent, [spread ; 
 With broad-leaf 'd boughs and beech- wood bark o'er. 
 In which the ruffian Robbers sometimes lodg'd, 456 
 Stood near the cavern's mouth; a shelter snug 
 From rains and dewy damps. Our Heroes there, 
 To pass the Night prepared. A row of Lamps, 
 
 Suspended from the ridge-pole of the tent, 460 
 
 Were lighted, and the prisoners well secured : 
 
 'hen all to rest resign'd. Around the place, 
 Mild Slumber shed her sweet nectarean dews ; 
 2
 
 102 BOONE'S 
 
 On every eye the honied droppings fell, 
 Except the restless Captives' They, nor sleep, 
 Nor one alleviating pause from pain, 
 Experienced through the lingering lead-wing'd Night 
 Some hours in calm repose the Sleepers pass'd; 
 Bat ere one half of her nocturnal course 
 The ceaselessly revolving globe had roll'd ; 
 A deep impetuous burst of thunder fell 
 With awful fury on their startled ears ; 
 And dreaming Fancy's silken finery tore, 
 And all her glittering- glassy fabrics broke. 
 The awaken'd Slumberers rose With raging roar 47 5 
 The winds lash'd to and fro the crashing trees. 
 As black as collied exhalations, hung 
 Thick hovering o'er the howling Hills, a Cloud 
 Tumultuous, huge. Like Niagara's flood, 
 As down the foaming steep abrupt it sinks, 
 The fury-agitated tempest roar'd. 
 Along its black convolving billows blaz'd, 
 The barbed flashes of electric flame. 
 Down through the accumulating masses roll'd, 
 With louder violence, the vollied peals. 485 
 
 Great Allegany's towering turrets rock'd ; 
 'The forest monsters whined, and howl'd with fear 
 Imagination's wide-expanded eye, 
 Beheld the awful Angel of the storm, 
 In black tempestuous terrors thickly clothed ; 
 Fierce lashing with tremendous wings the clouds, 
 
 ii_.
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 .And rolling through the glooms, the flaming balls 
 C.i' dreadful lightning Now descending down 
 The storm, in the hoarse thunder's circling gurge, 
 Now rising swiftly up the murky Vast, 495 
 
 The furious Genius cleaves the broad expanse, 
 And drives against the Hills from either wing, 
 Repeated blasts of desolating STOKM, 
 With bolted vengeance charg'd ; uprooting towers 
 Of rocks, and tearing trees wide-branching, huge, 500 
 From their old beds. Around the Cavern's mouth, 
 In every sweeping gust, the cries and groans 
 Of woe-distracted ghosts seem'd wildly mixed. 
 From their big reservoirs, the ponderous clouds 
 A Vide o'er the Hills, a streaming deluge pour'd ; 505 
 From cliffs to cliffs the tumbling torrents gush'd, 
 And turgent, down the distant dingles roar'd. 
 While thus throughout the elemental world, 
 The violent tumultuation raged, 
 
 And ghostly horrors seem'd to howl around; 510 
 A ghastly Figure gore-grim'd, tall, and wan, 
 Came limping to the entrance of the Tent 
 And instantly fled back ! Each Hero's hand 
 F-ngrasp'd his Gun, each eye gaz'd on the gloom, 
 And by the lightning's coruscation saw, 515 
 
 The meagre miscreant enter the drear Den. 
 They lighted by a lamp, a faggot huge, 
 And Boone led on through the sepulchral vaults 
 The perilous pursuit.* At every step,
 
 104 BOONE 3 
 
 Rough clattering thunders shook the impending rocks. 
 With rude disruption and disordering crash 521 
 
 Were menaced* the stupendous shuddering walls, 
 And roaring arches ! Grisly grin'd around 
 The ruffian Corses, pallid, swollen, stiff! 
 Death-damps upon their dismal visages 
 With spectral beams, and livid glimmerings shon 
 The affrighted WRETCH, as on our Heroes press'c 
 The gore-incrusted carcases beheld : 
 Fear-quaking, to the farthest nook he crept ; 
 The shallow current of his veins was chill'd. 
 All wildly horrent stood his creeping hair I 
 His swollen protruded eyes with horror stared ; 
 Convulsively his cracking teeth were clench'd, 
 And all his limbs with chilly shudderings shook ! 
 At the pursuers' feet o'erpowered he fell. 535 
 
 They bore him thence, and found he was the Wretch, 
 Who with Vonploor his hellish arm had tried! 
 His strength by hunger, wounds, and waste of blood 
 So weaken'd was, that from the hour he fail'd 
 To o'ertake the lovely Maid, his languid limbs 540 
 To reach the Cave, their utmost force had plied. 
 But not until this night of awful gloom, 
 At the chear place arrived. The Lightning's bl 
 Illumed the rugged way, and gave him power 
 The destin'd spot to find. The wearied band 54 
 First having given the Wretch some nourishmen 
 And bound him fast, the care-dispelling God
 
 ADVENTURES. 1Q5 
 
 Of mild repose again invokedThe storm 
 
 Had now begun to wear a calmer face 
 
 Fur distant in the flashing firmament 550 
 
 Its muttering fulminations died away . 
 
 T ic imagined horrors of the scene had flown, 
 
 And through the chasms of disuniting clouds, 
 
 The stellar sparklers peep'd ; as if to spy 
 
 By furtive glance the ravage of the storm. 555 
 
 The bright nocturnal Goddess drew aside 
 
 Her vapoury veil, and smiled upon the world ! 
 
 When through the morning's floating fogs, the sun 
 His earliest tints diffused, the Heroes rose ; 
 And o'er the twinkling Hills transported, hied 560 
 Until again Vulosko's home they reach'd. 
 Serenely cheerful every face appear'cl, 
 Except the guilty Captives'; theirs a gloom 
 Of melancholy sullenness o'ercast ; 
 And so reluctantly they march'd along, 565 
 
 That all their steps with leaden weights seem'd clog'd. 
 In custody of the assistant band 
 Brought by Delome, they all, except Vonploor, 
 To prison were convcy'd; there to remain 
 Until his convalescence gave him power, 570 
 
 As witness for the Stale," before the bar 
 Of injured Justice to appear, and prove 
 
 The guilt of his more criminal colleagues. 
 When at the lowly mansion had arriv'd 
 The little phalanx, good Delome proposed 575 

 
 106 BOONE S 
 
 To accelerate the nuptial rites, 
 
 That Boone and his companions might partake 
 
 The sweet festivities ; and all agreed. 
 
 Old Ralph was to the settlement dispatch'd, 
 
 With orders to invite their youthful friends, 580 
 
 And bring the holy Priest. Three days elapsed* 
 
 And lo! the brilliant bridal Guests appear'd! 
 
 A fine umbrageous arbor had been form'd, 
 
 In which, the Hymeneal rites to solemnize. 
 
 Its foliaged Canopy, and sun-excluding sides, 
 
 With all the flowery beauties of the Hills, 
 
 Melcena and her skilful servant maids 
 
 Had richly hung, and gracefully adorn'd. 
 
 The Sweet-brier rose, and Honey-suckle flower, 
 
 The crimson lilly, Hcart's-ease, Jessamine, 590 
 
 And Cowslip "interwove in wild festoons, 
 
 Around the bower Edenian odours breathed. 
 
 From end to end a sylvan t.-blc stood, 
 
 With sumptuous viands spread, and mantling Wii.es. 
 
 Delicious mountain dainties nicely dressMj :-'J5 
 
 Were there sweet, Pneasant Venison and Trout. 
 
 Around the rocky wilds the gaysome guests 
 
 Awhile with wonder gaz'd, unknown to them 
 
 What charms could bind Vulosko's heart to scenes, 
 
 With rude unsocial Solitude so clothed. '300 
 
 But soon the genial flow of v'rtuous mirth, 
 
 Tueir first reflections from their minds dispersed, 
 
 And calm convivial converse charm'd their hearts
 
 Vnd made t 
 
 ADVENTURES. 107 
 
 the Mountain bower a Paradise ' 
 The slumbering raptures of their juvenile joys, 605 
 The Lovers' hoary -templed Fathers felt, 
 By memory's potent impulse warmly waked. 
 A flash, of virtuous Pleasure's vivid flame 
 Vulosko's sorrow-clouded breast illumed, 
 And kindled in his eye the sparkling beams 610 
 Of tender animation. Heaven's bright face 
 Serenely shed its sunny smiles around, < 
 And the wild Songsters sung through all the wood 
 Ten thousand strains of mountain Melody. 
 On pinions plumed with Pleasure's purest down 615 
 The happy evening pass'd. The bridal pair 
 In silent extacy sat side by side, 
 The flush of Love, warm on their meeting cheeks, 
 Its finely erubescent tints diffused. 
 Mild, languid emanations from their eyes 620 
 
 Of sweet expressive blue, effusive flow'd : 
 Soul-breathing kisses, secretly they quaff'd 
 From love-dew'd lips. Their hands in mutual clasp, 
 Were glowingly embraced. In unison, 
 With transport's melting thrill, their pulses throb'd ; 
 And every breath was incense to the God 626 
 
 Ol' nuptial bliss. The hour at length arrived 
 In which, the coronation of their love 
 The Venerable Priest was to perform; 
 With mild solemnity the sacred task 630 
 
 Divinely he achiev'd. The gleeful guests
 
 108 
 
 BOONE S 
 
 Epithalamiums sang and festive lays 
 Until the jocund evening closed. 
 
 Next morn 
 
 Boone and his gallant comrades bade adieu 
 To the convivial Bevy, and resumed 635 
 
 Their mountain march. Vulosko's grateful heart 
 Felt SORROW'S gush with PLEASURE'S currents mix, 
 While Bcone's affectionate hand he press'd,and pray'd, 
 That holy Heaven would give protective power 
 To him and his magnanimous colleagues. 6-10 
 
 At parting with such nvble-hearted friends, 
 Melcena and her Melville too, were sad, 
 And every face in sympathetic gloom 
 Was wrap'd. The affecting valediction o'er, 
 The innocent festivities again, 
 In all their harmless rapture were renew'd. 
 The venerable Vulosko and Delome 
 With joy, the juvenile jollity survey'd ; 
 And edified at intervals, with virtuous lore 
 And sage remarks, on Nature, Books, and Man, 650 
 The taintless minds of the attentive youth.
 
 THE 
 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 OP 
 
 DANIEL BOONE. 
 
 BOOK IV. 

 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 
 INVOCATION to the Muse. I/o21. Boone and. 
 his associates reach the summit of the farthest ledge of 
 mountains. Reflections and anticipations enkindlsd by 
 the jiros fiect of Kentucky. They thence descend into her 
 valleys. Description of Scenery. 22*0 115. The Na 
 tives, stimulated by infernal excitement, are furiously 
 exasperated at their presence. 115 to 159. Boone and 
 Stewart taken firisoners ; after several days detention^ 
 they escape, but find their Camp plundered and their 
 Comrades fed. 160 to 227. They prepare another 
 shelter )in which, after some time, they are found by two 
 other Adventurers; one of whom is Boone 1 s Brother. 
 Through him, they derive intelligence from Carolina, and 
 from Vulo_sko. 228 to 364 Stewart murdered while on 
 
 a hun ting excursion 4n dp ostrophc t o him . 3 65 to 44 1 . 
 
 Sorrow of the surviving Heroes Winter and its concom 
 itant horrors described Magnanimity of Boone His 
 philosophic remarks to Inn Brother Their industry 
 
 through the Winter. 442 to 497. Spring Boonc's 
 
 Brother returns to the Settlement Reflections ofBoone^ 
 
 excited by the solitude in ni-hic/i he was immersed The 
 
 sources of his consolation Interesting Phenomena of 
 
 Nature. 498 to 609. His exemption from Fear l)i- 
 
 i>eri/ied Beauties and picturesque grandeur of the Wil 
 derness and its Kivt,r& 'Retrospective contemplations 
 arising from their view. 6\0to 744. Perilous incident t 
 and fortunate escape.
 
 THE 
 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 DANIEL BOONE, 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 INSPIRE, immortal Spirits of the West ! 
 
 With bolder energies my Muse's wing, 
 
 And light with stronger Hame her tender eye, 
 
 That she unwearied o'er the loftiest ridge 
 
 Thut stretches in her frightful way may soar, 5 
 
 And while she soars, the wide stupendous Wilds 
 
 Throughout with lynxean penetration pierce. 
 
 And that she rnay in lays seraphic sing 
 
 The wonders of the numerous scenes she sees, 
 
 Her song with thy own sweetness melodize. IQ 
 
 And thou my Muse ! with wildly melting grace, 
 Strike softly from the angel-woven wires, 
 Of POESY'S bright HARP, sweet flowing strains; 
 To celebrate the gently sportive CHARMS 14 
 
 That spread kheir beauties through the blooming West / 
 And from the dcefi-ton'd chords their thundering notes,
 
 112 BOONE'S 
 
 With daring sweep arouse, till lofty song 
 
 The bold sublimity of the new world 
 
 Harmoniously proclaim ; and loud resound 
 
 The bloody brunts of the first Western Wars, 20 
 
 And brave intrepid Boone's adventurous deeds. 
 
 Swift on, o'er the rude-featured Wilderness 
 The sinewy sons of Enterprise proceed. 
 Lo ! now the farthest mountain-ledge they scale , 
 And from its breezy summit raptured see, 25 
 
 Kentucky's rolling Hills and broad Campaigns ! 
 Prophetic transports thrill'd their kindling hearts, 
 Ui. wonted ebullitions warm'd their blood, 
 And God's Omnipotence and Wisdom waked 
 Profoundest adoration in their souls ; 30 
 
 As in continued prospect, they beheld 
 Green-mantled GROVES and blossom-tinted KNOLI.S, 
 Extending coextensive with the ken 
 Of their wide-ranging Vision, and survey'd 
 Through prescient FANCY'S telescopic tube, 35 
 
 Republic-Institutions rising round 
 The rich EXPANSE, beneath the angelic aid, 
 OF CONQUEST-CROWN'D COLUMBIAN LIBERTY ! 
 
 The wearisome asperities at length 
 Of Alleganean Battlements they pass, 44 
 
 And o'er the bloom-cnamePd vallies speed. 
 In sweet confusion, Nature's changeful charms 
 On every herb and spray hung loosely round, 
 And fill'd the waving Groves and odorous air.
 
 ADVENTURES, 113 
 
 ncl at each step in thicker plenty bloom'd: 45 
 
 Until before their fascinated eyes, 
 In careless pomp, great NATURE'S GARDEN, deck'd 
 With all the fiecker'd pride of Paradise, 
 Its countless beauties spread. 
 
 The liquid lays 50 
 Of wild-wood warblers unimbibed before 
 By polish'd ear, in quavering rivulets stream'd. 
 From thousand-thousand plumy tubes around. 
 And as if Nature here her grand Menage 
 Had proudly fix'd ; in-numerous animals, 55 
 
 Of numerous kinds and various sizes, roam'd 
 In wild profusion through the rustling woods. 
 Dark-spreading droves of browsing Buffalos ranged 
 The mazy regions ; slowly-marching now, 
 And pausing oft, beneath the pendent shade 60 
 
 They fought the flies, and cropt the juicy Cane : 
 Now priding in tLeir empire uncontrolM, 
 And glorying in the power of conscious ini^iit, 
 With sullen sportive-ness they ueadiong cleave 
 The crackling brakes, and wildly rushing on, 65 
 
 Like a dark hurricane, the bladed groves, 
 The fiowei'ing plants, and virenst herbage crush, 
 And shake with thundering sweep the sounding Hills. 
 In stately majesty the towering Elks 
 On every hand high-bounding, shook aloft 70 
 
 Their wide-diverging Antlers, snuffing strong 
 In every flying breeze the Strangers' breath;
 
 114 BOONE'S 
 
 And dashing over Hill and Brake and Copse, 
 Reverting oft a glance of timid wonder, sought 
 Security in gloom of deeper wilds. 
 
 In countless herds, the fleetest Quadruped 
 That treads Columbia's vast uncultured plains, 
 The agile fine-limb'd Deer, gave beauty, life, 
 And fascination to the wild-wood scenes. 
 Now in the l.i.^h-grown shrubbery of the glade, 
 They lave their glossy sides, and sip the dew 
 Bright-glistening on the. sweet exuberant flowers 
 Or nip the savoury leaves and tender moss, 
 Which constitute, with their green-shady tints 
 The variegated Picture's beauteous ground. 
 Now, sheltered from the strong-descending blaze 
 Of noon-tide sunshine, they in mild repose, 
 Beneath broad-foliag'd boughs lie closely couch'd 
 On lairs of cooling grass, while round them sport, 
 In nimble frisky glee, their spotted brood. 90 
 
 Ihnumerous other more ferocious Beasts, 
 
 
 
 Distancing many a Green with guiltless blood, 
 
 And holding the gramnivorous tribes in awe. 9: 
 
 At length Red River's rich cane-border'd banks 
 Our Heroes reach'd ; and there a shelter form'd 
 For a Nocturnal lodge and screen from storms. 
 They thence to explore the fruitful regions round 
 Excursions dailv made, and eft the marks
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 115 
 
 Of sanguinary savages descried. 
 
 Lilt unappull'd, with still increasing zeal 
 
 The wonder- waking wilds they deeper pierced ; 
 
 Kentucky's rock-brow'd, frowning banks soon pass'd, 
 
 And over uplands plains and streams advanced, 105 
 
 Till great Ohio's mellow shores they trode ; 
 
 And saw with joy sublime, the PRINCELY TIDE 
 
 Devolve his silvery billows towards the Sea. 
 
 There oft the tawny tenants uf the wood 
 
 To them in fierce and frightful groups appeared : 110 
 
 Now chasing through the brakes the bounding game, 
 
 Now driving o'er the stream the shapeless raft, 
 
 Or angling in the eddying deeps for fish. 
 
 But cautiously o\ir Heroes shun'd their ken ; 
 
 Tor every gang was arm'd complete. 115 
 
 The Hosts 
 
 6f Hell's infernal Empire had descried 
 The CONVOCATION of the Angelic Powers, 
 And through their emissaries ascertained 
 Its great design. Their black tartarean hearts 120 
 With boiling gall o'erflow'd ; Hell's sulphury fires 
 Not hotter burn'd, than rag'd the demon flames 
 Tuat heated up the furnace of their Breasts ! 
 By all the purity of Heaven they swore, 
 Aud by Damnation's pitchy gulphs, to thwart 125 
 
 If in their power, the humanizing views 
 Of the Celestial Council; and forthwith 
 By subtle process, through the savage souls,
 
 116 
 
 The poison of malignant passions puur'd, 
 
 And all their fury roused against the WHITES. 130 
 
 M'Bride and Findley and their valiant bands, 
 
 Who erst had visitc.i in friendly guise 
 
 The "DARK AND BLOODY GHOUND ;" first waked the 
 
 Of Indian jealousy ; which now the Fiends [fire 
 
 Of nether darkness fed with secret fuel, 1.3; 
 
 And fan'd into a flame of furious rage. 
 
 
 To FANTASIES transformed, in midnight dreams, 
 
 They crouded Wizard-Horrors through the brain 
 
 Of the fierce Natives, representing Death 
 
 As whetting the " LONG KNIFE" to exterminate 1-10 
 
 Their tribes, while from its mighty blade huge streams 
 
 Of Indian blood in smoking sluices gush'd ! 
 
 They saw their Groves and flowery Forests fall, 
 
 Aud desolating Conflagrations sweep 
 
 Their cany Vales and wig-warn Villages. 1-15 
 
 They saw their Deer, their Bears and BuflTalos die. 
 
 And swarms of Whitemen covering all the plains, 
 
 Which from great Allegany's base extend, 
 
 To where MISSOURI'S thundering surges roll I 
 
 The presence of our Heroes in their land, 150 
 
 With tenfold dread their bloody VISIONS fill'd, 
 
 And kimlling fierce resista; ce in their he-arts, 
 
 Roused old and young of every tribe to r.rms. 
 
 To avert despair, and g-i/e the I!K!U;,,':> Lc 
 A livelier effervescence; Hell's dire powers Ii3 
 
 With tuc iil-*;,u'n'd Visions, others mix'd
 
 ADVENTURES. 117 
 
 Of more ausfiicious aspect; Sachems Seers, 
 And all the ORACLES of Savage Faith, 
 With the conflicting Fantasies were fill'd. 
 
 In almost constant evagation, Boone 16 
 
 And his companions pass'd the summer tide ; 
 Eluding every effort of the Foe, 
 To Sacrifice them to his BLOODY GOD. 
 The Hyperborean breath of Brumal winds, 
 Began the autumnal blooms and gossamer, 165 
 
 To scatter through the air and russet groves ; 
 And still uninjured, the Adventurers brav'd 
 The dangers of the unreclaim'd domain. 
 But now the time of trouble and distress, 
 Of Cruelty, of Stratagem, and Death 170 
 
 Began to roll in view its bloody glooms. 
 
 One morning Baone, accompanied by his friend 
 And bold Companion Stewart, left their Camp 
 And Comrades, and with unmolested march, 
 O'er mellow Bottoms and rich Hills progress'd; 175 
 Until the broad-spread, gold-embellish'd skirts 
 Of the red sun, hung blazing in the trees. [groves, 
 
 Through grass-crown'd glades and grape-empurpled 
 Through forests with deep-flecker'd fruits aclorn'd, 
 And f.-agrance of sweet fading flowers perfumed 180 
 In animating transports they had pass'd. 
 
 As on the breezy brow of a small hill, 
 Entranced with admiration's glow they stood, 
 No fear or vexing passion in their breasts ;
 
 118 
 
 BOONE S 
 
 195 
 
 A savage herd rush'd from a neighboring brake, 185 
 
 And clutchM their noble limbs. Their day of Woe 
 
 Was dawning now. But all the darksome glooms 
 
 Of its disastrous morn, could not appall 
 
 The dauntless Prisoners. Valor buoy'd their souls 
 
 Above complaint, and patriot VIRTUES taught, 190 
 
 Plow the hot vengeance of the savage heart 
 
 To soothe.' Conciliating meekness, mix'd 
 
 With manly dignity, their actions mark'd ; 
 
 And mild Hilarity her smiles diffused 
 
 Like Summer sunshine o'er their winning cheeks. 
 
 In rigid thraldom seven days they pass'd ; 
 
 Mean while engaged, the savage Jealousies, 
 
 Suspicions, Animosities and Wrath, 
 
 Against the white Americans to extirp. 
 
 So far our noble Captives had success ; 
 
 The rigor of their bondage was relax'd, 
 
 And they permitted, to repose unbound, 
 
 In the Nocturnal lodge. As there one Night 
 
 On fur-skin beds they lay, in wildest depth 
 
 Of a Cane thicket; Boone, perceiving Sleep 
 
 Its death-resembling seal had deeply stanrtp'd 
 
 On every savage eye; and apprehensive lest 
 
 A larger and less lenient band might soon 
 
 Become of their precarious Destiny 
 
 The Arbir-rs, if the auspicious chance 
 
 Then off ing ;.n escape was not embraced; 
 
 Witii gentle touch his slumbering Comrade wak'd ; 
 
 200 
 
 210
 
 ADVENTURES. 119 
 
 /Said off with light and speedy steps they stole, 
 Through the anfractuous brake, in whose dark maze 
 rheyipandered on, till Night's dim-beaming lamps 31s 
 In Morn's wide-flowing floods of flame were quench'd. 
 They then in haste to their old Camp return'd, 
 And found it plundered and their Comrades gone! 
 The tawny foe had driven them thence, and they 
 Believing their adventurous Chief was slain, 220 
 And fearing friendless Winter might combine, 
 Through medium of his trace-betraying snows, 
 Or otherwise, with the red foe to yield them 
 Into the blood-reeking hand of grisly Death, 
 Conceived it prudent to tread back the Wilds 225 
 To Carolina's civilized abodes, 
 And therefore thither steer'd. 
 
 In hunting Deer 
 
 And reconnoitring the New World, still Boone 
 And Stewart the unwasted hours employed : 230 
 
 First having rear'cl on other ground, a Hut 
 To screen them from fierce Winter's freezing storms. 
 
 Oft from our HERO'S eye, the tears of Love 
 Translucent drop'd, as sleepless Memory glanced 
 On his dear wife and babes and distant Home. 235 
 But the SUPPORTING ANGEL, still his heart 
 With spirit-strengthening fortitude inspired, 
 And warm'd him with the fires of virtuous Fame. 
 
 Now Winter roll'd from the bleak Northern skies, 
 His cloudy tempests towards the warmer West; 240
 
 120 BOONE'S 
 
 
 While Winds howl'd hoarsely through the blacled brakes. 
 
 And circumscribed within kss ample bounds, 
 
 The bold Adventurers' quotidian tours. 
 
 As in their Camp one cold and blustering day, 
 
 Fire-warm'd they sat, retracing on the Map 24:> 
 
 Of honest memory, the deep-color'd lines 
 
 Of juvenile life, and sweet domestic joy ; 
 
 A crackling in the tangled cane they heard, 
 
 And springing to the entrance of their tent, 
 
 Two Whitemen spied, whom soon they recognized, 250 
 
 And with the enraptured voice of transport hail'd. 
 
 For lo ! our HERO'S Brother and a Friend 
 
 Were there ! The joy of elevated souls, 
 
 Enliven'd and enhanced by all the powers 
 
 Which can to bliss its highest zest impart, 255 
 
 The unexpected interview sublimed. 
 
 The dreadful dangers lurking in each nook 
 
 Of the terrific waste, and all the clouds 
 
 Of adverse fortune which had gloom'd their peace 
 
 Since their arrival in the Wilderness, 260 
 
 Were now forgotten. The glad news of Health 
 
 In his dear family, with thankful tears 
 
 Boone's eyes suffused. Awhile with the warm gush 
 
 Ot tender-thrilling extacy o'erwhelm'd, 
 
 In silence round his weeping Brother's neck, 865 
 
 With him exchanging happiest looks, he hung: 
 
 And then his children one by one he named, 
 
 Enquiring eagerly for each, and heard
 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 With all a Father's fond solicitude, 
 
 Their several little messages of Love. 270 
 
 The welfare of his Neighbors, and his Friends, 
 
 With the condition of his COUNTRY, claim'd 
 
 Successively his warm inquiring zeal. 
 
 ;Iis brother satisfied with ardent haste, 
 
 His strong affection-bora anxieties ; 275 
 
 And then described the influence of that power 
 
 Which acted on himself, ere he the scenes 
 
 Of social joy resign'd, to embark his fate 
 
 On that rough-rolling sea of Enterprise, 
 
 Whose bloody Surges heaved by Passion's storms, 280 
 
 And foaming underneath the boding shades 
 
 Of Death's dark Banners, threaten'd to o'erwhelm 
 
 Whate'er approach'd their desolate Domain. 
 
 He on his way had seen the good Delome, 
 
 Who a complete recital to him gave 
 
 Of all the circumstances relative 
 
 To the LOST MAID : and then a servant sent 
 
 To lead him to Vulosko's humble dome, 
 
 Where Hospitality's benign salute 
 
 deceived him at the door. Melcena view'd 
 
 With kind discerning glance the unknown guest, 291 
 
 For in his lofty countenance she mark'd 
 
 A nameless play of mind, a mingled glow 
 
 Of sensibility and mental strength, 
 
 Resembling strongly what she oft had seen 
 
 In Daniel Bbone's fine intellectual face I 296 
 
 L
 
 122 
 
 She told her Melville what she saw : he smiled, 
 Believing it mere female fantasy ; 
 But her superior perspicatiousness 
 Was soon compell'd to own. Vulosko read 
 Aloud a letter from his friend Delome, SO I 
 
 Which introduced them to their gallant Guest. 
 From their warm lips benignant welcomes flow'd, 
 "And melting Friendship glow'd within their hear 
 Majestic Melville's speaking look assumed 
 An air of more expressive tenderness ; 
 And sweet Melcena's eyes of beaming blue 
 A lovelier livelier animation shed. 
 Her venerable Father grasp'd the hand 
 Of the vivacious visitant, and pray'd 
 That Heaven's Omnipotence would shield his life 
 From shafts of savage Inhumanity ; 
 And aid his glorious efforts to extend 
 Refinement's humanizing flame, until 
 Like lambent day it spread through all the West. 
 " You have a brother," said the white-lock'd Sire, 
 " Whose arm the Battle's thundering bolt can wiel 
 Whose mind can kindle splendors in the shades 
 Of Savage Night, and make the gloomy throne 
 Of barbarous Ignorance fall beneath its powers : 
 Whose heart is Pity's altar, Virtue's shrine, 
 And Valor's empire ! Find him ere you rest, 
 And league your fate with his j convey to him 
 Vnlosko's love ! His kind and manly worth 
 
 
 311 
 
 "' 
 
 321
 
 ADVENTURED. 123 
 
 s stamp'd indelibly upon my heart. 
 
 nform him that the narrow Horizon 326 
 
 Of my descending Sun of life is clear ; 
 
 ixcept that now and then a sombre cloud 
 From MEMORY'S melancholy pool exhaled, 
 Athwart it throws a temporary gloom. 
 For I had once a Wife! and two dear Sons! 331 
 She and my eldest son were snatch'd away 
 By the authorized Destroyer Death. But James, 
 My manly James ! Was torn from me, was slain 
 By sanguinary men ! by cursed Choctaws 1" 
 
 He paused a while and deeply sighing wiped 336 
 His tear-steep'd eyes ; then cast a brightening glan.ce 
 At Melville and his blooming spouse, and thank'd 
 Benevolent Heaven that still he had a SON, 
 To cheer the Wintry Season of old age, 
 To pillow up his dying head, and weep 341 
 
 Upon his grave. He now the subject changed ; 
 And shew'd his guest the wounded wretch Vonploor, 
 Who still was balanced in the dubious scales 
 Of Life and Death. With these benignant friends 
 One Night Our HERO'S noble Brother pass'd, 346 
 Then bade farewelj and travel'd on to meet 
 Upon the designated Mountain peak, 
 His enterpiising friend and brave Compeer, 
 Who from Delome's a different rout he'd gone, 
 To find a Hunting band that was encamp'd, 35 1 
 
 Among the mighty mountains' howling glooms.
 
 
 BOONF.s 
 
 Again conjoin'tl ; the adventurers held their way, 
 
 Until Kentucky's woody plains they reach 'd, 
 
 Where rambling on, at length they came by chance, 
 
 In hearing of our HERO'S cane-hid Camp. 356 
 
 In pleasure's manly sports, some pleasant weeks 
 
 The little cheerful company now pass'd. 
 
 But Joy alas ' is oft the Harbinger 
 
 Of sorrow Pain delights to dart his sting, 
 
 Into the breast that beats with transport's throb : 351 
 
 And Death oft drinks, as if a sweeter draught, 
 
 The life whose currents roll with smoothest flow ; 
 
 Making possession most to be desired, 
 
 And that oft too, while the pellucid stream I 
 
 Is swelling in the highest tide of bliss. S<56 
 
 The Instigators of the INDIAN IRE, 
 With fierce Demoniac rage, its furious flames 
 Continued to incite, until they burst 
 In burning billows on brave STEWART'S head. 
 
 The Centinels of Heaven's stellar Hosts, 371 
 
 Had not from their nocturnal watch retired, 
 But still from the cerulean Towers survey'd 
 With twinkling eyes the march of Myriad Worlds ; 
 When Boone and his associate Trio rose, 
 And belted on their blanket-coats to course, 376 
 
 The red-leafed groves, and grape-crown'd Hills for game. 
 The morning's azure face from clouds was clear, 
 Bleak was his breath and piercing ; and his locks, 
 With frost were powder'd o'er. The Adventurers' nerves
 
 
 ADVKNTUIIES. 125 
 
 ere strung for action, and their spirits braced 08 1 
 or valorous feats and perilous emprise- 
 he crackling wilds in separate routes they pierced ; 
 eep peals the ringing rifles oft times pour'd 
 Along the sounding dells, and rang the knell 386 
 Of many a dying Deer. The keen-edged blade 
 Of Stewart's Butchering Knife, with severing plunge, 
 Full half a score of reeling, bleeding Stags 
 To earth that day had brought, and in the throats 
 Of four huge 'Buffalo's had been buried deep. 391 
 As the wild Genius of the Chase stood near, 
 To. enroll his name among her favorite Sons, 
 And crown him with the laurels of the day ; 
 Fierce, yelling swarms of savage Caitiffs, armed 
 With bloody Hatchets, from their ambush pour'd, 396 
 And instantly encircling him, let fly 
 Their death-commissiou'd Weapons, and dislodged 
 Tl:e intrepid Stewart's life ! His lofty frani-j, 
 Upon the frozen moss, blood-smoki;:g fell; 
 lis full bright eye now lost its lustrous .glow, 401 
 nd that strong-muscled face, commanding grace 
 nd animating smiles no more adorn'd. 
 His high-viewed heart, where generous valor reign'd, 
 Where patriot feelings warm'd the flowing blood, 
 And kindled aims of daring Enterprise, 406 
 
 n Death's cold gripe was still 1 No more to beat i 
 No more to feel I In puddles now, 
 The vapid fluid once with spirit warm,
 
 126 
 
 
 His lifeless bosom's frigid cisterns fill. 
 
 Those fine-form 'd liir.bs that scaled the mcuntrin-steeps 
 
 Unwearied, and with vigorous speed pursued 411 
 
 O'er Hills and streams and Vales the vaulting game, 
 
 Voracious Wolves and Vultures row devour ! 
 
 What though, thou Martyr in Refinement's cause ! 
 
 No kindred weep around thy pallid Corse, 41 
 
 And wrap it in the snow-white winding sheet 
 
 What though no mourning symbols, cypress boughs, 
 
 And melancholy crape around thee hang 
 
 Nor polish'd Coffin, nor protecting grave, 
 
 Thy cold, thy gore-encrusted Corpse receive ? 21 
 
 What though no mournful Bells nor muffled Drums, 
 
 Nor mixed procession robed in funeral black, 
 
 To thy remains Sepulchral homage pay ? 
 
 What though no tomb in monumental grandeur mark 
 
 Among Mausoleums of distinguished Dead, 426 
 
 And mossy sepulchres of many an age, 
 
 The shrine where Stewart's slumbering bones repose 
 
 What tho'jgh upon a thousand Hills thy dust, 
 
 Now slumbers, unawaked by the rude tread 
 
 Of passing feet, unconscious where thou sleep'st ? 34 
 
 What though all this, since Angels mourn'd thy fall ! 
 
 Since the HISTORIC Genius has inscribed 
 
 On Fame's imperishable rolls thy name ! 
 
 Since God's own vivifying voice will lift 
 
 Again thy scattcr'd ashes from the ground ; 430 
 
 And from his Holy Bosom send thy soul
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 1 he renovated tenement once more 
 
 To occupy; when spirit-wing'd, it shall, 
 
 T > join the sainted Hosts of Heaven ascend ! 
 
 And with PHILANTHROPY'S seraphic Sons. 441 
 
 Who bled cohflicting with the embattled bands 
 
 Ot fell Barbarians in the bloody West, 
 
 Forever bask in brilliant beams of BLISS ! 
 
 Much the surviving Heroes mourn'd the loss 
 Of their magnanimous Colleague and Friend ; 446 
 Boone's bosom intimate, and VALOR'S pride] 
 Again their dwindled number was reduced, 
 And Boone and his brave Brother left alone, 
 TJy the departure to the settlement 
 Of their remaining Comrade. 45l 
 
 WINTER now 
 
 From Nature's face had struck the smiling bloom, 
 And o'er the world with dreadful ravage reign U 
 At his approach the sylvan music ceased, 
 And shrinking VEGETATION hid beneath 
 The icy surface of the frozen soil: 456 
 
 The withered Wild was drear as Death's Domain.' 
 And echoed with the roar of hoarse-ltmged STORMS, 
 And chilling yells of flesh-devouring Beasts. 
 But Boone's self-centered soul unshaken tower'd 
 Sublimely o'er the Horrors of the Waste, 46I 
 
 And like a cloud-impaling Pyramid, 
 fhe Tempest's desolating rage defied ! 
 With philosophic calmness oft he said,
 
 128 BOONF. S 
 
 " My Brother ! now we see what a rich fount 
 Of pure felicity the mind of man 
 Within itself contains, if not defiled 
 By the corruptions of soul-blackening Vice. 
 How littie on the gcw-gaw glare of Wealth, 
 On Power's pageant pomp, and vain parade, 
 The human heait for happiness depends. 
 T.;e Fashionable World's a Masquerade, 
 In which the real character's conceal'd : 
 It has ten thousand hires to snare the soul, 
 And is with Falsehood, Flattery and Deceit, 
 With Calumr.y and Disappointment fill'd. 
 Its smiles are like the fabled Syren's songs ; 
 Its pleasures are the painted pills of Death; 
 And when to us its tempting hand it gives, 
 Its faithless, cold, deceitful heart's withheld. 
 Contentment builds her silky-plumed Nest, 
 In the pure Heart where Innocence abides ; 
 And Innocence on timid pinions flies, 
 To Nature's Solitudes ,and sweet retreats. 
 From the turmoil of Vicc-envelop'd Crouds, 
 'Tis there the soul by passions undisturb'd, 
 In philosophic converse with herself, 
 Can ascertain her energies divine, 
 And exercise them in exalted thought 
 'Tis there the mind with animated eye, 
 Beholds her intellectual currents roll, 
 Unruffled and serene i and raptured sees 

 
 
 ADVENTURES. 129 
 
 AGINATION'S rainbow-splendors gild 
 ler pure pellucid deeps and sparkling waves; 
 \nd silent WISDOM'S sterling gems enrich 
 ler beds profound. 
 
 Bleak Winter's reign though fierce, 49i 
 Was short. Our Hero and his Brother braved, 
 With spirits high, its joy-forbidding frowns ; 
 Devoting to their reconnoitring task, 
 And hunting pleasures almost every day. 
 At length, at Angel-featured Spring's approach, jOl 
 The surly Tyrant's cloudy Hosts retired, 
 And sheltering in their Northern Fortresses, 
 Hung round their gloomy Monarch's icy throne. 
 Again enfranchised from her frozen bonds, 
 Invigorated, with rekindled life, 506 
 
 From the dark bowels of her brumal grave, 
 Triumphing VEGETATION rose, and breathed 
 Her scented sweetness on the siik-wing'cl gales. 
 Once more returning MAY blush 'cl o'er the Wilds ; 
 But found, unwonted sight! our Hero sad ! 511 
 
 His Brother now was gone; was travelling home, 
 For Horses, ammunition and what else 
 Their state required A n.ind less firm than Boone's, 
 C'ould not have braved the soul-transpiercing thrusts 
 Of dagger-edg'd Reflections, which assail'd 516 
 
 His bosom's tenderest points. He now was left 
 Amid surrounding swarms of fiercest fiends, 
 Without a single iViend, sxve the kind Spirit;
 
 139 
 
 BOONE S 
 
 Who faithful to his delegated charge, 
 
 Still with his viewless shield protection spread 
 
 Around the Hero's life. The cultured banks 
 
 Of peaceful Yadkin ; the unbloody Hills, 
 
 Where once unapprehensive of a Foe, 
 
 He enjoy'd the Chase, his fellow-sportsmen's sonj 
 
 And animated jest, their cheerful interchange 52$ 
 
 Of graver sentiments, and mild debates 
 
 On politics and man ; with charms renew'd, 
 
 All these in Memory's mirror he beheld, 
 
 And for their loss a moment mourn'd. But most, 
 
 His mind to melancholy was disposed, 
 
 By musing on the misery-boding Fears, 
 
 The kind Concern, and keen Inquietude, 1^^ ' 
 
 Which day and night disturb'd the peace ; which paii 
 
 And stung incessantly the sorrowing hearts, 
 
 Of his Angelic spouse, his high-soul'd Sons, 5;' 6 
 
 And tender-bosom 'd Daughters If indulged, 
 
 Reflections on those sombre themes would soon 
 
 Have shadow'd o'er the lucid pane, through which 
 
 Contentment's radiant beams his soul illumed. 
 
 But he too well a HERO'S duty knew 
 
 To bury in privation-brooded glooms, 
 
 In the dark shadows of domestic woe, 
 
 The kindling sparks of useful Enterprise ; 
 
 Which promised by gradations to expand, 
 
 Until their bright illuminations spread, 
 
 Through the Barbarian Blackness of the W'est.
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 131 
 
 His cares of Home on Heaven he therefore cast, 
 
 And sought felicity within himself ^ 
 
 And in the flowery treasures of the Wild. 551 
 
 Oft where the beauteous Crown-imperial bloom'd 
 
 In gorgeous pomp unvcil'd, and Tulip-laurel 
 
 Its sweet effluvia on the gales diffused, 
 
 He rambled to enjoy their cheering charms ! 
 
 And oft the princely Pinnacle he scaled 556 
 
 Of a smooth Hill, which o'er the green campaign 
 
 In airy pride, and conic grandeur tower'd : 
 
 H<- there in wondering contemplation gazed, 
 
 On various God-proclaiming scenes, which shone 
 
 In glorious fulgour, far as eye could roll. 561 
 
 He thence great NATURE'S THEATRE beheld 
 
 In all its pomp and splendid scenery clothed ; 
 
 Herself the Mistress of the grand DISPLAY, 
 
 And the distinguish'd HEROINE-ACTRESS too ! 
 
 Her curtain with the opening dawn she drew, 56S 
 
 And myriad strains of plausive Melody, 
 
 Her entrance on the gorgeous stage proclaim'd ! 
 
 The varying scenes a thousand times she changed ; 
 
 Her sweet serenity and mellow smiles 
 
 She now diffused and trod in purest light ! 471 
 
 While round her frisk'd and play'd in happiest life, 
 
 In gambols of wild joy her retinue, 
 
 Of leathered and four-footed animals ; 
 
 And o'er the scenic drapery's cloud-form'd sheets, 
 
 To beautify them with prismatic hues, 57S
 
 132 BOOLE'S 
 
 Its gilding streams, her golden Da) -lamp pour'd 
 
 But now encompass'd by tempestuous glooms, 
 
 She bends her blackening brow and thunders break 
 
 In rolling vollies o'er the shuddering Stage ; 
 
 While swiftly round her form sublime, the blaze 581 
 
 Of scathful lightning sweeps the mountain peaks, 
 
 Which darkly in the distant back-ground tower, 
 
 Are shrouded in her frown ! And weeping Skies, 
 
 The tragic darkness, and tumultuous thioes, 
 
 In tearful torrents mourn. The gushing streams 5S6 
 
 To great Ohio's, swelling surges roll ; 
 
 And He, with billowy agitation boil'd, 
 
 Deep-rearing rushes down his foaming way. 
 
 But soon again she scatters from her face 
 
 The curling clouds, from the wide Canopy 591 
 
 Withdraws the stible HANGINGS, and a Calm 
 
 Enliven'd with redoubled splendor, spreads ! 
 
 Unmasking the bright fount of beauteous Day, 
 
 Unveiling all her charms in loveliest blcom, 
 
 And garnishing the groves with brighter green, 596 
 
 She seem'd commission 'd by the powers of Heaven, 
 
 To deck the world with more magnific pomp ! 
 
 From that commanding Hill, those changing scenes, 
 
 Our Hero oft with hallow'd rapture view'd. 
 
 If Nights tenebrious shades the prospects veil'd, 601 
 
 While yet he lingir'cl on the airy mound ; 
 
 Upon the plumy lup of gentle sleep 
 
 His head he laid, and there reposed till morn;
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 3r listening to the Owl's wild-thrilling scream, 605 
 The Wolf's blood-chilling howl and hungering yell; 
 Or gazing on the sky-throned Queen's bright face, 
 The planetary spheres, the burning- stars, 
 The meteor gleams, the silver-winged clouds, 
 The darken'd wastes, the moon-reflecting waves, 610 
 \nd beam-absorbing mists, the Night he'd spend 
 hi philosophic thought and transports wild! 
 
 The Goblin-visaged spectre Fear, that haunts 
 The Coward's heart, crawls through his haggard dreams, 
 Depictures Death and Dangers and Distress, 615 
 And grinning bloody forms through all his thoughts, 
 In Boone's undaunted Breast could never live. 
 He knew, that Fear the active nerves benumbs, 
 When most their useful aidance is required,, 
 Imparting thus to dangers double force. 620 
 
 He knew, that the Almighty's arm, which shields 
 From shafts of Jeopardy, the harmless heart, 
 In soft refinement's social scenes, can guard, 
 With equal ease, the breuat which beats in wilds, 
 Where barbarous Heathens raise the arm of Death, 625 
 And dreadful Beasts, for blood, the forests prowl. 
 He therefore boldly bade the grisly Fiend, 
 Infernal Fear, avaunt. No idle day 
 He pass'd. But great Ohio's cane-cloth'd plains 
 Unceasingly explored. No City's pomp, 630 
 
 Reflecting all the blaze of polish'd Art, 
 
 With turrets, spires and steeples crowu'd, 
 M
 
 154 BOONE'S 
 
 With sweetest Beauty's vestal choirs adonrd, 
 With flapping sails of richest Commerce wing'd, 
 And Luxury's costly Magazines enrich'd, 635 
 
 Could half so much delight have given his mind, 
 As the, unfolding WORLD OF WONDROUS CHARMS, 
 Sublime, majestic, beauteous, splendid, fair, 
 Which oped its wild luxuriance on his eye 
 Wheree'er he trod. Ohio's limpid flood 
 Immmerous Beauties in itself contain'd, 
 And Majesty and glorious Grandeur too ! 
 Its slowly-sliding volume seem'd a Sea 
 Of molten silver, smoothly rolled along. 
 Great Trees above its turfless bottoms towei 
 And spread their giant-branches o'er its Deeps $ 
 Whose lucid Mirror pictured every leaf, 
 Bright-crimson'd bud, and spiral-\vinding vine, 
 Which waving o'er their watery surface, hung. 
 The finny tenants of the liquid cells, 650 
 
 In myriads sported through the rolling stream ; 
 Now springing at the floating fly, they break 
 Its glassy superfice, now darting down 
 The crystal element, they again return 
 To playful gambols on their pebbly beds. CiS 
 
 Too pervious to the eye, the incumbent Mass 
 Of cloudless liquid to conceal from view 
 Their glancing forms. With giaceful majesty, 
 Tall arch-neck'd Swans in snowy bevies sailed, 
 The waving bosom of the flowing flood ; 660
 
 ADVENTURES. 135 
 
 Ai cl pouv'd in murmuring undulations through 
 
 The tremulous waves and vibratory air, 
 
 Their trumpet notes and deeply-quavering- tones. 
 
 Aquatic flocks of various kinds besides, 
 
 Srme rowing on the shining stream, some buoy'd 665 
 
 Oa clattering pinions o'er its bright expanse, 
 
 And circling through the scream-resounding air, 
 
 Surveying with instinctive, wild delight, 
 
 Tae inviting beauties of the watery scenes; 
 
 Our Hero saw. And ofttimes he beheld, 670 
 
 Proud Antler-crowricd Deer, in ample droves 
 
 The unrippling current stemming. Ofttimes too, 
 
 From bank to bank his curious eye pursued 
 
 The unsocial Bears, which with nigrescent paws, - 
 
 Through the bright stream their shaggy bodies oar'd. 
 
 Continuing on his reconnoitring route, 675 
 
 Beyond Ohio's winding course, o'er plains 
 
 With dulcet fruits, and flosculous beauties rich, 
 
 He reach'd at length the mighty MONARCH STREAM, 
 
 The great Imperial River of the West ! 680 
 
 Majestic MISSISSIPPI ! and beheld ; 
 
 Like HOSTS of Battle-charging STEEDS inflamed 
 
 By rage-enkindling trumpets, fires and drums, 
 
 And sanguinary Death, descending down 
 
 Some sloping field with rolling KNOBS emboss'd; 685 
 
 The turbid torrent's fury-foaming WAVES, 
 
 Impetuous dashing onwards towards the Sea ; 
 
 As if disdaining to disgrace their pride }
 
 
 136 BOONE'S 
 
 By lingering long 'mongst humble inland streams, 
 
 Or holding back from the great RENDEZVOUS, 690 
 
 The awful ARMY of assembled Floods ; 
 
 Their tributary force. In thought sublime 
 
 Upon the wave-worn bai:k the Hero stood, 
 
 And hail'd with extacy the headlong flood ! 
 
 The associating principle of mind, 695 
 
 That throws the thoughts with rapid power, 
 
 O'er all the mazy complicated chain 
 
 Of objects, which are link'd to the grand theme 
 
 That with sublime sensation swells the soul ; 
 
 Boone now in all its forceful influence felt. 
 
 Through Fancy's retrospective Vista, he, 
 
 His intellectual vision swiftly glanced, 
 
 And witness'cl the first flow of watery floods ; 
 
 When at the ETERNAL'S great creative word, 
 
 They started from ten thousand roaring Springs 705 
 
 When from the loftiest height of this vast land, 
 
 Its four IMPERIAL Rivers, Aregon, 
 
 St. Lawrence, Bourbon, and Columbia's pride, 
 
 Great, Mississippi! roll'd their thundering tides. 
 
 From une deep, Ocean-fed, exhaustless source, 715 
 
 A MIGHTY SUBTERRANEOUS RESERVOIR 1 
 
 He saw their youthful Torrents proudly rise ; 
 The massy rocks, and earth obstructive, burst, 
 And drive their Chariots' foam-enveloped Steeds, 
 Divergent, bounding down the seaward dells. 720 
 On towards our spheric planet's primary points,
 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 137 
 
 "he liquid wheels through darksome deserts roll-, 
 Passing a thousand varying climes remote ; 
 Before they sparkle in the briny deeps. 
 Down through the unceasing lapse of circling time, 725 
 He saw the still continued currents roll; 
 Oft swollen high by inundations pour'd 
 From, bursting clouds, uprooting huge-grown woods ; 
 And bearing ponderous wrecks, in crashing rage, 
 Along the wilds to the ingulphing Seas. 730 
 
 His thoughts firosfiectwely he also cast, 
 And through Imagination's optics viewed ; 
 With brilliant diadems of COMMERCE crown'd, 
 And with the products of a thousand farms, 
 And riches of Mercantile Kingdoms fraught, 73 
 With FREEDOM'S Cities and REPUBLICS lined 
 And Happiness and Heavenly Virtues cheer'd ; 
 The royal stream, on whose rich banks he stood. 
 With Contemplation's high Cherubic zeal, 
 The joy-inspiring prospect warm'd his soul, 740 
 
 And drove o'er themes stupendous as the Heavens, 
 His lofty-soaring Fancy's winged wheels. 
 But most the JOWER and kind MUNIFICENCE, 
 Of that supremely elevated God, 
 
 Who said, " exist !" and s/iace was fill'd ! Who spake, 
 And flaming Suns appear'd ! Who said, " arise !" 746 
 And dust was Man 1 Whose touch can change to seas. 
 The solid worlds, and through the gelid wilds 
 
 Of spacious Air, ten thousand Rivers roll, 

 
 138 BOONE'S ADVENTURES. 
 
 And petrify to flint the Ocean-floods ! 750 
 
 On his Omnipotence and Goodness most 
 
 Our Hero mused. While thus in thought deep rapt, 
 
 He loiter'd on the billow-beaten banks, 
 
 Whose sandy base the excavating waves 
 
 Incessantly reduce, and heedless trode 755 
 
 The surge-impending brink ; the beach-crown'd mass 
 
 With all its vegetative load, abrupt, 
 
 Tumultuous ! broke from the supported soil, 
 
 And with impetuous uproar plunged amid 
 
 The furious flood ! Swift from the tumbling bank, 760 
 
 He leap'd into the agitated deep, 
 
 And o'er his head the angry surges curled. 
 
 But with strong strokes he upward cleaves his way, 
 
 And rises boldly through the bubbling foam ! 
 
 The shore-rebounding billows beat him thwart 765 
 
 The firofluent waves, these bear him down 
 
 The tossing tide the cumbrous wreck behind 
 
 Rolls darkly on, and breaks the stream apart. 
 
 Hence rough, increasing surges drive amain 
 
 The Hero onwards, 'till in widening sheets, 770 
 
 Far from the floating islet-mound, they spread 
 
 A smoother breast, o'er which he swims secure, 
 
 And reaches safe again the welcome beach.
 
 THE 
 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 DANIEL BOONE. 
 
 BOOK V.
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 EOONJS commences his return to the Ohio. Fright 
 ful -vociferations. Enraged Buffaloes. Panther killed. 
 1 to 69. Saline Sivamps. Boone gives names to t/ie 
 Waters, &c. 70 to 82. Being again join'd by his Bro 
 ther, he continues in the Wilderness till Spring, when he 
 returns Home. He relates his adventures. Their influ 
 ence upon his sons. He remains on the Yadkin until the 
 third subsequent autumn, then sells his farm, and with 
 his Jamily and Jivo others starts for Kentucky. Oth/r 
 Adventurers unite iv.th them. Powel's and Walden's 
 Mountains described. The Travellers assailed by a band 
 of Indian s, iv ho after killing six of the Whites, are re 
 pulsed. Among the slain is James Boone. Remarks on 
 his death. 83 to"2\7. Address to Columbian Youth. 213 
 to 280. The Muse recalled from her digression. Ef 
 fects of the season. The party travels back to Clinch. 
 281 to 304. Boone engages in successive enterprise*. 
 305 to 352. He, at length, removes his family to Ken 
 tucky. Seeming gratuiatiin on tlie arrival of hix Wif;' 
 and Daughters. 352 to 370. Address to Beauty. Its 
 influence exemplified in the case of Henderson. History 
 of his attachment to Eliza Calaway, containing an ac~ 
 fount of the capture by the Indians of her sister Fran 
 ces, and Jemima Boone ; of their sufferings ; of Costea'i< 
 character; of their liberation ; of the love between Flan 
 ders Calarjay and Jemima, and between Holden and 
 Frances Cutaway, concluding with a notice of their mar. 
 riage.
 
 THE 
 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 DANIEL BOONE. 
 
 BOOK V. 
 
 SOME days in pleasing rambles here Boone pass'd, 
 And then, still reconnoitring as he went 
 The intervening wilds, to the rich plains 
 Of grand Ohio journey'd back. One day 
 While travelling on in musing mood, he heard 5 
 Far in the distant Forest's gloomy depths 
 A rear as loud and frightful, as proclaims 
 The anger'd Lion's rage : It seem'd the Hills 
 A'.id sturdy trees to shake, and loudly roll'd, 
 Reverberating down the sounding dales. 10 
 
 With dreadful aggravation still it grew, 
 The affrighted Indians wildly yell'd the Wolves, 
 In gangs, fled howling from its dread approach 
 The Eagles dr-op'd their prey and sought the skies ! 
 From the aged poplars' heartless trunks, the Owls 15 
 Pour'd dismal screams The bellowing still increas'd !
 
 142 BOONE'S 
 
 And drew more near ! The desert brushwood crash'd ! 
 A thousand thundering feet, with heavy sound, 
 Like a tornado hurried swiftly on, 
 And shook the shuddering ground, when lo ! appear'd, 20 
 O'erspreading many a rood of the drear waste, 
 A mighty multitude of Buffaloes huge, 
 Resistless, raging, mad ! In their dark van, 
 One, more enrag'd and furious than the rest, 
 Vociferous bursts of awful agony pour'd ; 
 His pain-set eyes like burning Globules glar'd 
 Upon his knees he oft impetuous pitch'd, 
 Goring the ground, while, to and fro, in vain 
 His rough hair'd head he dash'd ; for on his back 
 With rending talons in the flesh infix'd, 3 
 
 A murderous PANTHER plied the work of Death! 
 Adown the sufferer's brindled sides ran blood. 
 Profusely streaming. Cruelly, with teeth 
 Of spear-accuminated sharpness, gnaw'd 
 Themerc'less monster through the strength-strung loins, 
 And buried deeply in the smoking chasm, 36 
 
 His gory, life-destroying snout ; until 
 Full hail his blood-smear'd body disappcar'd, 
 Deep sunk mid sunder'd muscles, mangled flesh 
 And bubbling blood! The roaring sufferer reel'd 40 
 And sank and rose, and staggering fell again, 
 His pain-protruded eyes, with glaring green, 
 Were deeply died, and Death's destructive shaft 
 Drew from his heaving heart the strug'ling life !
 
 ADVENTURES. 145 
 
 Around their fallen fellow gather'd thick 45 
 
 The furioui. herds, and yells and groans, and clash 
 
 Of crouded horns, in horrid tumult broke 
 
 From the close-clustering circle's brindled bounds. 
 
 They snuff 'd the sanguine steam the purple spouts 
 
 Sent through the air, and catching thence the rage 50 
 
 Of fiercest bestial madness, sidelong tore, 
 
 With buried horns, the valley's blood-stain'd breast, 
 
 And fiercely furrow'd up, with pawing feet, 
 
 Its flower-bespangled soil, wild-bellowing, crush'd 
 
 The yielding shrubs, and gored the rough-bark'd trees. 
 
 The ferine Murderer startled at the din, 56 
 
 And disintering his blood-buried half, 
 
 Look'd wild and grimly on the pressing foe ; 
 
 And finding clangers thick beset him round, 
 
 With agile spring, leap'd on a Buffalo's back, 60 
 
 And thence a neighboring poplar reached, up which 
 
 He swiftly fled. Where, on a lofty bough, 
 
 Viewing the scene below, out-stretch'd he lay, 
 
 With head declining o'er his gory paws. 
 
 Boone the gorg'd prowler marked, aim'd at his eye 65 
 
 The unerring rifle, and brought headlong down 
 
 His brain -bespatter'd carcase. Terror-shockM 
 
 At the unwonted peal, the wide-mouth'd herds 
 
 Hoarse-yelling, burst resistless through the Brakes. 
 
 O'er saline swamps by savage steps impress'd, 70 
 By congregated Buffaloes Elks and Deer 
 Deep-furrow'd, the unwearied Hero passed.
 
 144 
 
 BOONE S 
 
 Contemplating prospectively, the use 
 
 To which Columbia might those brackish mines 
 
 Apply, he viewed them with attentive ken. 75 
 
 Here, like the primary lord of Paradise, 
 
 The Nomenclature of an opening world 
 
 He form'd I bestowing names on streams and founts. 
 
 On plants and places yet anonymous, 
 
 And yet unvisited by other eye 80 
 
 Emiting Civilizement's softened beams, 
 
 Than the Adventurer's own. 
 
 Again at length, 
 
 A BROTHER'S presence animates, with smiles 
 And sentimental solace, the dark WILDS ; 
 Which they wit.li mutual industry explore, 
 Until another Spring her bloom unveils. 
 Then Daniel Boone the mountains reascends, 
 Hies onward to his rural Domicil, 
 And meets once more, his rapture-swooning 
 And the endearing transports of sweet Babes. 
 He tells his wonder-kindling tales, while tear* 
 And kind caresses speak the silent joys, 
 And melting admiration, which transport, 
 Intenerate, and tin-ill the tingling hearts 
 Of his dear Daughters and dove-bosom'd spouse. 
 While he the various scenes enumerates 
 Of perilous emprise, through which he'd passed, 
 The dawning valor of his youthful sons 
 Illume the trembling tears of filial love,
 
 ADVENTURES. 145 
 
 That gather in their azure-beaming eyes. 100 
 
 But most the account of his captivity, 
 
 And his companion Stewart's hapless doom, 
 
 Their ardor rous'd, and kindled the keen thirst 
 
 Of vengeance in their danger-daring breasts. 
 
 Like two young- Lions in some desert Den, 105 
 
 When first their instinct fires begin to flame, 
 
 Impelling them to range the roaring Waste, 
 
 And try the vigor of their supple limbs 
 
 In valiant feats of blood ; Boone's manly James 
 
 And Israel panted for the power to prove 110 
 
 Their prowess, and avenge their Father's wrongs. 
 
 Their minds dilated with the expanded view 
 
 His strong descriptions gave of the rich WILDS ; 
 
 While prospects of magnanimous emprise, 
 
 And Fancy-pictur'd scenes of patriot fame ; 115 
 
 Establishing pure FREEDOM'S prosperous States, 
 
 Upon a base as lasting as the Hills, 
 
 Their youthful souls with animation rapt. 
 
 Quiescent, on the lap of PEACE and LOVE, 
 The three succeeding summers Boons repos'd, 120 
 And then, preliminaries first arrang'd, 
 The peaceful Yadkin left, and with his Wife, 
 His Children, and five venturous Families more ; 
 Bidding adieu to Friends and scenes endear'd 
 By tenderest incidents of Love and Joy; 124 
 
 Began, through gloomy wilds, the WESTERING MARCH 
 
 While on their weary way through Powel's Vale, 
 
 N
 
 146 BOONE'S 
 
 Two score Adventurers joined their jocund band. 
 Dark labyrirrthian Deserts, mountain Crags 
 Stupendous, frowning in the invaded clouds, 130 
 
 And howling Monsters raging round for blood, 
 Could not, with all their mingled glooms appall 
 The spirits, or chill the animating Hopes 
 Th^t fir'd those gallant Sons of glorious Peril, 
 And urg'd them on their hazardous emprise. 135 
 UnharmY, they pass o'er two tremendous LIMBS 
 Of branching Allegany POWEL'S MOUNT 
 And WALDEN'S named There Nature's rudest wrath 
 Seemed to have rag'd with wild disordering power 
 Seem'd whilom to have op'd in warring fray, 140 
 Her magazines of elemental ire [Flames i 
 
 Her Tempests, Thunders, Lightnings. Earthquakes, 
 And rock-uprooting, furious WATER-SPOUTS ! 
 Dark yawning ravines choak'd with broken crags, 
 Hoar rocks, in horror-frowning grandeur pil'd, 145 
 Or pyramidical, transpiercing deep 
 The thunder-bearing Tempests' cloudy breasts 
 And ragged Ridges high on Ridges heap'cl ! 
 All seem'd memorials of Her phrcnzied Mood. 
 These high colossal Hills securely poss'd, 15 
 
 Their mazy course the Adventurers cheerly kept, 
 Until with deathful yell, a savage Host 
 Poured on their weak unguarded rear, the storms 
 Of flaming murder. Then, oh gallant Boone ! 
 With Battle-swaying Mars thy prowess vied ! 15
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 147 
 
 Thy Guardian Seraph's inspirations then 
 
 Thou neecledst not. Thy fallen fellows' blood 
 
 The safety of thy Wife, thy Babes, and Friends, 
 
 Were for thy valor stimulant enough ! 
 
 The assailing Demons soon in wild dismay, 160 
 
 Fled wounded, bleeding, from the torrent fiames, 
 
 Through which swift-flying bullets sought their lives. 
 
 For well the ruthless onset was return 'd ; 
 
 And dearly were its blood-effusions bought. 
 
 But ah! six valiant sons ol enterprise, 165 
 
 By its death-dealing, unsuspected blast, 
 
 Were from their relatives and comrades torn ! 
 
 'Till then, sch scene of Grief and Woe 
 
 Had ne'er been witnessed in those spectral wilds. 
 
 Friends, Mothers, Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, all 170 
 
 In doietni sadness weeping o'er the slain !- 
 
 Uncoffin'd in the sun-unmellowed ground, 
 
 'Neath gloomy Hemlock and dark-shaded spruce, 
 
 Their noble corses colorless and cokl, 
 
 With Sorrow's tearful streamlets were inter'd. 175 
 
 Conspicuous fell our Hero's eldest son, 
 
 His valiant James ! The cruel ball that rent 
 
 The tendrils of his blooming life in twain, 
 
 And scattered on the waste its flow'ry charms, 
 
 Tore from the prospering PLANT of LIBERTY 180 
 
 A germ, whose rich expanding beauties soon, 
 
 Would have unfolded o'er the ample West ; 
 
 Diffusing round delectable pei fumes,
 
 148 
 
 And dropping healthful fruitage on the lap 
 
 Of its luxuriant Land. That merciless ball, 185 
 
 In its disaster-dealing impetus, 
 
 Was not content, the crimson citadel 
 
 Of human life, and the unsullied shrine 
 
 Of fond affection only, to invade ; 
 
 COLUMBIA'S angel bosom felt its force, 190 
 
 And bleeding at the pungent wound it trench'd, 
 
 She sorrow'd o'er her youthful Hero's fate. 
 
 And she had cause to sorrow ; for in him 
 
 She lost the promise of a patriot son, 
 
 Of an intrepid, wise and virtuous man 1 
 
 Irradiated with the expanding rays 
 
 Of Erudition, his untarnished mind, 
 
 With eye intent on Truth's effulgent disk, 
 
 Was soaring o'er the clouds of groveling life. 
 
 His fellows in the Intellectual flight 200 
 
 Can well attest, with what ascending strength 
 
 He scal'd the intervening steeps, and shot 
 
 His genius-plumed pinions through the blaze 
 
 That pour'd upon his soul-subliming path ; 
 
 That still in more resplendent torrents stream'd 206 
 
 As nearer to the lambent Orb he drew. 
 
 But ah! the whizzing pellet, bearing death, 
 
 Relaxed his wing, and drown'd his flight in blood ! 
 
 Behold the snowy plumage sinking now, 
 
 All stain'd and dripping with the purp'ling streams! 210 
 
 Yet see ! 'tis not the Spirit's plumes that fall ;
 
 ADVENTURES. 149 
 
 It is the weaker wing of mortal life ! 
 
 The wing-, which buoys the encumbering clog of day ! 
 
 The soul, in all its bright embellishment, 
 
 Is free, and flies, with unimpeded speed, 21 5 
 
 To the supernal goal that caught its kei; 
 
 From earth, the flaming fount of holy Truth ! 
 
 My YOUTHFUL COUNTRYMEN ! whom Culture's care 
 Has lifted into splendid spheres, behold, 
 A pattern for your imitation here ! 220 
 
 JAMES BOONE in the unbloodied shades of PEACE, 
 Acquiring Wealth and Influence, might have liv'd, 
 But more ennobling prospects swell'd his soul ! 
 A vast luxuriant Land, yet unreclaim'd 
 From Barb'rous Wildness, fir'd his patriot zeal, 225 
 Lmpell'd him to exert his utmost powers 
 To enrich his Country with the precious prize ; 
 And made him, with undaunted valor, dare 
 The dangerous Ambushment, where darkling Death 
 Lurk'd panting for his unprepared prey ! 230 
 
 Oil my dear youthful Brethren ! seize your swords, 
 An<l swear, by ail the blood that ever smok'd 
 On Freedom's Altars, never to relax 
 The patriot grasp until those Rights vote free, 
 Whose purchase cost more sufferings, wealth and lives, 
 Than rne rich land for which the youthful Boones, 236 
 Our earlier Brethren, bled ! COLUMBIAN YOUTH ! 
 With so much more to inflame your daring fires, 
 Than fan'd their enterprise, can you repose
 
 150 BOONE'S 
 
 On the warm down of Ease, nor emulate 24( 
 
 Their martial ardor? 'Tis not Gold, nor Fame, 
 
 Nor fruitful Forests, nor refinement's cause, 
 
 That now presents excitement to the soul, 
 
 Which loves the blessings of sweet LIBERTY ! 
 
 It is the thraldom of our NAVAL RIGHTS ; 
 
 The oppression of our Commerce on the seas 
 
 By tyrant Battlements, that ride the waves, 
 
 And roll their bloody thunders on our flag- ; 
 
 That turn their Cannon on the face of Law, 
 
 That bury charter'd Industry in gulphs 250 
 
 Beneath the flames which crown the billowy brine, 
 
 Through which our Tars and burning Vessels sink ! 
 
 It is the misery of our Naval Sons 
 
 Impress'd by lawless RUFFIANS on the Main, 
 
 Comfiell'd to plunge their weapons in the blood 255 
 
 Of kindred breasts, and their own nation wound ! 
 
 It is the anguish of the thousand mourning hearts, 
 
 Whose dearest RELATIVES enchain'd and scourg'd, 
 
 Lie groaning, hopeless, sorrow-wasted, faint, 
 
 In Britain's stygian Dungeons on the seas! 260 
 
 Here is excitement for the valorous Youth, 
 
 The gallant Boone's of our day. Can the Sons 
 
 Of glorious Fathers view the sacred shrines, 
 
 Where their immortal ashes sleep, defil'd 
 
 And crush'd beneath a Despot's foot, nor rush 265 
 
 In arms array'd, to avenge their wrongs or die? 
 
 Is not each lash your valiant Seamen feel.
 
 ADVENTURES. 151 
 
 Contempt to those who for our Freedom fought? 
 Their bones are mingled with the dust we tread, 
 But still their sfiirits and their actions live ! 270 
 
 Their blood which stained our plains, the sun long since 
 Has bleach'd ; but still the Ble&sings which it bought 
 In living lustre glow While then we breathe 
 The inspiring ardor of their sainted manes 
 While then, their holy deeds their names adorn, 275 
 And we the happy heritage enjoy 
 Their lives bequeath'd shall we their fame disgrace ? 
 And while in all the means of War so strong, 
 Let Villain-Tyrants sever from our Land, 
 What, when so weak, our Fathers snatch'd from them ! 
 
 Again my Muse revisit the sad scene, 280 
 
 From which the impassion'd zeal, the glow 
 Of ardor for thy weeping Country's weal, 
 Had borne, though weak of wing, thy feeble powers. 
 
 October's russet scowl imbrown'd the groves, 285 
 And foliage-searing frosts the cement broke, 
 Which to the boughs their leafy vesture glued 
 While melancholy winds, in showers, shook down 
 The rustling flakes, in seeming; sympathy 
 With the soul-wringing sorrows, which convuls'd 290 
 The mourners' breasts. The afflicted Widows now, 
 And female kindred of the hapless slain, 
 Heart-sick, and languid, pleaded to return 
 To where the cheering scenes of polish'd life, 
 Near Clinch's limestone-laving waves, display'd 295
 
 152 BOONE'S 
 
 The residence of warm congenial souls. 
 
 The meek solicitations and soft tears, 
 
 Co-operating \vith their own distress, 
 
 Disposed the bold survivors to comply. 
 
 And much that course Vas render'd requisite, 3QO 
 
 By the dispersion through the wayless wilds, 
 
 Of their affrighted Cattle, which had fled, 
 
 With force impetuous, over Hills and crags, 
 
 Through crackling Brakes and loud-resounding Glyns- 
 
 On Clinch, 'till the succeeding Summer shone, 305 
 Boone, with his worthy family remain'd. 
 He then successively, in dangerous toils 
 Of high import engag'd. At Dunmore's call 
 He lent his guidance to conduct a band 
 Of brave Surveyors of the Western Soil, 
 From the Ohio Falls back to their Homes, 
 By routes, through the dark Wilderness, to them 
 Before unknown. This perilous task perform'd 
 With most surprising safety skill and speed, 
 He then, of three Militia Garrisons, 315 
 
 At Dunmore's requisition, took command ; 
 And with his wonted energy and fire, 
 Attcinper'd by serene deliberate Art, 
 Through the Campaign against the Shaw'nese Tribes, 
 A service, mark'd with high success, sustain'd. 320 
 
 Victorious from the Northern scenes of Blood, 
 Subservient to his Countrymen's request, 
 We see our Hero cross his desert stage 

 
 
 ADVENTURES. 153 
 
 And on its Southern border rise to view, 
 
 Performing there a new but arduous fiart^ 32$ 
 
 Evincing talents -versatile as strong ! 
 
 And skill'd as well in Council as in War. 
 
 He meets the Sachems of the Cherokees 
 
 At wild Wataga, and a pact concludes 
 
 By viitue of his delegated powers, 330 
 
 For purchasing a part of their waste lands. 
 
 This Embassy accomplish'd, he collects 
 
 A band of hardy Woodsmen, strong and brave, 
 
 And from the verge of the rough Wilderness, 
 
 Where Holstein's mountain-compass'd current rolls 335 
 
 To wild Kentucky's cedar-shadow 'd waves, 
 
 A Road through the unwounded Forest cleaves. 
 
 The sculking Foe from his deep-tangled haunts, 
 
 Oft on their way, the sounding axes brought ; 
 
 And their death-ringing Rifles drove as oft 340 
 
 The fierce assailant back. On either side, 
 
 From flesh-torn founts, the conflict often stream'd 
 
 In rills of smoking crimson. Sometimes too, 
 
 'Twas blanch'd by the pale hand of life-fed Death. 
 
 But nought the Vigor of their Zeal could stay. 345 
 
 Before its power the giant timber fell, 
 
 And through a Host of ruthless Remoras, 
 
 Its strong unpalsied arm a passage hew'd. 
 
 Behold the first grand CONDUIT now complete, 
 
 Through which, to the dark wastes of savage night, 350 
 
 From their bright Eastern seas, REFINEMENT'S FIOODS
 
 154 BOONE'S 
 
 Effulgent flow ! Now on Kentucky's bank, 
 
 In haste, a Fortress the Adventurers rear. 
 
 And thither Boone from Clinch his Family brings. 
 
 The wondering GENIUS of the Wilderness, 
 
 Embellish'd with the fragrance-breathing blooms 355 
 
 Of May, flew from the flower-deck'd solitudes 
 
 To snatch a glance at the new Visitants, 
 
 Boone's darling Consort and sweet lovely Maids, 
 
 The first fair Females that e'er grac'd those Wilds ! 
 
 With more harmonic rapture seem'd the songs 360 
 
 Of feather'd extacy to warble loose 
 
 Among the umbrageous wood ; and the rich flowers 
 
 Seem'd to unfold in tints more deep-defin'd 
 
 Their gay variety^ The bladed brakes 365 
 
 Impainted with a livelier green appear'd. 
 
 The wild-wood zephyrs from their winglcts seem'd 
 
 A sweeter odor round the groves to shake ; 
 
 While the deep gloom-envelop'd wastes, with beams 
 
 Of transport-kindling radiance seem'd illum'd. 370 
 
 And well indeed such animating change 
 
 Might then appear through that untamed abod 
 
 Of Wildness, Rowlings, and ferocious Rage ; 
 
 For polish'd Beauty's love-emiting eye, 
 
 And darkness-scattering smile, in that new world, 37f 
 
 Were then first shed, Oh Beauty ! bright with soul ; 
 
 Seraphic Quintescence of blended powers 
 
 Terrestrial and supernal ! Sweet compound 
 
 Of Mortal and Divine I Thy charms can lij;ht
 
 ADVENTURES. 135 
 
 Within the breast that lives in darkest solitude 38Q 
 \n aromatic-odor'd, pure-beam'd lamp ; 
 And in the deep untrodden Dell where Man, 
 Refined and reasoning Man, ne'er bwath'd before, 
 The lone Itinerant's musing mind can cheer : 
 Can animate with pleasures more infus'd 385 
 
 In bliss, its silent powers, than ever flow 
 From the less gentle spring of social Mirth : 
 And they can also shake the loftiest soul, 
 And with the thorns of keen inquietude 
 The bravest Hero's hardy breast transpierce. 390 
 The experience of the gallant Henderson 
 Can well this truth attest. His daring heart, 
 In Carolina's cultur'd shades, conceiv'd 
 The bosom-softening flame of first-felt Love. 
 In his wild-flut'ring Breast, of Hope and Fear 35 
 The doubtful balance hung. His tender wiles 
 Had from his dear Eliza's guarded lips 
 No hope-confirming, kind confession drawn ; 
 Nor had, from his own mellow-murm'ring tongue, 
 A clear avowal of his passion flown ; 400 
 
 When, with the brave illustrious Calaway, 
 Her noble Father, she forsook the scenes 
 Of social elegance and peaceful ease ; 
 Migrated to Kentucky's flow'ry glooms, 
 And shelter'd in the Fort of their lov'd Friend, 405 
 The generous, kind, and hospitable Boone. 
 Young Henderson's too independent heart
 
 156 BOONE'S 
 
 Upbraided the fastidious folly now, 
 
 Which sought some token of her love for /dm, 
 
 Before it ventured to declare what oft 410 
 
 His soften'd eye, and sadden'd mien had told. 
 
 Her every smiling glance and gentle word, 
 
 Which, ere her absence, were, as courtesies, 
 
 Resulting from her kind Angelic Soul, 
 
 As mere attentions shewn to all her friends, 
 
 Regarded ; now a tenderer form assum'd, 
 
 And to his melancholy Fancy seem'd 
 
 The soothing signs of sweet Encouragement ! 
 
 Pale languishment hung on his changing cheek, 
 
 While festive merriment in vain essay'd 420 
 
 To wake his wonted smiles, or reinvest, 
 
 His eye with cheerful lustre. Nature's bloom, 
 
 The blazing Majesty of clay, and all 
 
 The azure-sprinkling splendors of the Night ; 
 
 Crown'd by her queen, the sky-ascending Moon 
 
 To him seem'd of their soul-elating charms 
 
 Divested. Pensiv^ mournful and alone, 
 
 He wander'd through the sorrow-murm'ring Glades, 
 
 Or solemn, gloom-impressive gioves ; and fed 
 
 With plaintive sounds, the peace-corroding fires 430 
 
 That agoniz'd his sadly-sighing breast. 
 
 E'en Sleep's, balm-dropping wings could not appease 
 
 The fev'rish Ardor, nor their cooling plumes 
 
 Upon the ever restless flame repose j 
 
 But with incessa.ut flutter through the Night 435
 
 ADVENTURES. 157 
 
 is tortured temples beat ; and dreary dreams 
 Drove wildly through his phrenzy-clizzied brain. 
 At length, by the unconqueied flame itnpel'd, 
 His loved E;iza he resolv'd to find, 
 And forthwith through the frowning forests hied. 44$ 
 The healthful fragrance of the Hills, and all 
 The flowery Beauties scattered loosely wild, 
 And rude sublimity, abrupt and vast, 
 Of the broad phins and thunder-batter'd Mounts, 
 Conspir'd to vivify and elevate 445 
 
 His low-dejected heart, and g've a tone 
 Of higher vigor to his languid nerves. 
 
 Hope in his bosom throb'd with stronger pulse, 
 As kind Reflection whisper'd to his heart, 
 That fewer Rivals, in the unpeopled Waste, 450 
 
 Would with his tender Courtship interfere, * 
 Or wind his f.ite in labyrinths of doubt ; 
 That Love's impassion'd impulse, playing warm 
 Upon the feeling chords of her soft heart, 
 Would make them thrill and tenderly respond 455 
 To the first passion of accordant Note, 
 Vibrating in a young and generous breast, 
 And fair unfolded to her anxious ear ; 
 That frolic Nature's wild-wood solitudes, 
 So with sweet love awaking Music fill'd, 46* 
 
 With soul-enticing shades and Beauty-border'd streams ; 
 With flower-born gales and breezes fruit-perfum'd, 
 
 hversified ; would melt to softer sense 
 O
 
 158 EOONE S 
 
 Her warm susceptive bosom, and impart 
 Through all her tingling veins emotions kind, 
 And tenderly devoted to the God 
 Of sexual Love. He found his Charmer fair 
 And lovely as before. The deepen'd blush 
 Of cheerful Health and freshest Beauty, ting'd 
 Her smiling cheek. Her lustre-streaming eye 
 With thoughtful tenderness divinely shone ; 
 Her graceful symmetry of person seem'd, 
 Celestial elegance by Nature's skill 
 Transfer'd to earthly Beauty. Sweetly soft 
 Her honey-breathing lips their strains effus'd 
 Now in convivial con-vcrae, now in songs 
 Of tcnderest melody. Their Interview, 
 On either side, confusion mark'd ; but most 
 His agitated mien and downcast eye, 
 Th'unerving power of timid love betrayed. 
 
 His resolution to disclose his heart, 
 Her presence weaken'd. Torturing Distrust 
 Again perplex'd his peace, and in the cup 
 Of his distresses, Jealousy infus'd 
 A portion of its poison-mingled Gall ; 
 For, even to her new and wild abode, 
 Besides himself, her winning charms had drawn 
 Other Admirers from the social scenes, 
 Where first upon their fascinated hearts 
 Her dangerous glances flash'd. Her kindness beanrd 
 On all, for all were brave deserving Youth; 491
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 159 
 
 But prudence check'd each smile that might beseem 
 Approvance of their fond pietensions, save 
 When now and then a pleasing- glance confused, 
 ,. And languid, met the inquiring- pensive eye 495 
 
 Of Henderson. Another Summer came, 
 And found his hopes still unconfirm'd, for still. 
 His soul too sensative to risk repulse, 
 An evidence of her Affection sought, 
 Before it urged without reserve its suit ; 500 
 
 But still a studied Mystery in act 
 And language, from his watchful view conceal'd 
 The secret bias of her peerless heart. 
 But, as the clouded Winter's clo&ing storm, 
 Frowning in deeper darkness than o'ercast 505 
 
 Ere then the Sun ; precursive, heralds Spring's 
 Revivifying radiance ; so a gloom 
 Of murkier depth that roll'd convolving o'er 
 LIU sombre Hopes, was soon the Harbinger- 
 Of love illumined Happiness and Joy. 510 
 
 Invited by the multifarious charms 
 Which bloom'd and danced upon the sunny cheek 
 Of a serenely smiling Summer Eve, 
 He and his fair Eliza left the Fort, 
 T 'enjoy, in company with their juvenile friends, 515 
 Benignant Nature's animating sweets. 
 Behind the gleeful grotipe, Boone and his friend, 
 Sage Calaway in social converse waik'd ; 
 
 ad with paternal pleasure vicw'ct the mirth
 
 16 BOONE'S 
 
 And playful merriment of rapturous Youth. 520 
 
 Upon Kentucky's flowery-bonier VI I 'ik 
 Beneath the umbrageous boughs ot Vine-hung beech 
 They cheerily reclined, while in Canoes 
 The jocund band the flowing crystal cleav'd. 
 5 Twas summer's sweetest hour; the sinking Sun S2o 
 Hung red and ragged in the Western trees, 
 Wide poui'd his evening radiance o'er the peeks 
 Of distant Ailegany, and diffused 
 Through waving Willows o'er the glidii;g flood 
 A chequer'd gleam. Soft-winnowing breezes play'ci 
 Among the Aromatic sprays, and fan'd 531 
 
 The slightly fretted stream ; caress'd the cheeks, 
 And wanton'd with the silky-flowing locks 
 That hung their jetty tendrils iong and loose, 
 O'er the white necks and sofily swelling breasts, 
 Of beautiful Eliza and her fuir 
 And elegant associates. Every branch 
 Of the contiguous wood was fili'd with life 
 And melody. The enamor'd Henderson, 
 As o'er the form-depicturing- stream sl.c saii'd, 
 Beheld his Charmer with increasing /ovc, 
 Ana fancied her the River's v^aial Ny 
 T: e Aixthusa ol its sylvan w^ves ; 
 And kindling at the: luve-creauu 
 \Va-: '<:y its m-igic tern Jit cd to t .-.aci.-, . 545 
 
 U'.T graceful in.iv^e in the w::iciy Minor- 
 Buck to the bank, their littic beechcn Boats,
 
 ADVENTURES. **M 
 
 At Beauty's word, the dexterous rowers shot ; 
 Aiul o'er the fruit-hung flower-empurpled shore, 
 To gather Garlands to inwreathe their brows 550 
 The V.vci'.tiy-blooming Maidens gayly ran ; 
 When from a dark cane thicket growing near, 
 A band of Ruffian Indians fiercely sprang, 
 And siczing fair Eliza Calaway, 
 
 Her charming Sister Frances too, and Boone's 553 
 High-soul'd Jemima, bore them through the Brake ! 
 In vain, for aid the lovely Captives cried ; 
 Before their brave protectors reach'd their Guns, 
 The arm'd Barbarians, stifling the weak phunts 
 The feeble Damsels pour'd, were deep-conceal'd 560 
 In the entangled wild. Until the glooms 
 Of gathering Night absorb'd the beams of day ; 
 Brave Henderson, the ymmgcr Calaway, 
 With valiant Holden and four Heroes more, 
 Led by their vengeance-burning Chieftain Boone, 565 
 The Savages pursued. The heavy Night 
 Encotnpass'd thick with awful Horrors drear, 
 Upon the weary wings of vulture Woe, 
 O'er the unsleeping Heroes slowly pass'd. 
 Vuloslto's lancinating Agonies 570 
 
 At his Melcena's situation, Boone 
 In all their torturing force now realized. 
 His soul with all a parent's tenderest pains, 
 
 And injur'd Valor's daring passions burn'd. 
 
 By agitating tumults toss'd, not less $75 
 
 III
 
 162 BOONE'S 
 
 The Lovers' bosoms felt the wringing pangs 
 
 Of Grief, nor less with restless Vengeance glow'd. 
 
 Not only Henderson, but Holden too, 
 And Flanders Calaway, the peace-fed flame 
 Of tortured LOVE-AFFECTION deeply felt. 58O 
 
 For Holden's heart, th'angelic Fanny's charms 
 Had melted into fondest tenderness ; 
 But he with noble frankness had declared 
 His anxious wishes, and th'extatic bliss 
 Enjoy'd, of feeling the benignant smiles 
 Of kind Encouragement, diffusing warm 
 Their genial rays among th'expanding blooms 
 Of his luxuriant Hopes. Young Calaway's 
 Susceptive bosom, sweet Jemima Boone 
 Had animated with the Jlamelens spark 590 
 
 Of new-enkindled Love, whose infant beams 
 Burn 3 d not as yet with ardency intense ; 
 But like the placid Spring's demulcent light, 
 That streams into the half-unfolded flowers, 
 And spreads their flecker'd petals to the breeze, 595 
 They mildly glided througfh his swelling heart ; 
 And gently oped to Pleasure's odorous breath 
 Its velvet-lined cells and silken folds. 
 Her budding bosom, new to the wild thrill 
 Of soul-dissolving Love, his soft devoirs, 600 
 
 With tingling glow, had tenderly inspired. 
 But wondering at th'emotions strange, their cause 
 She scarcely knew : Nor would her age permit
 
 ADVENTURES. I G3 
 
 The gallant Flanders yet t'unfold his flame, 
 Or his love-born Anticipations tell. 605 
 
 Long would it take to sing the boding frights, 
 And Visions gloomy, woeful, drear, and vague ; 
 Which flitted ceaselessly athwart the souls 
 Of the heroic Lovers that dread Night. 
 
 The heart-wrung tender Captives 10 c fit away, 610 
 In all the miseries of horrid Fear, 
 The bosom-burdening slow-dissolving hours. 
 No more they expected e'er again to see, 
 Their darling Fathers, Mothers, Friends, 
 Or gallant Lovers ! Death, or direr still, 615 
 
 The dreadful Wretchedness and lingering Woes 
 Of savage bondage, seem'd their fearful doom. 
 The wild gesticulations, grimaces 
 Blood-curdling yells, and fury-glaring eyes, 
 Of the Barbarian Captors shook with dread 620 
 
 And heart-convulsing terrors, their rack'd souls. 
 To make their midnight moments still more drear, 
 Their thin-clad limbs, the cold dew-dripping breeze 
 
 [pour'd 
 
 With dampness chill'd ; while screaming Night-Birds 
 Shrill-quavering Discord through the.shivering glooms. 
 
 Terrific Wildcats, Wolves, and Panthers prowl'd, 
 Blood-hungering through the murder-wailing wastes 
 And mix'd their cruel-toned Vociferations, 
 With the death plaints of their expiring prey. 
 
 Nights environ'd thus with Horrors wild, 630
 
 144 BOONE S 
 
 Funereal, bloody, terrible, and fierce ! 
 And compass'd close by Caitiff's still more cli 
 The Wolf-like savages, whose wanton flames 
 And Brutal Rudeness, Beauty's vestal bloom, 
 And ang-cl purity could not abate ; 
 And which, had not a spark of purer ray 
 And more ethereal essence warm'd the breast 
 Of their less barbarous CHIEF, might uncontiol'd 
 Have treated with indignity, and shock'd 
 With ruffim Insolence, the fenceless Maids. 
 But Costea's lofty soul disdain'd its wrath 
 Upon defenceless female heads to wreak. 
 His brenst with all the wild impetuous fires 
 Of nobler vengeance burn'cl against the white 
 'Though from the altitude of splendid War, 645 
 
 To siefee their Women he descended ; yet 
 'Twas not t'insult, and treat with cruelty 
 The hapless Captives ; but to tear with pain 
 The warrior Whitemen's breasts, whom on fair ground' 
 If feasible, he would have nobly fought. 65O 
 
 Their snowy hands, and sorrow -streaming eyes, 
 To him the trembling Maids for Mercy raised ; 
 And on their knees, with pleading looks implored 
 His pity. His superior air and mien. 
 His station and controlling power, bespake ; 653 
 
 And softening into gentler cast, inspired 
 The mourning Sufferers with a gleam of Hope. 
 He was 3 Chief in Manhood's vigorous prime ;
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 165 
 
 3 f stature lofty, strait, and dignified 
 
 Strong, Muscular and springy were his limbs ; 66S 
 
 \nd haughty elevation mark'd his step. 
 
 \ tinge of tawny red glow'd on his cheek 
 
 His keen dark eye with steady lustre shone, 
 
 And seem'd the fount of fiery ire, assuaged 
 
 By mingling emanations less severe 665 
 
 Of kinder passions. But when kindling Rage 
 
 inflamed his quick excited soul, his Wrath 
 
 Shot from his eye a stream of fiercest flame, 
 
 Tnat burn'd each softer beam, and wither'd Fear 
 
 Wheree'er in Opposition found. His brows, 67?) 
 
 In semicircles darkly shadowing o'er 
 
 The flashing orbs below, like arching ck r? s 
 
 Black, broad, and bending high above two s' o 
 
 Of burning fulgour, lowerd with changing gig ;rrr> 
 
 Yet when a milder mood relax'd the cords 675 
 
 On which they hung, a lighter shade they shed. 
 
 But when infuriated rage cohstringtd 
 Those frown-controlling fibres, blackness thick, 
 Tempestuous, awful roil'd convolving round 
 His bending brow His A;;pect was austere; 680 
 His forehead swart ; his cheek bones sharp and high ; 
 His Nose broad-based) long-curv'd wide-nostril'd, huge ; 
 His chin pro'.ubcrc-nt, large ; and large and lean, 
 His ponderous a> s ; and rough and deep his voice. 
 Such was the Savage Chief, ou whom alone 6is 
 
 The Captive Maids for tenderness relied.
 
 166 
 
 BOONE S 
 
 Nor was their feeble confidence misplaced ; 
 
 His mandatory frown each look forbid, 
 
 Or freedom, that might shake with dread their breasts, 
 
 Or wound their Modesty. 
 
 Boone and his band, 690 
 As soon as Dawn upon the forests shed 
 The dappled day, their perilous pursuit 
 Intentively resumed And Night again 
 Enshrouded Nature in her spectral glooms, 
 And still the flying foe was not ,o'ertaken. 695 
 
 But on the Eve of the succeeding day, 
 Our daring Heroes the dark Fiends descried ! 
 Who in their van drove on the feeble Fair. 
 With souls all flame, at their great Leader's side, 
 Accompanied by their bold intrepid Friends ; 7 
 Tile vengeful Lovers rushed resistless i 
 And pour'd their dcathful thunder through the rear 
 Of the unguarded Sa-. ages; whose blood 
 From many a wound effusing, witness bare 
 Thst well the charge was aim'd, and its result 705 
 propitious. Gasping grimly in their gore, 
 Death stiffening, pallid, on the weedy ground, 
 Two of their fiercest warriors hy outstretch'd ! 
 Forsaking the astounded Captives, fled 
 Their bleeding residue All, save their Chief, 710 
 The dauntless Costea He, confronting fierce 
 The gallant Whites, his whizzing lead discharged ; 
 Which through the sulph'r.ous smoke around them roll'd,
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 167 
 
 "lew ineffective Forced for life to flee, 
 Amid the thickets sheltering maze he plunged. 715 
 Th'enfranchised Damsels, in a trance of Joy, 
 Their clear Deliverers met Dissolving Bliss 
 Soft-flowing from their Beauty beaming eyes, 
 Their velvet cheeks and lovely breasts bedew'd. 
 Into th'angelic air of thankful love, 720 
 
 And fond Affection's tenderest Gratitude, 
 Divinely melted was their beauteous mien ! 
 A thousand love-born extacies ensued, 
 And sweet vibrations of the thrilling cords, 
 On which warm FEELING'S scrap. i fingers play ! 725 
 This was the happy time for Love to learn 
 His Destiny And Henderson, as home 
 Tiiey travel'd, told the tumults of his heart ; 
 And warmly press'd Eliza to pronounce 
 His fate. Upon his arm, She blushing, lean'd, 730 
 And modestly confess'd her bo:-om felt, 
 A tenderness congenial with his own. 
 
 While on her charms, his humid eye-beams pour'd, 
 His glowing soul in fluttering extacy, 
 The rich excess of sweetest Love enjoy 'd. 73$ 
 
 Upon her burning, honey-moisten'd lips, 
 A heart-born Kiss he imprinted, unperceived. 
 Could he have been from Observation's eye, 
 That long secure ; no happiness to him 
 For a whole day had been so exquisite, 740 
 
 As te have press'd that time those nectar'd buds ;
 
 1-68 BOONE'S ADVENTURES. 
 
 And s'le no less than him the sweet salute 
 Would have enjoy'd. Pale Melancholy's shades, 
 The \vinp;s of rapture scatter'd from his soul, 
 And a bright paradise seem'd blooming round. 74 
 No more when traversing the green-rob'd Hills, 
 And flower-perfum'd Campaigns, broke from his breast 
 The heart-cor.vulsing Storms of thorn-charg'd sighs : 
 The lonesome Solitudes had now to him 
 Th'enlivenLng charms of sweet society. ' 7st 
 
 Benignant Love breathed balmy blessings round : 
 And fair Eliza's Beauty seem'd to bloom 
 In every flower and blossom of the Wild ; 
 And every tuneful note that sweetly trill'd 
 From the harmonious Warblers of the Groves, 755 
 Seemed but the echo of her flowing Voice 1 
 
 Heroic Holden also touched with hand 
 More venturous, the tender-noted lyre 
 Of Love ; and drew a melody still more 
 Enrapturing and divine than charmed ere then 769 
 His melting heart And Flanders Calaway, 
 By soft collision of their eyes and lips, 
 Elicited from his Jemima's soul 
 A brighter flow of scintillations warm, 
 Than sparkled on his doating gaze before ; 705 
 
 And as their several states best suited, they. 
 The happy Coup'es 1 all successively 
 At Hymen's love enkindled Altar bow'd ; 
 And on its sacred flame, the votive Oil 
 Of Celibacy's Sliver Vase effused. 770
 
 THE 
 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 DANIEL BOONE. 
 
 BOOK VI.
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 AN accession of families attracted to the Wilderness. 
 Boone alleviates their distresses. 1 to 18- The Venge 
 ance of the Indians, Jired by the inroads upon their 
 haunts, and the operations of demoniac malignity, annoys 
 the rising settlement ; and breaks forth m repeated but 
 unsuccessful assaults upon the Forts. 19 to 89. A re in 
 fer cement arrives, and the Natives are awed into tempo 
 rary forbearance. 89 to 105. Boone accompanies a parly 
 tn Licking Salines, and on a hunting excursion is sdzed 
 by the Savages, and with his companions to/to are a/so 
 captured, is convened to CJiilicothc. His influence lift- 
 on the Shawanese King; exertions to appease the Savug- 
 fs ; is removed to Detroit ; insfiiref'general respect ; t.ic- 
 citm sympathy and wak<ns serious reflections in the 
 breast of the British Commandant, ivho vainly attempts 
 to purchase his release, 105 to 181. He is taken back to 
 ChilicotJie ; engages the affections of his Ciifitors ; is a- 
 doptcd into one of their families ; joins in their hunts ; and 
 pr'-tscnts his game tn the King with whom he amuse* h:m- 
 st'lfin converse. 182 to 217. Account of Mont our. 218 
 to 269. His History of the Mammoth. 270 to 370. Boone 
 describes to him the powers of Rejinemcnt, and purtiu ly 
 avert;, his enmity to the Whites ; his Death ; Save %e 
 mourning. 371 to 424. Coluxo's Apostrophe to him ; 
 and hin burial. 425 to 483. Effects of his D^ath. Boone 
 tuksii to Sciota'; Beauty of the Country, and its influence 
 on Boone. Disposition of the Foe ; on Loone's return to 
 Chilicothe he folds them prepared, to march against his 
 Fort. They are excited by England. Boone flits to 'he 
 relief of his Fortress. A disappointment ; its cause and 
 alleviation. 484 to 584. Preparation to receive the Foe' 
 The Siege and Refiulaion of the Assailants.
 
 THE 
 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 DANIEL BOONE. 
 
 BOOK VI. 
 
 THE Western Wilderness had now begun 
 To pour its fragrance with attractive power, 
 Wide o'er Columbia's cultivated states ; 
 And several families to its solitudes 
 H id charm'd. Innumerons were the dangers, pains, 5 
 Perplexities, and hardships, which beset 
 On every side *he infant settlers. Boone, 
 With warm benevolence their wants relieved ; 
 And his protecting shield before them threw, 
 When DANGER menacing their daring breasts, 10 
 
 Drew from its quiver' d side the gory shafts 
 Of Death. The sick, the poor, the timid, all, 
 His friendship and munificence partook. 
 Fatigue-emaciated females, babes 
 Vith hunger, wan and weeping, often own'd 15
 
 172 BOONE'S 
 
 His generous aid, and with their tear-dew'd smiles, 
 
 And looks of tender gratit'lde repaid 
 
 His bounteous kindness. Furiously incensed 
 
 With the incursions on their rude domain, 
 
 And by the caitiff fiends of nether Night impel'd ; 20 
 
 The ruthless natives marshal'd all their might, 
 
 The feeble colony to mar ; to tear, 
 
 Divine Refinement's pullulating plants 
 
 From their destruction-compass'd beds, and blast 
 
 Their little tender blooms ! Ah ! much indeed 25 
 
 By the rude rage of barbarous violence, 
 
 The fragrant germs were ravaged torn and chi 
 
 But still their bold protector's guardian arm 
 
 The extirpation-threatening powers repel'd. 
 
 Ofttimes the feeble Fortresses, the brunt SO 
 
 Of fierce assault sustain'd ; and often fell, 
 
 Behind the startled team, the murder'd swain ; 
 
 The family's laboring stay ! and bleeding died, 
 
 In the unsupported plough's uufinish'd trench. 
 
 Hostilities of minor moment thus were waged, 3$ 
 
 Until the opening ot another spring. 
 
 Tl.en savage WAR'S blood-streaming orb began, 
 
 With more portentous tenor o'er the wild, 
 
 '] , !ifi its awful dibii. Assembled hordes 
 
 ( ' the i,on'a<; foe, our Hero's Fort 40 
 
 h furious ?nge attack'*.!. The well wrought walls 
 Indignantly the thundering shock withstood: 
 Its fires the gallant garrison retuni'd,
 
 ADVENTURES. 173 
 
 With t'.'iple execution. Costea led 
 
 The tawny bands, and saw with painful rage, 45 
 
 Their bleeding ranks cut down. Reluctai tly 
 
 .'\t length the siege was raised ; and through the brakes, 
 
 The fallen Indians' breathless bodies clrag'd, 
 
 To where the howling Squaws with anguish mourn'd, 
 
 Their lifeless warriors' fate. Defeat but fired 50 
 
 The fiends with hotter fury. Costea's soul 
 
 Kor dreadful vengeance flamed. From breast to breast, 
 
 The burning passions spread their kindling rage ; 
 
 And soon the yell and war-hoop shook the hills, 
 
 And echoed o'er the forests' drear expanse. 55 
 
 Like clouds electric scatter'd round the Heavens, 
 
 In small detachments ireful, dusky, red, 
 
 When the discordant wrath and tumults fierce 
 
 Of jarring matter, into masses chive 
 
 Their angry bands ; so rush'd the savage hordes, 60 
 
 ]>y fury urged, and foim'd a direful Host. 
 
 Their Chiefs in short harangue, the ills portray'd 
 
 That o'er their heads hi tlncutt-iiiug horrors hung. 
 
 [grasp , 
 
 They bade them save from WHITEMEN'S plundering 
 
 [streams, 
 
 Tlieir ground, their game, their fruit, their fish, their 
 Their Freedom, Peace, their Children, Wives and ALL ! 
 
 To break t;>eir strength, the different Forts 67 
 
 By the divided ruffians were bcsieg'd. 
 Oa either side much biuod the conflicts mark'd j
 
 174 BOONE'S 
 
 But such the valo", energy and skill 70 
 
 Of liie advent'rous Settlers, that theii 1 guns 
 
 The plumes of daring confidence shot oft', 
 
 Which proudly wav'd above the savage heads, 
 
 And drove again the bleeding legions back 
 
 To their rude huis. The flaming tempest hurl'd 75 
 
 Its heaviest bolts agan.st the garrison 
 
 Of Boone. Two days and nights the volley'd blast!: 
 
 Upon the bastion'd fortress ceaseless beat. 
 
 But, from, the little Bulwark's guarded band, 
 
 A counter storm, on which death-dealing rode i)0 
 
 Destruction's Angel terrible and dark, 
 
 Incessantly was clriv'n, until the foe, 
 
 In bloody ghastliness, and sullen rage, 
 
 Retir'd But still their ire was not ailay'd 
 
 Their savage armies every week assaii'd 85 
 
 Tne suffering Settlers. Logan's Station stood, 
 
 With valorous strength, a fierce distressful siege j 
 
 And Harrod's too repel'd the roaiing shocks 
 
 Of many a powerful assault. At length, 
 
 From Carolina and Virginia came 
 
 To their relief a timely aid ; and strung 
 
 With nerves of more intrepid enterprise 
 
 Their sinking spirits. S^rengthen'd thus, their power, 
 
 For months, in each succeeding battle blnz'd, 
 
 In hotter torrents on the assailants heads ; 95 
 
 And hurried headlong into the deep gurge 
 
 Of dark Eternity, the yelling ghosts
 
 ADVENTURES. 175 
 
 Of many -a ghastly corse. 
 
 The foe thus foil'd, 
 
 Began to feel and dread the conquering force 
 Of the " LONG KNIFE." Its anger-sharpen'd edge 100 
 They found resistless as the scythe of Death ! 
 The blood-polluted glooms that dim'd the West, 
 Now 'gan a more propitious face to wear ; 
 And from the attenuated Darkness broke, 
 At intervals, bright gleams. But Boone not long 105 
 In the benignant coruscations bask'd. 
 All times dispos'd and sedulous to serve 
 The Settlers, he to Licking River went, 
 With a small patty of industrious men, 
 To explore and chrystallize the saline streams, 110 
 And suit for the brave Garrisons procure. 
 Through Winter's bleakest reign, alternately 
 In the kind task his coajuvancy 
 Was giv'n, by labor at the evaporating fires. 
 And procuration of the forest food, 115 
 
 On which himself and comrades were snstain'd. 
 
 One day, as through the wiiui-strip'd Wilderness 
 He sought the needful game, an ambush'd host 
 Of the red foe from their cane-covert rush'cl, 
 Slnd made him cafitivc ! Thence to theBuie Licks, 120 
 Where at their salterns his companions wi ought, 
 They hied, and them too in their captive toiis 
 Involv'd. To Chilicothe thence they march'd, 
 Triumphing proudly in their guarded piize. 

 
 176 BOOXE'S 
 
 Montour, the Shaw'nese King, soon saw in Boone 126 
 
 The warrior's soul, and, with a prince-like pride, 
 
 Magnanimously bade his tribe forbear 
 
 To treat him rudely ; and a kind respect 
 
 His own demeanor towards the Hero mark'd. 
 
 Now was the auspicious time for Boone to essay 130 
 
 Us great and long-conceiv'd design, to soothe 
 
 The vehemence of savage ire ; and melt 
 
 Beneath Conciliation's gentle beams 
 
 Its prejudice-constructed base away. 
 
 To this important end he day and night 135 
 
 His utmost powers devoted. First he sought 
 
 A farther knowledge of the Shaw'nese tongue, 
 
 Which he before had slightly learn'd, and then 
 
 His purpose with unwearied zeal- pursued. 
 
 Though he succeeded to attain the esteem, 14(* 
 
 And e'en the affection of the ag'd Montour, 
 
 And hundreds of the Indian hosts; he stiil 
 
 Found ineffectual, all his efforts to appease 
 
 . 
 Their hostile spirit tow rd the Ma&s of whites. 
 
 At Spring's return they took him to Detroit, 145 
 Together with a portion of his friends, 
 His fellow-prisoners ; and to HainiltMi 
 The British Commandant, presented them, 
 As an illustrious trophy of the skill 
 Of Inoian stratagem. Bonne's lofty air 150 
 
 And dignified demeanor drew respect, 
 Jr'i-om cv'ry eye that saw him. Hamilton,
 
 ADVENTURES. , 177 
 
 Though hostile to the Hero's country, which 
 
 Was then emerging from the noxious glooms 
 
 Of British tyranny; had yet a heart 155 
 
 That kindly beat with sympathetic throb, 
 
 When he the gallant captive view'J. The tear 
 
 Of soft commisseration wet his cheek, 
 
 While Boone unfolded the benevolent views> 
 
 That thus expos'd him to Barbarian pow'r. 160 
 
 The noble Briton, stung with keen regret, 
 
 Saw, in the guile of h's own government, 
 
 A source of the implacable revenge 
 
 And prejudice, which, in the Indians' breasts, 
 
 Against Columbian whites were entertuin'd. 165 
 
 He knew the sleel-edg'd Tomahawk and Knife, 
 
 The nitrous grain, and cleathlul gun it charg'd, 
 
 By British hands were given the savage hosts 
 
 To spill the blood of Freedom's advocates j 
 
 And with fell slaughter's gory corses clog 170 
 
 The brilliant wheels of REVOLUTION'S CAR! 
 
 His soul, at this reflection, felt the pains 
 
 Which tear the tender bosom Lt^und by law 
 
 To aid Oppression's arm. And he resolv'd, 
 
 Far as his province would permit, to assuage 175 
 
 The sufferings of the Captives. All but Boone 
 
 Into his care were willingly transfer'd ; 
 
 But such the fondness which the savages 
 
 For him conceiv'd, that they the powers withstood 
 
 Of warm persuasion, and lar-je sums of gold, 180
 
 178 BOONE'S 
 
 Sooner than yield so lov'd, so rich a prize. 
 
 Again to Chilicothe they return'd. 
 Though wearisome and long their march, the charms 
 Of spring spread wildly round their blooming way ; 
 And the rich plains o'er which they pass'd, adoru'd 185 
 With pleasant streams, conspir'd to cheer his soul 
 And banish painful thought. Upon his brow 
 No discontent was seen, nor in a word 
 Or action, during all their tiresome march. 
 For still his darling purpose was to win 190 
 
 So far the savage confidence and faith, 
 As to enable him to appease the ire 
 They bore the infant settlement. Montour 
 Receiv'd him with fraternal tenderness, 
 And the \vhole tribes seem'd more like friends than foes. 
 His cheerfulness, vivacity and ease, li 
 
 Each day endear'd him to them more and more ; 
 Until suspicion in their bosoms slept, 
 And left him free fr_om all their rude restraint. 
 In farther testimony of respect ! 
 
 And kindness to him, they, as they were wont, 
 Upon the Stock of Shaw'nese savages, 
 With rude fantastic rites, engrafted him. 
 He, by a chieftain, was adopted son, 
 And with the warmth of consanguinity 205 
 
 Was welcom'd by his new-made relatives. 
 His friendly assiduities secur'd 
 The affection for him .they at first conceiv'd.
 
 ADVENTURES. 179 
 
 Oft with the tawny Hunters he travers'd 
 The game-abounding forests, and before 210 
 
 His rifle's flame-discharging caliber, 
 As oft, the browsing Deer and Buffalo fell. 
 An honorary pledge before the King, 
 The reeking spoils of the adventurous chase 
 He oftentimes presented. Much was sooth'd 215 
 By his amusive converse with Montour, 
 The secret sorrows of his sensuous soul. 
 Upon this hoary Sachem eighty suns 
 Tneir bleaching beams had shed. A hundred Wars 
 With their yell-mingled clang had jar'd his ea^ 220 
 The scars of deep-torn wounds his body trench'd. 
 In bogs of gore his feet had oft been grum'd. 
 For many a gulphy grave, in furious fight, 
 His arm had furnish'd food. The battleing broils 
 Of the barbarian bands had oft been quell'd, 225 
 
 By intercession of his soothing aid ; 
 For he not less the important destinies 
 Of council rul'd, than those of clashing war. 
 A philosophic calmness kept the scales 
 Of Contemplation balanc'd well, within 230 
 
 His cool-reflecting mind. His anger, like 
 The great Ohio, ere its torrents rag'd, 
 Roar'd long, and carried on its wasteful waves 
 Dark wrecks, Destruction, Terror, Fear, and Death ! 235 
 With Nature's nervous eloquence endow'd, 
 iblimely thundering mid the painted hosts,
 
 > 
 
 180 BOONE S 
 
 He often chain'd attention to his tongue. 
 
 He had a solemn gravity of gait, 
 
 And native gracefulness of manners join'd ; 240 
 
 With a melodious suavity of voice, 
 
 And soft inviting aspect that inspir'd 
 
 At once, the mingled feelings of respect 
 
 And dignified familiarity. 
 
 His frame was muscular and very tall, 245 
 
 And turn'd with all the symmetry that strength 
 
 And great agility require. The powers 
 
 Of age his palm-erect position braved, 
 
 Without the slightest warp. The storms of time, 
 
 Although they'd ravag'd from his lofty head 250 
 
 The long black locks of youth, and torn his cheeks 
 
 With many a trench ; had not impaired the spring 
 
 Of vigorous thought that energiz'd his soul, 
 
 Nor clim'd the steady splendors of his eye. 
 
 While flaming on the ecliptic roll'd the Sun, 255 
 Much he delighted underneath the shade 
 Of dark-green poplars to repose with Boone ; 
 And tell traditionary tales of war, 
 Which waslj'd in a^ts past with waves of blood 
 The westeri. wilds. But most i>is masculine mind, 260 
 In melancholy iu. jes;y eiate, 
 Its bold emphatic cloc;iici.rc display'd, 
 When he the marvellous traditions told, 
 Which from his aged Ancestors he'd learn'd, 
 Descriptive of the mighty MAMMOTH RACE; 365-
 
 ADVENTURES. 181 
 
 Their form, their fury, ravages, and power, 
 And their excision from the carnag'd West. 
 With Nature's unaffected energy, 
 The wonderous History thus he narrated. 
 
 " A thousand winters past, when these dark woods 27* 
 Were newly planted by the great red Spirit ; 
 When -one stupendous forest stretch'd its shades 
 From the wide waters of the distant West 
 Beyond the great Missouri's cavern'd source, 
 To where the oriental billows boil 275 
 
 Beneath the burning ball, that pours each morn 
 His blazing brightness over their broad breasts ; 
 When nought but ravening beasts and naked men 
 Through the rude yell-resounding forests roamed ; I 
 Before the pallid Prowleis of the East, zeO 
 
 Were by their wicked Hell-bred Spirits borne 
 Upon the thundering Whirlwind's stormy Wing, 
 Across the intervening deeps, to waste 
 With fire and steel this ample paradise ; 
 There then existed on the mighty Hiils 285 
 
 That overlook in frowning prominence 
 The western sea, a race of monstrous Beasts, 
 Stupendous as the lowering precipice, 
 Horrific as the howling fiend of night, 
 Impetuous as the huge resistless rocks 290 
 
 That rush adown the Alleganean steeps, 
 Rapacious as the gulphy jaws of Death, 
 And as the ravenous Hyena cruel ; 
 
 Q
 
 182 
 
 BOONE S 
 
 Their native wilderness was soon laid waste. 
 By hunger and ferocity impel'cl, 295 
 
 Like an o'erwhelmhjg tempest o'er these plains 
 Their legions spread. Their headlong weight 
 The crashing groves uptore. The rivers sunk, 
 And the great lakes, when they their thirst allay'd. 
 A thousand hills their dreadful roarings rock'd, SCO 
 And from the mountains' jutting peaks shook loose 
 Ther hanging fragments. Awful terrors siez'd 
 The affrighted animals. The red men quaked. 
 The invading monsters, at a single meal, 
 Whole forest herds clevour'd. The yells of Death 305 
 And wild distress incessantly were heard. 
 ^ r hole Indian villages were victimiz'd, 
 Afld blood and slaughter stain'd the groaning land. 
 The cries and plaints of expiration, pain, 
 And fear, the starry vault transpierc'd and reach'd 31<1 
 The Almighty Spirit's flame-emblaz'd abode. 
 The anger'd God, in sheeted lightnings clothed, 
 His thunder-mouth'd artillery grasp'd, and pour'd 
 Along the rocking Heavens, ten thousand peals 
 Of roaring wrath then through the bursting arch 3)5 
 Descending, drove from sea to sea his bolts 
 Of threat'ning vengeance. Still the daring Beasts 
 Thtir devastations spread. Alighting next 
 Upon the Alleganean Battlements, 
 He cast around his lightning-mingled frowns. 320 
 The trembling mountain-summits sunk beneath
 
 ADVEXTURES. 183 
 
 His awful presence. Centre-shook, the Earth 
 
 hi agiuterl undulations roll'cl ; 
 
 And tumbled from their tempest-blacken'd beds, 
 
 Tumultuous, foaming, wild ; the surging seas 325 
 
 Their highest shores o'erwhelm'd. The infuriate Herds? 
 
 As still more terrible the thunders burst. 
 
 And .flashing blackness roil'd, still fiercer raged, 
 
 And deeper planged in blood. Thus brav'd, the arm 
 
 Of the great Spirit, hurled the slaughtering bolts 330 
 
 Of blazing ire amid the murdering droves ; 
 
 And keen-prong'd lightnings, volleyed thunder globes, 
 
 And forest-wringing whirl vin ;s on them wreak'd 
 
 Their death-commission'd wrath. On every hand 
 
 The huge Devourers fell ; or, wounded, drag'd 335 
 
 O'er crashing trees and gory carcases 
 
 Their mighty mangled limbs. The horrid crush 
 
 Of breaking bcoes, the Heaven-rending roar 
 
 Of agony and rage, the sullen groans 
 
 'vjf lingering expiration every where, 340 
 
 The ensanguined carnage-cover'd regions shook. 
 
 With glaring eye-balls bursting from their heads, 
 
 iAnd streaming blood; whole fury-foaming herds 
 Of the tremendous monsters thunder-torn, 
 .And gored with fiery javelins, headlong rush'd 345 
 < )'er the resounding rkigcs, rock-rib'd, rude, 
 Of shuddering Allegany. Thousands blind, 
 i npjtuous, mad, down Cumberland's huge steeps 
 ^Vccipuuteiy tumbled From wild heights,
 
 184 
 
 BOONE S 
 
 In crashing tumult, tearing crags and trees, 
 
 And heaping on the blood-whelm'd plains below, 
 
 The mingled ruins almost mountain high ! 
 
 All fell beneath the bolted ire save ONK : 
 
 He, than the rest more huge and fierce, the flame? 
 
 And vollied vengeance dauntlessly defied ; 355 
 
 And rushing through the thickest clouds of wrath, 
 
 That roli'd their lightning-driving thunders round, 
 
 The rocky pinnacles and ragged woods 
 
 Of the blue-crested Mountains, raged and roar'd 
 
 .And yell'd indignantly ! The gnarled firs, 
 
 Fierce-forked flashes rent. The towering pines 
 
 In atoms by the blazing bolts were burst ; 
 
 But still the unconquev'd n. ouster grimly moved 
 
 Amid the fiery wlarlwinds burning blasts, 
 
 Until his rage to furious madness grew ; 
 
 And urged him from the sky-embosom'd ste 
 
 Whence boldly bounding o'er the western lakes, 
 
 A gloomier, wilder wilderness .he sought, 
 
 Where umnolcbted now his c'rcad domain . 
 
 In solitary majesty he holds." 
 
 With melancholy wonder niix'd with awe, 
 Refinement's powers the hoary Sachem heard; 
 For Boone in turn, descanted on the events, 
 Whose splendid eminence and useful aids 
 Adorn and dignify the social sphere 
 ( Of polish'd man. He told how skilful ART 
 Had subjugated to his plastic sway, 
 
 370
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 185 
 
 The mineral empire. How magiufir, domes, 
 
 [si grand assemblage, gorgeous cities form, 
 
 " r ow by the Compass and the starry chart, 380 
 
 ;)f astronomic science, guided ships 
 
 Adventurous, ride through storms the foaming seas, 
 
 And with the .golden chain of Commerce bind 
 
 The numtrous nations of the mighty globe ; 
 
 Uniting in the kind civilities 23 
 
 Of generous intercourse a thousand climes, 
 
 Divided by the desolate expanse 
 
 Of interposing oceans How the mind , 
 
 [ts multifarious thoughts through myriad years, < 
 
 If Time's uncertain reign so long should last, 39<J 
 
 By Printing's aidance can perpetuate. 
 
 How Agriculture from the furrow'd land, 
 
 .'ihundant stores of corn and fruitage draws, 
 
 And crowns with plenty, luxury, and ease, 
 
 Her cheerful votaries. How Philanthropy 3y$ 
 
 And social Love, in sweet profusion pour 
 
 Along Refinement's pleasure-blooming Vales, 
 
 Their streams of richest, life-ennobling joy. 
 
 Montour, so strong his energies of mind, 
 Though much amazed that man could e'er .such might 
 And enterprise attain; full well perceived 401 
 
 The degradation of the savage state ; 
 And mourn'd the rueful desliny that drown'd 
 In blood and gloom, the INDIAN INTSLIECT. 
 
 By Boone's urbanity and mild address, 405* 
 
 2
 
 186 
 
 BOOKE'S 
 
 415 
 
 The enmity the white hair'd Chieftain bore 
 
 The polish'd whites, was partially reduced ; 
 
 A'^.d he at length became disposed to turn 
 
 The reeking hatchet's life-destroying edge, 
 
 From the unvanquish'd Settlers. But alas ! 
 
 Before his embryo purpose could have birth, 
 
 His head lay cold beneath the hand of Death ! 
 
 For by an apoplectic blow he fell, 
 
 And closed his eyes in everlasting sleep ! 
 
 Wild was the savage woe that wept his fall ! 
 
 Along the dismal wilderness was pour'cl, 
 
 The melancholy howl of rude distress. 
 
 In all the varied pomp of S/iaivanese grief, 
 
 His mournful obsequies were solemnized. 
 
 la all the insignia of his rank anay'd, 
 
 The breathless Sachem's corse was placed upright ; 
 
 And round it drew in sorrow-sadden'd groupes, 
 
 The tawny NATION. His successor rose, 
 
 And thus apostrophized the painted clay : 
 
 " Lamented Chieftain, we thy children mourn .' 425 
 For thou, who wert in peace our cheering sun ! 
 In the dark battle day our blazing bolt 
 Of conquering glory ! thou art sunk in Night ! 
 Those lips whence streams of purest counsel flow'd, 
 Now motionless and pale, no more shall pour 430 
 The tides of eloquence. Those star-beam eyes, 
 That glanced pervasive through the thickest brakes, 
 ^Jor hiding fowl uor beast left undcscried, 
 
 420
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 187 
 
 *vre cover'd with the eternal clouds of Death! 
 Those limbs that once with active energy, 435 
 
 - 1 'leet as the fear-wing'd elk or flying deer, 
 O'er vale and mountain bounded, bending well 
 The strongest bow, or aiming sure the tube 
 With thundering Death surcharged, are wither'd now, 
 ,\nd wasting into Dust. Those age-bleach'd locks, 440 
 Though venerable still with Time-shed snows, 
 Soon with the furrowed temples which they shade, 
 .Ljeneath the cold dank earth in darkness closed, 
 Shall lie. But oh, our much revered Sire! 
 Although that form of majesty and grace 445 
 
 Must soon be bedded with thy Father's bones, 
 Thy s/iirit shall forever live ! shall live 
 Forever in the land where life is bliss ; 
 Where tempest-mantled Winter's freezing frown, 
 And flame-enveloped Summer's withering blaze, 450 
 Thy spring's eternal bloom shall never change; 
 Where flower-perfum'd parterres and purple hills 
 In various fruitage rich, shall ever spread 
 Their game-abounding bosoms to the eye. 
 Where toil no more the nerves shall paralize, 455 
 .Nor anguish bathe in bitter tears the cheek ; 
 But where thy disembodied Ancestors 
 S;iall hail thee with the holy shout of Love, 
 And thy participation in their joys 
 Solicit. Go then, Spirit of Montour ! 46 
 
 Aad on that mighty mountain, where in light
 
 188 BOOKE'S 
 
 And grandeur clothed, the world's great Father dwells ; 
 Associate with the blythe society 
 Of kindred bands beatified ; go, Sire ! 
 And for thy robes oi perishable clay, 465 
 
 The radiant vestments of unending youth 
 Receive. No hatchets there with human blood 
 Shall reck. But the red Nations all shall smoke 
 In that fak land the Pipe of Amity, 
 And in the plenty-furnish'd tents of Peace, 47t> 
 
 Together banquet pleasure and repose. 
 We too shall shortly pass the Western Wave 
 And thy felicitous abodes enjoy ; 
 Renewing there with zest more exquisite, 
 Suspended happiness." With plaintive voice 475 
 Coluxo thus the lifeless King address'd. 
 To the great Shawanese cemetery next 
 
 The uncoffin'd corse was borne and there inter'd : 
 
 . 
 While dolorous dirges o'er the dreary tomb 
 
 Were wildly sung. Etch'd on a smooth broad stone, 4CO 
 A hieroglj phical memorial marked 
 The spot, where mouldering into kindred earth, 
 The much lamented Chieftain's body slept 
 
 All chance of soothing down the savage ire, 
 Was buiied with the heart of good Moutour. 485 
 Coluxo such aversion bore the whites. 
 And so inexorable, unyielding, stern, 
 His purpose towards them ; that the blandest art* 
 And ablest arguments, its vengeful course
 
 ADVENTURES. 189 
 
 f^ould not avert, nor blunt its dreadful edge. 490 
 
 To labor in Sciota salines, Boone 
 W'as taken now. His intervals from work, 
 Ostensibly in hunting the wild game, 
 Hut really in exploring the rich lands 
 Were actively employ 'd. A country here 495 
 
 In nature's gayest robes adorn'd, and rich 
 With fertilizing fatness he beheld, 
 liut cultivation's glittering ploughshare yet, 
 The mossy surface of its mellow soil 
 Had never broke. For there rude SOLITUDE, 500 
 In forest bowers, her savage offspring nursed; 
 And unmolested, with her sullen SIRE 
 Ik-nighted BARBARISM, held her drear domain:^ 
 While round her breezy tempi. s, wilo^ffower wreaths 
 And green-leaf chaplcts dew-bespangled hung. 505 
 To 'introduce within a land so fair, 
 Luxuriant, healthful, picturesque and gay, 
 The social graces and sublime delights 
 Oi Civiiizement, was a task so grand, 
 Heroic and humane; that Boone beheld 510 
 
 K't hindrance, difficulty, danger, pain, 
 Ncr toil, that could a moment cool the zeal 
 A: d ardent eagerness, with which his soul 
 ,Th achievement of his glorious purpcs-i sought. 
 B ; it nathless all his vengeance-soothing skill ! 5lS 
 S.ill sly SUSPICION'S subtle leer, and HATE'S 
 scowl exposed at times.
 
 190 BOONE'S 
 
 The secret venom of the savage- soul ; 
 
 And proved its prejudice too deeply grown, 
 
 To extirpate by an individual's power. 520 
 
 But when to Chilicoihe he return'd ; 
 
 Tne gorgon front of savage vengeance met 
 
 JJnmask'd, and in its fearful terrors dark ! 
 
 The Hero's keen indignant eye. For there, 
 
 The S:iawdnese Warriors, smear'd with frightful paint, 
 
 And arm'tl in dreadful panoply of Death, 526 
 
 Against hi& Fort, precinct to march appear'd. 
 
 'Twas Britain's hostile breath that blew to flame, 
 
 Ti e Slumbering sparks of Indian enmity, 
 
 And kindled their distrust of Boone anew. 
 
 \VitI\Ttts characteristic cruelty, 
 
 Her parricidal nand, blood-dripping held 
 
 To the wild natives' dim deluded view, 
 
 A thousand gaued motives to excite 
 
 Their iage against Columbia's patiiot sons. 5;>5 
 
 Fit conduits to convey the subtle streams 
 
 Of poisoning ihflucnee- to the savage mind, 
 
 In her Canadian provinces were found. 
 
 The apostate Girty anu his ruffian peers, 
 
 Idoneous subjects al.so fjrm'c!", to speed 
 
 Her black flagitious views. Their villain sox 
 
 Her sanguinary purpose to subserve, 
 
 Their icpu'ation, peace, and virtue, sold; 
 
 And with Demoniac zeal, to arms inflamed 
 
 The tawny host, 'Twere visiona y now,
 
 
 191 
 
 To think with smooth persuasion's dulcet tongue, 
 
 And the soft-breathing blandishments of art, 
 
 To stay the desolation-threatening storm 
 
 Of direful wrath, that brooded darkly round. 
 
 How 'best its bolted thunders to repel 550 
 
 kVas Boone's concern, and wisdom's dictate then. 
 Along with the blood-hungering war-ripe foe, 
 One night in feign'd co; tent the Hero pass'd. 
 Bat under semblance of his wonted sport, 
 With shoulder'd gun, at morn's first gleam, the groves, 
 And brakes, and wild-wood labyrinths, he pierced. 
 ] ,o now ! the lordling stag in antler'd pomp, 
 Unheeded bounds before him ; for impei'd 
 By all the valorous ardor, anxious zeal, 
 And tender power, that agitate and fire 569 
 
 The Hero's heart, when ruffian hands prepare ; 
 To plunge in RUIN'S bloody gulph, his ALL, 
 His friends, his children, spouse, and patriot hopes ; 
 Boone swiftly traverses the sombre wastes, 
 Until he at the distant Fort arrives. 565 
 
 But there no glowing lap of wedded love 
 On which his wearied temples to repose, 
 Nor smiles of filial tenderness and joy, 
 With which the glooms of care to dissipate, 
 In extacies of sweet enjoyment drown'd S79 
 
 His warm' anticipations; for his spouse, 
 Despairing e'er again his fond embrace 
 And beaming eye to meet ; believing Death
 
 192 
 
 BOONE S 
 
 Had in his life the savage hatchet plunged, 
 
 Migrated with her children from the wild, - 575 
 
 Ai.d sought again beneath her father's roof 
 
 In Carolina's civilized retreats, 
 
 Security from an infuriate fee, 
 
 And consolation to her anguish'd heart. 
 
 Although her absence gave his bosom pain, 
 
 As 'twas a disappointment of sweet hopes, 
 
 Her safety form'd a soothing counterpoise, 
 
 And reconciled him to the poignant want, 
 
 Of her endearing converse and fond smiles. 
 
 With gladness exquisite, the Garrison 585 
 
 His unexpected presence hail'd ; but soon 
 The impending tempest's fell approach they learn 5 
 And feel its dark penumbra cast a gloom 
 O'er joy's benignant splendors. Valor still 
 Their soUls innervecl : and in a fixed resolve, 5>* 
 Their' Fortress to defend, they jointly leagued. 
 To strengthen and prepare it to withstand 
 The blazing brunt, both clay and night they toil'd. 
 The exhilarating news, in a few days, 
 The arrival of another prisoner brought ; 
 That, consequent on information gain'd 
 From Spies, the savage host had for a time 
 Its march defer'd. By new adventurers join'd, 
 Our Hero's force the hostile tribes alarm'd, 
 And into serious fermentation threw 600 
 
 Their barbarous councils ; which now oft convened
 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 199 
 
 For consultation, how to extirminate 
 The rising settlement, and bar the West 
 Against the influx of humanizing light. 
 
 The infernal agents of the British realm 60S 
 
 Stil their excitement through the credulous clans 
 Industriously diffused. The fiend Duquesne, 
 Of the embattled army took command, 
 And practised it in all the slaughtering arts 
 Of European War: meanwhile in strength 610 
 
 Our Hero's Fortress grew. Its guardian band, 
 Though small in number, was in bravery great. 
 In vigilant suspense, from day to day, 
 They wait the expected onset. Lo ! at length, 
 Before their walls the fury-featured Host 615 
 
 Arrive. O'er their terrific van, wide flap'd ; 
 Fit symbol of satanic savagery ! 
 The bloody wing of Britain's flesh-stain'd flag ! 
 Upon the Fan, no battle-banner flow'd ; 
 But Boone's inspiring Seraph viewless, there 620 
 His soul-invigorating fervors breathed. 
 With the hoarse thunder of assumed command, 
 The investing Myrmidons on their approach 
 Bade Boone surrender or to Death submit ! 
 Two days were given the Garrison in which, 625 
 From the alternative a choice to make. 
 Although 'twas but a handful to a host, 
 And terrible the impending temprst; yet 
 
 The bold-beleaguer'd bund, with daring souls, 
 
 R
 
 194 BOONE'S 
 
 And undivided voice, resolved to breast 630 
 
 That tempest's roughest shock. The allotted time 
 
 For a response was near at hand. Like Beasts 
 
 Carnivorous, hungry, fierce, that grimly watch 
 
 With keen unwinking eye the asylum, where 
 
 The harmless objects of their greedy rage 635 
 
 From Death retreat ; like them, the tawny foe 
 
 The invested fortress eyed ; until brave Boone 
 
 One of its Bastions rose, and to Duquesne 
 
 Declared their resolution, to expend 
 
 In its defence, their latest throbs of life. 640 
 
 In his ferocious visage, hellish hopes 
 
 Were seen expiring; while he heard announced 
 
 The valorous Band's heroical resolve : 
 
 For he had thought without a risk, his rage 
 
 For conquest, cruelty and blood, to glut. 645 
 
 Although successless in the attempt to awe 
 The gallant Garrison to yield ; he hoped 
 By stratagem their strength to break, 
 And his infernal purpose to achieve. 
 2<~nr this ; with them he now proposed to treat, 
 And proffered terms that prudence could not spurn. 
 
 Boone sixty paces from the fortress gates, 
 With eight more men the adverse party met, 
 As they required. Distrust of their intent, 
 Our Hero's breast disturb'd. But still his soul 65 5 
 To fear superior rose ; and energized 
 And animated with the power to afford
 
 ADVENTURES. 9 
 
 Another proof of peaceable design 
 
 Toward the suspicious foe, resolved to test 
 
 The integrity of their intention thus. 660 
 
 Terms of capitulation were arranged, 
 And the Contractors signatures affixed ; 
 When Boone and his co-agents were inform'd, 
 That 'twas a usage 'mong the Indian tribes 
 In treaty-forming, their sincerity 665 
 
 .and cordial friendliness to testify ; 
 By two of their own Chieftains joining hands 
 With each contractor on the white men's side. 
 To this, Boone and his party gave assent ; 
 And to every man of the deputed band, T70 
 
 Forthwith a brace of the red ruffians march'd ; 
 And seized with PERFIDY'S flagitious grasp, 
 And black Malignity's ferocious grin, 
 Instead of kindling FRIENDSHIP'S placid air, 
 And mild Pacification's bland embrace, 675 
 
 Tne guileless Ministers of glorious Peace ! 
 But from the struggling gripe, with vigorous tug 
 They tore away; and through the treacherous throng, 
 Amidst a bursting storm of sulphurous flame 
 And vollied lead, resistless rush'd, unslain I 680 
 
 And all save one, unwounded, safely reach'd 
 The sheltering fort ! 
 
 The war-yell, shrill and fierce, 
 Tiien broke along the oscillating air. 
 But soon in a disploding tempest drown'd, 185 
 
 Gave place to thunders belch'd from tubes of death, 

 
 196 BOONE'S ADVENTURES. 
 
 Against the well-constructed fortress-walls. 
 
 A counter-storm the invested Heroes pour'd, 
 
 And drew at every Jlre their foemen's blood. 
 
 Vain was the hope on either side, to find 690 
 
 In one or ttvo diurnal rounds, such change 
 
 Of circumstance, as each so hoping wish'd. 
 
 The bullet-battering brunt, from dawning morn 
 
 Till dusky eve, and through the dismal night, 
 
 Upon the fort still ineffective beat. 695 
 
 -But still the expectation of a pause 
 
 Was disappointed ; for the assailing fiends 
 
 More furious grew, and fiercer drove the storm, 
 
 As its successless blasts in number grew. 
 
 E'en at the midnight hour, the welkin blazed, 700 
 
 And rage-born yells the haggard dreams disturb'd 
 
 Of those of the besieged, who sought in sleep 
 
 Refreshment's cheering aid. NINE DAYS AND NIGHTS 
 
 Around the well-protected Garrison, 
 
 The leaden hail-storm pour'd its pelting showers ; 70S 
 
 While unsubdued, and suffering little loss, 
 
 Two only of its bold defenders slain ! 
 
 It proudly braved each rudely battering shock ; 
 
 And with the lightning of its vengeance smote 
 
 The savage ranks, until the shalter'd force 71O 
 
 Defalcated with Death, with gore defiled, 
 
 With hunger weaken'd, and with wounds impair'dj 
 
 The siege at length relinquish'd ; and return'd 
 
 Reluctantly, with slow and crippled march, 
 
 Depressed, and grim, to their rude wig-warn Homes.
 
 THE 
 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 DANIEL BOONE, 
 
 BOOK VII.
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 HOONE on his ivuy to Carolina discovers Vuloskc'a 
 Charles. His captivity and escape narrated. \ to 54. 
 They arrive at Vulo&ko's ; the intcrviriu deairibed. 55 
 10 112. Vulosko de'ails to Bowie the trial and execution 
 of all the surviving- Alhgany Robbers, save Vonploor. 
 113 to 25. Boone resu?nes his journey, and meets his 
 family. 251 to 290. With them he returns to Kentucky , 
 and finds the Settlers suffering from the Indian and Eri- 
 tis: foes. 291 to 323. Death of L^oone's Brother Boone 
 chased by Blood-hounds. 335 to 377. Bryant's Fortrett 
 attacked ; the Assailants repulsed. 394 to 421. They 
 are pursued : Battle at the Blue .Licks. Retreat of the 
 Kentuckians to Bryant's Fort. 422 o 701. There joined 
 by Logan's forces, they return to the field of Battle in. 
 search of the Foe, mid to bury the dead. The 
 mournful scene described. 701 to 743. Boone returns to 
 his family with the sad account of the Defeat, and hut 
 ton Israel's Death. 743 to 760. Boone, Clarke, and 
 J.,ogan)iouf,e their brethren to arms, and march against 
 the Savages, drive them from their encampments, burn 
 thtir toivns, destroy their corn, and force them to sue for 
 peace. 761 Jo 791. Happier prospects daivn. Panegy 
 rical address to Boone. Picture of the Western Repub 
 lic. 792 to 821. JLuhgium on the Occidental State*. 
 Jl tribute of praise to their gallant Patriot*. 8*3 to &92. 
 The Potm concludes ivith an address to the Females of 
 the West, and the Author's fervent detifesfor the pr**~ 
 fierity of the Western States.
 
 THE 
 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 DANIEL BOONE. 
 
 BOOK VII. 
 
 DRAWN by Affection's heart-connecting ties, 
 
 Boone breaks again the monster-mantling glooms, 
 
 And hies alone towards the blue crested HILLS. 
 
 While traversing the intervening vales 
 
 In reveries immersed; one sultry day, 5 
 
 Before him, near a gliding Brook, he saw 
 
 Reclined asleep on flower-impurpled moss, 
 
 A manly-featured Youth, in fur-skins clothed 
 
 With gun beside him. Boone amazed, awhile, 
 
 Inspected close with curious ken, his garb 10 
 
 And aspect strange. But nought descried that could 
 
 His origin unfold, or that bcspake 
 
 Him civilized, the fairness of his face 
 
 Except : then dauntlessly advancing, call'd 
 
 In gentle tone. Upstarting wild, the youth J
 
 200 BOONE'S 
 
 
 His gun close-grasp'd, and sternly gazed on Boone ; 
 
 Whose air and words convinced him soon, that harm 
 
 He need not fear. Each briefly told his views. 
 
 But scant and lame the language of the Lad 
 
 Came staggering from his tongue; for several years 20 
 
 Had flown, since he his native speech adciress'd, 
 
 To any human ear beside his own, 
 
 For lo ! he is Vulosko's noble Charles ! 
 
 Not, as his reverend Father had supposed 
 
 Had he been slain ; but wounded by the Fiends, 25 
 
 The fell Choctaws, and borne to their rude homes j 
 
 Where six slow-lingering years in savage thrall, 
 
 As son to an old Sachem he had lived. 
 
 Meanwhile he cherish'd in his manly heart 
 
 A hope, once more, when ripening Time gave strength 
 
 And firmness to his nerves, and to his mind SI 
 
 Malurer enterprise, to see his Sire, 
 
 His Sister, and clear scenes of juvenile joy. 
 
 Thus saved from sinking in the blood-dark waves 
 
 Of horrible despair, he wisely shaped 35 
 
 His manners to accord with savage life; 
 
 And with the murderous Choctaws rcmaii/d, 
 
 Enjoying all that he had ground to hope ; 
 
 Until imbolden'd by increasing powers, 
 
 He venturously resolved to pass the pale 
 
 Of barbarous thraldom, and essay to find 
 
 Those distant scenes for which so long he'd sigh'd. 
 
 But when amid the pathless glooms he plunged,
 
 ADVENTURES. 201 
 
 Too dim was Memory's chart to point his way; 
 For when its lines were pencil'd, phrenzied Pain 45 
 Their sickly tints confused and half expunged. 
 He therefore without any guiding clue, 
 liewildered, wander'd through the mazy waste 
 Some weeks ; until he chanced to reach the Brook 
 Whose blooming borders woo'd him to repose 50 
 Upon their lovely lap ; where gently lull'd 
 By murmurs mild, in slumbers sweet he lay 
 When Boone arrived. 
 
 Together now they wend 
 
 On their less lonely way. They pass the plains, 55 
 The mountains scale ; and see ! Vulosko's groves, 
 Wave gratulant before the approaching guests ! 
 And his rejoicing mansion now receives 
 "The much-loved Friend and welcome Stranger- Youth. 
 Boone's soul with fluttering extacy was full ! 60 
 
 'Twas now to him, a moment big with bliss 
 A ad exquisite solicitude ! Each glance 
 Melcena and Vulosko cast on Charles, 
 He vigilantly watch'd Inquiry strange, 
 And curious eagerness were in their looks 65 
 
 Boone bade them recognize their youthful guest. 
 A breathless silence follow'd tears in streams 
 Roll'd down his callow cheeks emotions strong 
 And varied mark'd their faces and convulsed 
 Their breasts, while they his agitation view'd : 70 
 For join'd with that, they in his mien descried 

 
 202 BOONE'S % 
 
 A strange mysterious something, which o'erwhelnvd 
 
 With melancholy tenderness their souls ; 
 
 And brought to mind the dear-remember'd Charles. 
 
 While thus in deep solicitous suspense 75 
 
 They stood; Boone from the Battery of Bliss 
 
 Gave their enfeebled nerves the enrapturing SHOCK ! 
 
 Each seizing Charles' hand, beside him sunk ; 
 
 And in the mingled transports of sweet joy 
 
 And warm felicitous Affection, swoon'd ! 80 
 
 'Twas now a time of awful extacy ! 
 
 From every eye, a general gush of joy 
 
 Profusely flow'd the Servants press'd their hands, 
 
 And raised to Heaven their eyes in Gratitude. 
 
 Some moments had elapsed, ere Melville's strength 85 
 
 Could aid him to support his weeping wife; 
 
 And Boone so paralized with rapture was, 
 
 That as he raised Vulosko's silver'd head, 
 
 And thence the trickling drops of transport wiped, 
 
 He trembled as if shook by storms of Age ! 90 
 
 The flood of ravishment at length assuaged, 
 
 Through the pellucid moisture of their eyes, 
 
 Serenely shone the lustre of delight; 
 
 While gentler tumults softly swell'd their breasts. 
 
 So when the mighty Ocean-storm subsides, 
 
 Mild splendor through the humid azure beams ; 
 
 And though the surgy heaving of the tide 
 
 Has ceased, the bosom of the settling Deep 
 
 Still undulates with lightly lingeiing power
 
 ADVENTURES 203 
 
 Which the tumultuous tempest leaves behind. 100 
 
 The anticipation of Beatitude, 
 In which, to be enjoy'd beyond the grave, 
 A ulosko's pious spirit had indulged, 
 Ssem'd merging now in the effulgent dawn 
 Of actual bliss, of sweet Reality ! lOli 
 
 And though his tedious Pilgrimage through life 
 O'er thorny, dank and dismal solitudes 
 And rugged, rough and tottering steeps had been, 
 "Until its hastening close was near at hand ; 
 It then a fragrant flowery slope became, 110 
 
 With streams of transport bounteously enrich'd, 
 And with Affection's cloudless sunshine crown'd. 
 
 In converse such as the occasion claim'd, 
 The lightsome moments glided smoothly by. 
 Vulosko after Charles' narrative 115 
 
 Was copiously detail'd, at Boone's request, 
 The doom of the Banditti-Miscreants told ; 
 And brief but eloquent Description gave 
 Of the judicial ordeal which they pass'd. 
 Whose outlines here the Muse in homely tint 120 
 Will sketch. " Vonploor's recovery fix'd the time, 
 When Justice was to lift the awful Scales 
 Of life and death, and ascertain their fate. 
 Report had rumor'd far and wide the day 
 Of solemn scrutiny ; and when it came, 125 
 
 To witness the important scene, to Court 
 The country flock'd. Though ample was the Dome,
 
 204 BOONE'S 
 
 It soon was crouded by the anxious throng. 
 
 The Culprits through the staring multitude, 
 
 Trembling to the momentous bar were led. ISO 
 
 Upon his magisterial seat, august, 
 
 Serenely stern, the venerable Judge 
 
 In ermin'd purple robed, deep-musing sat. 
 
 The law-learn'd Counsel their enclosure fill'd, 
 
 Anu with forensic tomes their Book-bench piled. 135 
 
 Proemial ceremonies having closed ; 
 
 Through deep Interrogation's flexuous maze, 
 
 The Witnesses were artfully pursued, 
 
 Until its various windings they evolved. 
 
 Then rose with solemn grace and mien demure, 140 
 
 The learned Defender of infracted Law ; 
 
 And thundering in his injured Patron's cause, 
 
 Its wrongs in strong perspicuous terms announced ; 
 
 The Culprits through their midnight ranges traced, 
 
 Their violence burglarious, bloody, fell, 145 
 
 Inhuman, dire ! in vivid portrait drew ; 
 
 Depictured scenes of agony and woe, 
 
 Of ruin, wretchedness and penury, 
 
 Incurable distraction and despair ; 
 
 The effects of their flagitious ravages 150 
 
 And ruthless murders. Loud and forcibly, 
 
 The penalties of anger'd Justice peal'cl, 
 
 From his impassion'd tongue. In lucid phrase, 
 
 The sanctity uf legal institutes 
 
 He skilfully expounded; shewing hovr 155
 
 ADVENTURES. 205 
 
 IMPUNITY extended to high Crimes, 
 
 Ctnboldens Vice ; sheds on the guilt-gloom'd soul, 
 
 \ gleam of hardening hope ; the turpitude 
 
 \iicl civil harmfuiness of villainy, 
 
 fn the Offender's view diminishes; 160 
 
 Corrodes with RAPINE'S rust the golden bands. 
 
 That bind in one harmonious Brotherhood, 
 
 The family of man, until they burst, 
 
 And into wretched Dissolution fall, 
 
 The peaceful systems of the social world; 16 
 
 And ANARCHY, ferocious VIOLENCE, 
 
 AMBITION, SLAUGHTKR, CRUELTY and THEFT, 
 
 Amid their blood-o'erfloated ruins roam. 
 
 To him succeeded the learn'd Advocates 
 Of the arraign'd. Much seeming sympathy 170 
 
 W.as melting in their manner, eyes and mien ; 
 While in a tone as summer's evening breeze 
 Or Spring's love-modulated sonnets soft, 
 And tender as kind Pity's plaining sigh, 
 Pathetic strains of eloquence they pour'd. 175 
 
 But 'twas a rill essaying to arrest 
 A headlong torrent ; 'twas an Infant's plaint 
 Struggling a Nation's thunders to confound. 
 Though skill'd in all the subtleties and wiles 
 Of argument, though practiced in the art 180 
 
 Of weaving Sophistry's thin gossamer 
 Into Truth-concealing mantles; now their skill 
 Was foil'd ; and through tl.e unsubstantial veil 
 it cast, the blaze of Justice shone.
 
 2'J6 BOONE'S 
 
 Debate of counsel ended, she pronounced IBS 
 
 Through the impanneled Guardians of her rights. 
 
 Her clear conviction of the Culprits' guilt ; 
 
 And by the solemn organ of her will 
 
 Their condemnation spake ! In breathless awe, 
 
 The 1 stoning croud the impressive sentence heard: 
 
 While Guilt aghast, his bloody picture view'd ; 191 
 
 And bowed in homage to the spotless form 
 
 Of Probity, portrayed in coloring strong, 
 
 By the Denunciator of his doom. 
 
 In preparation for a state untried, 195 
 
 The abbreviated remnant of their lives, 
 The mercy-pleading Malefactors pass'd. 
 Soon came the awful day, which was to close 
 Their mortal scene. Around the gallows, throng'd 
 Fast-gathering thousands, from each peopled tract 200 
 Of the encircling country. Dread indeed, 
 And terrible the exhibition was 1 
 Corporeally energic men, in Life's 
 Meridian, darkly shrouded in the glooms 
 Of direst Guilt, from their stained orbits torn, 205 
 And hurl'd into Eternity's deep gulphs, 
 To meet the judgment of a God incensed, 
 Was a phenomenon most terrible ! 
 A spectacle, o'crwhelming to the mind 
 Unindurated by the hardening force 213 
 
 Of crime-familiarizing Vice. Ere on 
 The shoreless waves their shrieking ghosts were cast, 
 To the compassion-softened multitude,
 
 ADVENTURES. 207 
 
 An awful admonition they acldress'd. 
 
 They warned them, by the anguish of Remorse ; 215 
 
 Ly all the tortures of a Conscience torn 
 
 With fangs of ceaseless Agony ; by all 
 
 The horrors of an everlasting Hell ; 
 
 ] f y the heart-piercing stings of Infamy, 
 
 And poisoned tooth of dolorous Despair ; 220 
 
 !'.} all their hopes of Happiness on earth. 
 
 And sweet Beatitude beyond the tomb ; 
 
 To eschew the dangerous Vortices of Guilt; 
 
 To fly the guzzling gurge of Drunkenness ; 
 
 To shun the treacherous sloughs of Indolence ; 225 
 
 To practice Virtue, Honesty and Truth ; 
 
 And live, instead of Outcasts like themselves, 
 
 Supporters of harmonious Polity, 
 
 The zealous friends of Piety and Law; 
 
 That they, when called from this iad sphere of Time, 
 
 Might to an honorable grave descend : 231 
 
 Where Scorn should never cast his withering scowl, 
 
 To blight the turf-adorning grass and flowers 
 
 That o'er their much-lamented ashes wave ; 
 
 But tender-^yecl Affection shed her dews, 235 
 
 And melancholy Friendship love to mourn. 
 
 This parting counsel given, the dreadful cord 
 Retributive of angered Justice, swung 
 The Malefactors from this blood-stained Ball, 
 Into the wide-stretch'd arms of Waiting Death. 240 
 
 When to Contrition's sway their hearts succumb'u ; 
 The Sufferers of their Midnight Crimes they told,
 
 208 BOONE'S 
 
 Far as their knowledge Mould permit ; to whom, 
 
 And others who advanced attested claims, 
 
 The rescued s/ioil/* were speedily restored." 245 
 
 This theme dismiss'd, in various converse pass'd 
 The cheerful Eve ; until its far advance 
 Admonished Boone, his travelled limbs to rest. 
 At morn's return, he bade his friends farewell ; 
 And his wild solitary route resumed. 25(9 
 
 Departed raptures of Domestic Love, 
 Now froln the Mirror of his Memory shone 
 In mellow lustre through his melting breast, 
 And waked redoubled ardor, to renew 
 Their long-suspended joys. His soul was winged 255 
 With fluttering fervor, and his bounding limbs 
 Seemed buoyant o'er the rugged wild to bear. 
 
 Once more he emerges irom the desert glooms, 
 And treads on Carolina's cultured Vales. 
 His darling Wife's paternal home drew nigh. 260 
 High in the spangled concnve hung the Moon. 
 The midnight dews slow-drizzling, steeped- the plains. 
 Along the river-course, the cun'ly mists 
 In winding volumes rose. The Night- Birds' screams, 
 Responsive issued from the weedy marsh. 265 
 
 The heavy tinklings of remembered bells, 
 Struck slowly on the shadowy ear of Night. 
 No taper glimmered from the neighboring farms. 
 The Hero pass'd his former home. To him, 
 All seemed a sweetly melancholy dream ! 270 
 
 The solemn Ouk, which oft to him and friends
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 ill summer-tide had lent its grateful shade, 
 
 Seemed an acquaintance which he dare not pass 
 
 Unnoticed, One sad moment at the Gate, 
 
 He paused. New tenants now the mansion held. 275 
 
 All dark and silent, its old Master's loss 
 
 It seemed to mourn. He sighing drop'd a tear^ 
 
 And then sped on. The scenes of many a year 
 
 Rjse in review, before his musing mind. 
 
 lie reached the lane which led to his loved Spouse 
 
 And darling Children. Agitation sh'ook 281 
 
 His joyous breast the ancient stile is passed 
 
 The yard is cross'd the silent door he raps 
 
 The snow-lock'd Sire demands, " what Guest is there ? r * 
 
 M Your hapless Daughter's long-lost Husband Boone 1" 
 
 The soul-transporting voice her chamber reached, 286 
 
 And shouts of extacy proclaimed her joy 
 
 A rapturous consternation through the house 
 
 Prevailed. For he had come is from thj grave ! 
 
 All having long believed r.nd mourned Mm dead. 290 
 
 Again the endearments of comaibiul Irw, 
 And filial fondness, in their tendon st forms, 
 His bosom thrill. Bui few the days of rest 
 And ease his enterpiising zeal allowed; 
 F 1 i* soou t;e tiresome Wilderness againj 295 
 
 H- with his noble f.imiiy traversed !>i\ck. 
 1:1 : i'mnd the Settlers suffering much distress : 
 With the fierce foe harti had th..-y to unitcud ; 
 M ,ny in g'-oaiiing a^i.-y Iiad v.iitiuui 
 Beucath his horrid scalp-dissevering KbiiVj SCO 

 
 BOOLE'S 
 
 Or perished in the ruthless faggot-flames. 
 E'en fenceless Beauty, unoffending Babes. 
 And feeble age by his rude hands had bled, 
 Had suffered all that Fury could inflict. 
 Nor was it the red ravagers alone, 
 Whose rage and cruelty they had to feel ; 
 For still infuriated England led 
 The bloody hosts, their hostile hr-arts inflamed, 
 And in *.' eii 1 ranks her merciless minions mixed. 
 Behold ! where British Bird, at Licking-Forks, 
 'Gai: st Martin's Garrison and Riddle's pours 
 His Cannon's slaughtering thunder, and compels 
 The unwary and defenceless Habitants, 
 To his o'erpowering demon force to yield. 
 See! there, the- tyger-hearted ruffians load, 
 With galling luggage, the imbecile Fair ; 
 And urge them, heedless of their tender plaints, 
 Along tl e wearisome and dismal Wastes ; 
 'Till faint and sinking underneath their toil, 
 The bloody hatchet frees them from their woe. 
 But Boonc-'s invigorating presence braced 
 The S'K < \\s of the bleeding settlement ; 
 And banished thence the accumulating glooms. 
 So the enlivening Sun, when Nature droops 
 Relaxed, long shrouded in ungenial clouds, 
 At length, fioin his remote retirement breaks; 
 Enkindles in her veins fresh energy ; 
 Her eye with sparkling lustre i eillun;es ; 
 And fioii her face the gathered dark;. ess drives. 
 
 305 
 
 Sli
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 211 
 
 Bat while inspiriting his harassed friends, 330. 
 
 A:.d with the wonted prowess of his arm 
 
 Defending Females, Infancy aiid Age; 
 
 Our Hero in his heart a wound received, 
 
 Ti.at even pierced his manly Fortitude. 
 
 A Brother, whom most ardently he loved, 335 
 
 Now to the murderous foe a victim fell. 
 
 As they together through the forest hied, 
 
 EL turning home from Licking River plains, 
 
 The ambush'd Ruffians fired, the deatluul charge, 
 
 And in his gore the gallant Woodsman laid. 340 
 
 Before his Angel-Guardian's viewless shield, 
 
 The fleet Survivor flew ; while bursting fierce 
 
 l'iom their concealment, rapidly pursued 
 
 Tne yelling fiends. Their hellish chase to aid, 
 
 [loosed ; 
 
 Their hoarse-lung'd Blood-Hounds on his track they 
 Swift on, the carnage-nurtured monsters strained ; 346 
 A:id the vast Desert with their clamors roared. 
 In vain, by mazy doublings through the Brakes, 
 And by accelerated speed, he strove, 
 The slaughter-hungering pack's pursuit to foil. 350 
 .Jntent, and sure us Death, through every turn 
 Of the deep-tangled labyrinths, his steps 
 They swiftly trace. Still close and closer drew 
 The dreadful cry. The savage whoop behind, 
 Ascending wild at once from various points, 355 
 
 Baspake it dangerous longer to remain 
 Within the thickets' bounds; and ioith lie burst 

 
 212 BOONE'S 
 
 Into the forest's less entangleing wood. 
 
 Soon on his view, the raging Blood-Hounds broke. 
 
 At his aimed Rifle's peal, the foremost fell. 35 
 
 The residue sweep on again he flics, 
 
 And flying charges the death-pouring tube : 
 
 Then wheeling, stiffens one more of the pacl 
 
 His flight resumed, a second time he essays 
 
 His gun to charge : when, lo ! close at his heels, 36:1 
 
 Vociferous, foaming, panting, glaie-eyed, grim, 
 
 The fierce Survivors press'd ; with winding sweep, 
 
 And forceful, with his gun, as round he turned, 
 
 Boone fell'd two of them lifeless to the ground, 
 
 And backward frightened the remaining three; SfC 
 
 Which soon most furiously the attack renewed, 
 
 But were With crippled limbs again repulsed j 
 
 Nor dared they to the onset to return : 
 
 But vanquished, lame and sullen skulk'd away. 
 
 The screaming Savages are now in view, 3T5 
 
 But Boone at distance almost disappears, 
 
 And now has reached a sheltering brake secure. 
 
 Some respite from the red ferocious foe, 
 And his more vile and criminal ally, 
 The coming Winter to the Settlers brought. 
 Though oft by petty molestations niar'd, 
 In strength the young establishment still grew ; 
 At sight of which, to tenfold vengeance stung, 
 The venal Myrmidons of tyrant power, 
 Quick through their tawny coadjutors' breasts, 385 
 Their murder-rousing virulence infused. 
 At length, in dread confederation linked)
 
 ADVENTURES. 213 
 
 The sanguinary clans of Cherokees, 
 
 V/'yandots, Shawanese, Delawarcs, Tawas, 
 
 A:id other savage nations, hot for blood, 390 
 
 On Chiiicothe's plains their war-fiends poured ; 
 
 Where round Britannia's gore-stained banner, they 
 
 With her Canadian Mercenaries leagued, 
 
 Ey the black-hearted villain Girty led, 
 
 'Gainst Bryant's Fortress the grim squadrons move. 
 
 As gathers silently the midnight storm 396 
 
 Dark-rolling-, round some sleep-enveloped dome 
 
 Unconscious of the impending violence; 
 
 Until its bursting thunder-peals, its Winds' 
 
 Hash roar, its voliied showers of battering hail, 400 
 
 And flashes fierce of flames electric break 
 
 The slumberous spell ; so round the unwary Fort, 
 
 Enshrouded in nocturnal gloom, the Host 
 
 Of slaughter-hungering Ruffians gather'd; dark? 
 
 Horrific, noiseless, sullen ! While within, 405 
 
 "A sleep-born silence held her solemn sway ; 
 
 'Till a deep yell, the signal of assault, 
 
 Invadsd rudely their astounded ears, 
 
 A. id roused the slumbering Garrison to arms. 
 
 Now beat upon the well-defended walls, 410 
 
 T,ie blazing tempest's thunder-driven blasts 
 
 Oi ratting Lad. In vain their fury roar'd ; 
 
 Tiie strong Defences every shock withstood, 
 
 Until the foii'd ass iiiauts were rcpell'd. 
 
 .vo days unceasingly the siege had flamed, 415 
 
 V, hen by the forcibly resisting fire,
 
 214 BOONE'S 
 
 'Twas broken up. The baffled army, maim'd, 
 
 And bleeding, marched forthwith to the Blue Licks ; 
 
 Anticipating festinate pursuit, 
 
 Which eagerly it wish'd : for still its strength 420 
 
 Was great, its fury fierce and unsubdued. 
 
 From Lexington, from Harrodsburg, and each 
 
 Contiguous neighborhood and Station, rush'd 
 
 At summons of the gallant Harlancl, Trigg, 
 
 M'Gary, Tocld and Boone, Kentucky's pride ! 423 
 
 Her bravest patriots ! the retreating foe 
 
 To encounter. Borne on lofty-mettled steeds, 
 
 The wilds in martial majesty they swept, 
 
 Till Licking's craggy banks before them frown'd. 
 
 When, lo ! retiring from the opposing shore, 430 
 
 The rear of the grim Demons they beheld. 
 
 With awful consequence the crisis teem'd. 
 
 The gallant Horsemen halted j prudence claim'd 
 
 A moment's consultation, on the course 
 
 To be pursued. For various were the marks 4S5 
 
 Upon the savage route impress'd, to prove 
 
 The foe in number four-fold times as great, 
 
 As was Kentucky's patriot -band ; and well 
 
 Were Boone and others versed in Indian wiles 
 
 Assured, from numerous stratagems descried 
 
 In the procedure of the tawny host, 
 
 That it design'd to lure them to their death. 
 
 Boone knew the ground ; and by request detail'd 
 
 The system he thought safest to adopt. 
 
 In an elliptic course the River wound. 44.)
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 215 
 
 T he whole of the peninsulatecl land, 
 
 1 he browsing Buffalo-Herds had bared ; save that 
 
 A few storm-shatter'd trees, still here and there, 
 
 C lung lonely in the' rock-incrusted soil. 
 
 1 rom Licking, to the opposite extveme 450 
 
 OF the ellipsis, ran a rugged Ridge, 
 
 "Whose sides and summit, full two-thirds their length 
 
 Uncover'd lay, and were to view exposed 
 
 From its dark-timbered end ; where, clothed in shrubs, 
 
 The heads of two diverging ravines met; 455 
 
 Which to the curving stream on either side 
 
 Of the ellipse extended. Bonne foiesaw 
 
 The snare the skulking Caitiffs had prepared ; 
 
 And warn'd his party of an ambuscade : 
 
 Exhorting them their forces to divide, 460 
 
 And by a simultaneous march inclose 
 
 The Ruffians, in the toils themselves had lain ; 
 
 Or wait a reinforcement from their friend, 
 
 The intrepid Logan ; who. with generous zeal 
 
 Kentucky's green unsullied banner bore 46i 
 
 Among her martial patriots, rousing them 
 
 To arm for their embattled brethren's aid, 
 
 Much the judicious counsel was approved, 
 And gave fair indications to succeed. 
 When, daringly impatient, ardent, rash, 470 
 
 IM'Gary thuncleringly exclaimed ; " To Death 
 Or Conquest 1 Cowardice may waste in nvordt 
 The time, and here, secure from Danger, lag ; 
 But Valor will with me in Baltic dare,
 
 216 BOOJTE S 
 
 Without delay, the insulting Savages !" 47V> 
 
 He paused not for reply ; but spur'd his steed, 
 
 The war-shout raised, and rush'd into the stream. 
 
 The impetuous ar.lor spread. The council broke. 
 
 All in precipitate disorder stem'd 
 
 The dashing torrent, s\vept with clattering speed 480 
 
 The rock-paved ridge, 'till at its oak-crown'd end, 
 
 They met the vengeance of the yelling foe, 
 
 And halted in the whirlwind's flaming front. 
 
 Swift from their Horses leap'd the eager band. 
 
 Our HERO, Harland, Tiigg, M'Gnry, Tocld, 48.5 
 
 And Israel Boone, all breasted the dread Host ; 
 
 With daring vehemence, distinguish 'd might. 
 
 And soul-inspiriting precedency. 
 
 Coluxo, Costea, and their base Colleague 
 
 The rcnegado Girty, led the ranks 490 
 
 Of the demoniac enemy ; and vied 
 
 In dangerous prowess, and destructive deeds 
 
 With the Kentuckian CHIEFTAINS. Fiercer flames 
 
 The conflict, as more near the Hosts approach. 
 
 With Rifle-peal and Indian-yell, with plaint 49j 
 
 Of Death and valor-rousing shout, the Glyns 
 
 And Groves reverberate. At every blast, 
 
 On either side, the slaughtering storm cut down 
 
 Full many a warrior bold, in blooming prime. 
 
 The gallant Tocld has fallen ! Lew in blood 500 
 
 He lies! Ytt, hear! his dying accents cheer 
 
 His brave Compatriots. " Oh, my Friends ! pause not 
 
 To pity me ! The living claim your care :
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 217 
 
 Your Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, Wives and Babes. 
 
 ] die for them, and soon shall be in Heaven, 505 
 
 Maintain the fight, and if you nobly fall, 
 
 vr ou'll fellow me." The bauie thunders burst 
 
 .vlore terribly destructive, as the soul 
 
 Of the fallen Hero fled. A' wilder scream 
 
 Broke from the foaming-, painted fiends of blood ; 510 
 
 While Vengeance-frantic, rush'cl in closer fray 
 
 The adverse Champions. Hatchets hurl 'd 
 
 Blood-reeking through the Rifle-spouted flames, 
 
 Kuhanc'd the horrors of the deatliful din. 
 
 Where thickest flew the death-wing'd weapons, Trigs* 
 
 The vollied Cour.ter-Tenjpest to dir.ct, 515 
 
 His gallant aidarice gave. Coluxo mnrk'd 
 
 His martial port uud slaughtering vehemence ; 
 
 Aurl springing forward, drove his Battlt-Axe 
 
 1'ull at the intrepid Whitcman's ample breast. 520 
 
 Deep in life's purple Cistern had it plung'd ; 
 
 But that Trigg's Rifle-Lock its shivering force 
 
 Received. Disarm'd, he seized- the edged weapon ; 
 
 And rush'cl to cleave the enraged Coiuxo liow'n. 
 
 but Costea, Hatchet-arm'd, sprang forth lo meet 125 
 
 The coming Champion. Fiercely flash'd with rage 
 
 Their meeting eyes, Defiance darkly roll'd 
 
 Upon their Vengeance-undulated brows. 
 
 Contiguous to the awful ground they tiode, 
 
 Tae Battle-blaze a moment was extinct. 530 
 
 A hundred eyes in e.igcr gaze were iixed 
 
 Upon the approaching Chiefs. A liiiu(;ivd hands,
 
 218 BOONE'S 
 
 With sympathetic impulse griped their guns, 
 
 And backward rose in hostile attitude, 
 
 As the stern Combatants their Hatchets raised. 5: 
 
 They strike ! The blow half-baffled, each receives 
 
 Slight in his shoulder's brawn, Again descends, 
 
 On either side, the fury-driven axe. 
 
 From Costea's bone-bared jaw, huge flesh flakes fall- 
 
 Another brunt! again the Indian bleeds ! 540 
 
 And from his wounded hand, the weapon drops. 
 
 With instant bound, his head he heaves fuli-aini'd 
 
 At Trigg's blood-chipping breast, that like some oak. 
 
 'Gainst which the furious Bull his frontlet drives, 
 
 Unyielaing the impetuous shock sustains. 545 
 
 Now Costea seizes the descending axe, 
 
 And wards the blow aimed at his plumeless head. 
 
 With his uninjured hand he tugs for life, 
 
 But vainly : from his desperate gripe, 
 
 Trigg wrenches the destructive Tomahawk, 550 
 
 And plants it in his head. He reels, he sinks ! 
 
 Adown his long dark locks, profusely streams 
 
 The gusiiing life-tide. Again is plunged 
 
 Deep in his brain, the bleeding- steel. lie dies ! 
 
 Behold! in gloomy wrath Coluxo conies! 5.^5 
 
 His stride is terrible ! His dreadful brow 
 
 Upon the victor Champion scowls ; his eye 
 
 Through the death-threatening tempest of his face. 
 
 Like the storm-reddening meteor of deep Night, 
 
 Portentously its flaming ire emits. 5 >0 
 
 He brandishes aloft a reeking axe,
 
 ADVENTURES. 219 
 
 S latched from the grasp of an expiring Peer. 
 
 1 rigg, maugre much from his gashed breast had flown 
 
 I is vigor, rushes to the combat dire, 
 
 A'ul falls ! Boone, the Hero's doom beheld ; . 56& 
 
 And, hastening whence he had the hottest blaze 
 
 >f the dread fight sustained, Coluxo's rage 
 
 solved to quell ; but ere the ground he gain'd, 
 From which the slaughtering Sachem he could mark 
 Wth certain aim; lie saw his gallant son, 570 
 
 The blooming Israel reeling from the ranks, 
 And bathed in streaming blood ; while on him rush'd, 
 With the curved scalping steel, the demon fell, 
 "Whose fatal fire had in his valorous breast 
 
 deathful lead impcTd. He saw, and Hew 575 
 
 through whizzing balls, to ro~c.li the wounded Youth : 
 l?ut halting in his hazardous career, 
 The scalp-dissevering savage shot: then ran, 
 And raised his dying Israel in his arms; 
 Who thus in accents faint his feelings spake 580 
 t{ Oh, Father ! God presers'e thy noble life 
 To see this lovely land I now must leave, 
 Become the happy Garden of the World; 
 To soothe my darling Mother's mourning heart; 
 And be my Brothers' and my Sisters' Friend) 585 
 Oil ! if you live to tell my hapless doom ; 
 T;> them my dying benediction bear. 
 , G >d save my Father!" Death his utterance quenched, 
 he Battle-tempest, from the flaming Wood 
 ith more destructive vengeance now emerged. 590
 
 220 
 
 BOONE S 
 
 ecu 
 
 In its sulphureous vortex Slaughter rode ; 
 Grinding his gory teeth, and yelling deep 
 And joyously, as on the gushing blood 
 Of gasping Heroes, glared his baleful eye. 
 A more exultant scream he shrilly pours, 
 As the Herculean Ilarland groans his last : 
 And well the life-devouring fiend might joy, 
 For ne'er a premier trophy marked his sway. 
 
 Nought else but desperate temerity . 
 Could have in;peil'd Kentucky's patriot band, 
 The o'envhelming death-tide longer to sustain, 
 Before its roaring wrath they therefore fi-d. 
 Infernal acclamations ; such as shake 
 The burning vaults of Hell, when conquest crowns 
 The conflicts of its King with virtuous souls ; 60S 
 Along the reddened welkin fiercely LIT. 
 And roll the savage joy wide o'er the waste. 
 Before the reeking hatchet's lifted edge, 
 The close-beset regression was maintained, 
 Until the River's dangerous pass was reach'cl. 61o 
 There, dreadful was the wasteful rage of Death ! 
 The fortunate few who had their steeds regained, 
 Escaped unharm'd But terrible the fate 
 Of those on ioot ! Deep roil'd the surging stream ; 
 On either bank huge hung the shattered crags; 615 
 Precipitate and violent the press 
 That urged the exhausted Heroes' hurried flight. 
 O'ertaken, wounded, faint, some fall on sl.ore 
 Part through "the narrow inlet gain tne lord: 

 
 
 ADVENTURES. 221 
 
 I' Art from the beelleing cliffs plunge in the stream : 
 S >me less enfeebled and more daring wheel; 620 
 And meet the foemen on the River's brink 
 1J >one there encounters fierce Coluxo's might. 
 1 u:'u ere they meet, the missive Hatchet drives 
 I fffctle.ss at the other's wary head. 625 
 
 1 heir emptied rifles next, with forceful sweep 
 A nd shivering clash, in rude collision meet ! 
 The Champions stagger from the ponderous shock. 
 Again their -fragment weapons through the air 
 They wind, and bring them down in contact dread. 630 
 Tne remnant stocks in thousand splinters fly. 
 The Antagonists, enraged to see their blows 
 Thus wasted, grasp with more infuriate gripe 
 The nuked Barrels, wield them with more force ; 
 'And a half-bufRed brunt on cither's head 635 
 
 Impel, A moment to their knees they sink. 
 J!ccovere,<} frojn the stunning stroke, they rise: 
 But from their hands, their battered tubes have fallen. 
 I:, instantaneous grapplement they join. 
 A 'd struggle on liie craggy verge ! their bruin 640 
 \Yith rage and its late jar vertiginous ! 
 B hold 1 they seem just toppling o'er the flood : 
 'i ie shattered brink now breaks I the sliddeiiug mass 
 Before them crashing, sweeps the hoary ruin. 
 They headlong follow 1 Still in stubborn clutch 645 
 C njunctive, inituvay down the smoking steep 
 prominence their dread descent arrests ;
 
 222 
 
 66( 
 
 Whore on the impeded pile new-fallen, they lodge. 
 
 Coluxo's undermost as;d bears the shock. 
 
 But lo ! he Leaves with JEgean rage to rise. 
 
 Strong is the struggle nov/, and perilous : 
 
 For narrow is the intercipient .ledge, 
 
 A, d dangerous the rocky points beneath. 
 
 Its burdened base is trembling o'er the flood 
 
 That clashes darkly by. The moment teems 
 
 With (\. stiny. His danger Boone surveys, 
 
 And disenthrals himself with vigorous wrench ; 
 
 A stunted Cedar grasps, and drives his feet 
 
 Against the swift-advancing Combatant; 
 
 Who, by the forceful impulse strongly driven, 
 
 Precipitately from the peak descends, 
 
 And plunging in the torrent's shuddering deeps, 
 
 A moment he's ingulph'd ! emerging now, 
 
 With visage rage-convulsed, and eye strained upwards, 
 
 Fierce-flashing on his bold Antagonist, 6& 
 
 He flings the billows from his heaving sides, 
 
 And bounds and flounces towards the frowning shore. 
 
 Boone marked his mad and desperate approach ; 
 
 And from the rifted crag, a loosened rock 
 
 Full on his head impetuously impel'd. 67 1 ' 
 
 Profusely boihng from his bursted skull, [rose, 
 
 Through the white-bubbling waves, the life-streams 
 
 And striped with purple lines the watery woof. 
 
 His eye Boone glances round. He cannot scale 
 
 The steep, nor has he footing to descend. 675
 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 . nto the booming stream he therefore bounds! 
 
 _ 
 And on the billows rapidly is borne, 
 
 To where the Battle blazes o'er the Ford. 
 There, through a scene oi direst massacre, 
 Uaarm'd he rushes. Mingled yells and grows 680 
 From bank to bank resound; and bl.xxl and flames, 
 The corse-polluted waves in crimson clothe. 
 Here closed in deadly conflict, now immersed, 
 Now rising through the strangling surge, appear 
 The adverse Combatants ; while blind and faint, 685 
 The wounded there are reeling seen, til] roll'd 
 Ly the red torrent to its drowning gulphs. 
 
 Now, as the rugged crags yon Hero climbs, 
 The death-shot drives him through His action ends. 
 - A moment to the rock he feebly clings ' 690 
 
 Qoose ; 
 
 He backward bends His strengthless hands break 
 Down, down the precipice, he headlong falls ! 
 And at its base a bleeding ruin floats. 
 But Boone the friendly shore has safely gained : 
 And lo I the Horsemen halt and wheel and fire ! 695 
 Short time, the vehement pursuit is check'd : 
 Kentucky's gallant residue oa laud, 
 At length arrive : Again the deep-mouthed yell 
 Hot pour'd, the sanguinary chase proclaims ; 
 Which ceases not, till Bryant's sheltering Fort 700 
 Deceives the exhausted band. There, on his march, 
 Brave Logan and his gallant force, they meet. 
 These with them wend to the red slaughter-field,
 
 2t4 BOONE'S 
 
 Eager to avenge their fellow-patriots' doom. 
 
 But the Barbarian Victors have escaped ; 
 
 And sated Death sleeps on the silent ground. 
 
 Oh, what a mournful spectacle is there ! 
 
 Behold ! the Hero who three days ago, 
 
 In towering elegance and manhood's bloom, 
 
 The ranks of Battle graced; now roll'd in gore, 710 
 
 Out-stretch'd and pallid on the corse-strewn plain ! 
 
 No more to meet the embrace of that fond Wife 
 
 And prattling Son, who gazed with tearful eyes, 
 
 As from his sylvan mansion he withdrew, 
 
 Waving his hand in token of his love. 715 
 
 Ah. God I what gloomy Stillness hovers round 
 
 The bloody scene. No sound its awful reign 
 
 Disturbs ; save the gorged Vulture's dismal croak 
 
 As from his prey with dark and heavy wing, 
 
 He rises slowly to the laden bough 720 
 
 Of some huge Oak. In solemn mood, with steps 
 
 Of meditative measure, 'mongst the blain 
 
 The Heroes move. See Boone stand weeping o 
 
 His mangled son ! Now claspingthc cold hand ! 
 
 And now, ere in the grave's dark cell the Youth 7 
 
 Is covered, gently severing from his locks, 
 
 A relick dear to the maternal heart. 
 
 The sepulture's performed ; Night spreads her shades ; 
 
 And the scared prowlers, to the carnagcd gioiu.u 
 
 Return ; where dismally they howl 'till morn. 730 
 
 To all, especially to Boone, it was 
 
 A night of drearies; ^aa.^b ; hoarsely plained 

 
 ADVENTURES. 225' 
 
 "he putrid River-surge ; the Night-Birds screamed 
 n notes of shrillest horror ; and the skies 
 Afflicted for Kentucky's rueful loss, 735 
 
 Their melancholy vestments had assumed. 
 5 low could they not? For Angels there abide, 
 And they beheld her wrap'd in saddest Grief; 
 Beheld her widowed Fair, aa through their hearts 
 The awful tidings of their husbands' death 740 
 
 Transpierced; in wildest phrenzy clasp their B;xbes 
 And weep in all the wretchedness uf Woe. 
 
 The task of keenest agony to Boone 
 Had yet to be perform'd. Oh ! see him now 
 Approaching sadly his expecting home. 745 
 
 His Infants spy at distance their loved Sire, 
 His solemn step is marked. His Wife beholds 
 The boding; blood-stains on his altered robes 
 No ISRAEL conies in view! Each little breast 
 Predictive beats Her own tumultuous heaves 750 
 'Tis true / that look, that silence speak it so / 
 'Tis true, the darling Youth shall never more 
 Return to enjoy the transports of their love. 
 Behold, the embrace that bursts the swelling heart / 
 Tears now have vent, and deluge every cheek. 755 
 See with .what frantic tenderness, what throbs 
 Of deep emotion, the sad mother takes 
 The sacred lock of her " departed Son," 
 vVith ardent kisses seals it to her lips, 
 And washes off with tears its bloody stains. 760 
 
 To Sorrow's sway, throughout the settled bounds
 
 226 
 
 BOONE 3 
 
 rou 
 
 775 
 
 Of young Kentucky, -vengeful zeal succeeds. 
 
 With thundering' emphasis, his heeded voice 
 
 Boone raised, and bade his Western Brethren 
 
 To Battle, and their i-ising country save / ' 
 
 The good, the valiant, the immortal Clarke 
 
 And Logan seconded the patriot call ; 
 
 And pointed to that Hill's ensanguined brow, 
 
 Where gallant Harland, Todd and Trigg had bk 
 
 A thousand bosoms at tne summons burn'd, 
 
 To mingle in the blood-avenging fight. 
 
 The Stripling, and the Grand Sire grey in years, 
 
 The half-plough'd furrow and the fire-side leave ; 
 
 To wield the implements of direful War. 
 
 The Host is marshal'd, and the march begins. 
 
 The Foemen learn its menacing approach, 
 
 And their untenable encampment fly. 
 
 The howl of Horror, Consternation wild, 
 
 And yeilin^-s of infuriated wrath, 
 
 Through their distracted Villages extend. 
 
 Behold/ these too the tawny swarms forsake/ 
 
 And where they late their barbarous orgies held, 
 
 Devasting flames now revel. Ruin's stride 
 
 And Whirlwind-breath the embattled ranks attend. 
 
 The Chilicothes now in embers glow / 785 
 
 Will's Town and Peckaway arc sinking too, 
 
 Beneath fierce Conflagration's wasteful blasts. 
 
 Rude Desolation sweeps the Corn-clothed fields, 
 
 And to the Indians' view a prospect spreads ; 
 
 That e'en their boldest Warrior's arm unnerves, 790
 
 ADVENTURES. 227 
 
 prompts their Chiefs to supplicate for PEACE. 
 Columbia's Western Star in splendors now, 
 ' Through an unclouded azure streaming, sheds 
 )n drooping hearts, the beams of sweetest Hope ; 
 \nd withers to a scroll the grumous flag 795 
 
 Of groaning War. His labors, Boone beholds 
 Unfolding theft rich Comforts o'er the West : 
 While Amity's restrictive bonds confine 
 The nerves of savage Slaughter. Happy now, 
 Jn contemplation of the brightening scene, 800 
 
 He to AFFECTION'S sweet embrace retires ; 
 And reaps the Harvest of his useful toils. 
 Immortal Founder of stupendous States ! 
 While generous prowess wakes the soul's applause ; 
 While consecration to a Nation's weal 805 
 
 Of all the energies of Mind and Nerve, 
 Enkindles warm sensations of regard ; 
 Thy name, in Freedom's sun-crown'd Fane enshrined, 
 With the rich incense of a Million's love 
 E.nbalmed, shall live. How rapturous to thy heart, 810 
 Thou venerable Hero j How sublime, 
 [low beauteous, how divine J the prospect now 
 Of that Republic, which thy patriot hand 
 Implanted in the direful Wilderness. 
 i,o J flourishing uncaukered, and immense, 815 
 
 It strengthens, rises, spreads and blooms to Heaven 1 
 Its branches mingle with the stars; and crown'd 
 With Harps Angelic, wave mid purest gales 
 Celestial; animate with melody,
 
 228 BOOXE'S 
 
 -By Freedom's Seraph Martyrs sweetly made ; 
 And fragrant as the fruits of Paradise. 
 
 Well might it fill with an cxtatic pride 
 The soul of him, whose valor laid the base 
 Of Free Columbia's occidental States ; 
 To view the glories that invest them DOW J 
 Where shall the Muse the Reader's eye direct, 
 To shew the brightest deeds, where all are bright 
 In grand extreme ? Who can the blazing disk 
 Of the unclouded Orb of Day divide, 
 And say behold the most effulgent part ? 830 
 
 ' she pursue the Widow's plaining sigh, 
 To where the graves of Daviess, Owen, White, 
 And Spencer bloom in -Honor's purest beams, 
 Embossing the dark wilds where WABASII rolls ? 
 Or shall she turn to Raisin's awful plains, 835 
 
 And point to where the bones of Allen, Mead, 
 M'Cracken, Edwards, Simpson, Hickman, Hart, 
 And Woolfolk hallow the ensanguined soil ? 
 Or to Sunduski's shore and sing the applause 
 Of Croghan, Fiv dom's Western Washington, 
 And his immortal Band ; whose patriot names, 
 The Tyrants of succeeding times shall dread, 
 And future Proctors tremble when they hear 
 Oh no j 'tis wasting language to detail. 
 Ohio's and Kentucky's Fame extends 
 Wherever valorous Liberty is loved ; 
 And even toils its splendors through the glooms, 
 Where blinking Despots gorged with empires' blood,
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 229 
 
 O'er Freedom's desolated Temples nod ! 
 Il.ustrious States! Who has not seen thy Sons, 850 
 Thy patriot Sons, 'in thousands; from the scenes 
 Of Opulence and sweet domestic bliss, 
 With pure unvenal ardor rushing forth 
 To fields of feliest danger Not to war 
 \Yith Foes magnanimous, of souls humane 855 
 
 And generous, who disdain to waste the blood, 
 And wound the pride of vanquished Combatants ; 
 But Foes beneath whose ignominious arms, 
 The Babe, the Vestal and the Matron bleed. 
 "Who has not seen thy free-born Heroes dare, 860 
 The Horrors of Barbarian Ambushment ; 
 And uncomplaining, though with hunger pale, 
 And long without repose, through brumal storms, 
 Snow-covered Swamps of wearisome extent, 
 And wintry terrors of a howling Wild, 865 
 
 Intently toiling to encounter Fiends, 
 Unrighteous as ere ranged the Internal glooms : 
 Ferocious Monsters ; cruel as ere yell'd 
 For Victim's blood I Who has not seen thy Hosts 
 Those Monsters meet, and honor the high cause, 8?0 
 Li which their generous bosoms freely bled. 
 Where is Columbia's son, whose eye can glance 
 O'er the bright page of their immortal deeds, 
 And not let fall a tear of extacy ? 
 Who would not deem it honor to be call'd &7i 
 
 A citizen of the same land,. where lives 
 
 U
 
 230 
 
 
 890 
 
 The patriot Warriors, Shelby, Harrison, 
 
 Desha, M' Arthur, Cass and Johnson : names 
 
 Imperishable as e'er were canonized, 
 
 On the illustrious rolls of Martyrdom ! S80 
 
 Yes, noble sons of a Republic ! Time, 
 
 When mingles with the dust of tombs, the heart 
 
 That now this humble meed of praise dictates ; 
 
 Shall roll your glories brightening down his stream, 
 
 Till on Eternity's effulgent waves 885 
 
 They blaze, reflecting on your blissful souls 
 
 Beatitude perpetual. Nor are they, 
 
 The only Heroes of celebrious name, 
 
 Whose splendid Virtues shed sublime renown, 
 
 Upon those glorious States. A Clay, a Ball, 
 
 A Lewis and innumerous more, the Muse 
 
 Might call to adorn her page. But BEAUTY'S claim 
 
 Demands her strain applausive and sincere. 
 
 If transports warm the hoary Veteran's heart 
 
 Who founded the Republics of the West, 895 
 
 To see their Sons engarlanded with Fame's 
 
 Unwithering laurels : Who shall tell what tides 
 
 Of deeper rapture swell his musing soul, 
 
 As he the odoriferous wreaths beholds 
 
 Of Virtue's richest flowers, which adorn 900 
 
 Their blooming Daughters Well may Bravery shield 
 
 Their peerless Breasts : for Bravery wins their smiles ; 
 
 While mean inglorious Dastardy receives 
 
 Their frowning scorn. What bosom does not burn 
 
 To bleed in Freedom's battles, when such Fair, 90S
 
 
 ADVENTURES. 231 
 
 
 Their Brothers and their Lovers too exhort, 
 Their lives in her defence to jeopardize. 
 
 My patriotic Sisters of the West ! 
 Accept this humble plaudit of a heart 
 That loves you dearly. High indeed the praise, 9H 
 And happily received ; could you approve 
 For Freedom's sake my unpreauming Song. 
 Oft through admiring Fancy's eye, I've seen 
 Your lilly fingers, form the Warrior's robe; 
 And soiely wounded with the piercing steel, 
 The honored garment with pure crimson stain ; 
 Leaving expressive emblems of the Deeds 
 He should achieve ; and symbols of the love 
 Your bosoms for the gallant soldier bore. 
 Oft too your tender bodings I have seen 
 And anxious Hopes; while undecided yet 
 Remained the destiny of those ye loved, 
 Your valiant Country 'men ! Oh ! when arrived 
 The agonizing tidings of defeat 
 
 Of the fierJLdious Massacres that stained 925 
 
 With infamy a butchering foe ; and tore 
 From many a noble head the streaming scalp ; 
 Where fell those clearer far perhaps than life ; 
 How were your anguished and indignant breasts 
 With keen and violent emotions pained : 
 But when the joyous news of Conquest came, 
 How changed your feelings; how divinely sweet; 
 How glowing then with thankful extacies ! 
 And when the honored soldier home returned,
 
 J3J BOONE'S ADVENTURES. 
 
 What kind, what tender welcomes ye bestowed! 935 
 
 How carefully his rankling wounds deterged ; 
 
 And with attentions bland and smiles benign, 
 
 Rewarded all his dangers, pains and toils. 
 
 This magic theme could long my Muse; detain, 
 
 But lo ! her desultorious song- draws nigh 940 
 
 Its beckoning goal ; and we, sweet Fair, must part ! 
 
 Perennial as the charms of the rich land, 
 
 Whose healthful gales your honied breath perfumes, 
 
 May your bright Virtues bloom ; to crown with bliss 
 
 The gallant Boone's the shields of Honors's shrine ! 
 
 Who share the mild dominions of your Love, 946 
 
 And drive the Myrmidons of Tyrant thrones 
 
 From their ensanguined Cars. And ye pure Slates, 
 
 The Western Pillars of Columbia's Dome, 
 
 The Dome of Liberty ! Still may ye stand 950 
 
 With glories of ten thousand Boones emblazed ; 
 
 Sustaining with distinguished eminence 
 
 Your portion of the Edifice sublime ; 
 
 While Kingdoms disappear in floods of gore 
 
 And Revolutions rock the reeking globe: 955 
 
 Yea, till the pageant Bubbles of the World 
 
 Aie into dread Annihilation blown ; 
 
 And Oceans, Suns and Spheres before the blaze 
 
 Of Heaven's avenging Anger, are consumed !
 
 THE 
 
 OF 
 
 VIRTUOUS 
 
 REFINED BEAUTY. 
 
 VHAT moving charms fair Beauty's form invest, 
 When with divinest disposition blest ! 
 When all the blooming tints and liliied hues, 
 Which kind creative Nature spreads profuse 
 In mingled Union, sweetly harmonize 
 With mental Grace, the darling- of the skies. 
 When Angel mildness smooths the arching brow, 
 And gives the eye its love-inspiring glow ; 
 Diffuses blushes o'er the dimpled cheek, 
 And tunes the lips in Orphean strains to speak. 
 What speechless transports melt the thrilling heart. 
 And Love's intenerating joys impart ; 
 
 When Beauty's ears the themes of Scandal fly, 
 
 2
 
 234 
 
 AND 
 
 And hear with sympathy Affliction's sigh ; 
 
 Attentive, hear the weeping Widow's moan, 
 
 The Orphan's sob and piteous feeble groan : 
 
 Oh, yes ! it wakes in Man's cold flinty breast 
 
 The flame of Love, to see fair Beauty drest 
 
 In holy Virtue's purest rob'.-s of si.ow, 
 
 Yet warm at heart as Summer's ardent glow : 
 
 To see her soothing hand \.ith melting grace, 
 
 The Litter tears of hopeless Woe efl'.'ce; 
 
 And, like imbodii d Mercy, hovering near 
 
 The heart that flutters on dread Death's fell spear ; 
 
 With sweet Religion's peace-inspiring balm, 
 
 Diffusing through the Soul a holy calm ; 
 
 With Charity's divinely grateful aid, 
 
 Bid Poverty's unfeeling arm be staid ; 
 
 Subdue ferocious Hunger's gnawing rage, 
 
 And warm with joy the withered veins of age ; 
 
 Spread beds of down upon the chilling floor, 
 
 And bid the shivering tenants quake no more. 
 
 VTis Beauty thus adorned with seraph charms, 
 
 That purifies the stoic heart it warms ; 
 
 That tenches Man's obdurate heart of steel, 
 
 The poignant thrills of hallow'd Love to feel. 
 
 Not such as the Coquetish Thing of Art 
 
 Attempts to kindle in the unyielding heart ; 
 
 But that which subliautcs the noble soul 
 
 And points its powers to some important goal j 
 
 That binds the h ait wi.h entrgttic ties, 
 
 To deeds of virtuous aim and proud emprise ;
 
 
 REFINED BEACTT. 235 
 
 '"hat predisposes eveiy valiant mind, 
 To be humane, magnanimous and kind ; 
 
 Hfhat gives to patriot zeal heroic fire, 
 Vnd makes the daring Youth to Fame aspire ; 
 That nerves the Warrior's arm with conquering power, 
 And makes him fearless bide the slaughtering hour. 
 [i wounds should gash the Heroes manly breast, 
 And stain the plumage of his snowy crest; 
 He gives his blood a free-will Sacrifice 
 To Virtuous Beauty as a glorious price : 
 The cnly equal meritorious meed 
 
 For charms, for which a thousand breasts would bleed ! , 
 Though the red efflux drains the " fount of life," 
 Pie towers still amid the clashing- strife ; 
 He launches Death amidst embattled Hosts, 
 And wrecks on waves of blood a thousand ghosts. 
 For in defence of blooming Virtue's rights, 
 Though wounded, still the bleeding Hero fights I 
 And should fierce Death arrest his proud career, 
 He nobly yields his breath without a fear 1 
 For Justice, Beauty, Eloquence and Truth, 
 And ail the sacred fires of amorous Youth, 
 His soul inspired, impel'd him forth to War, 
 
 , And light his closing Hie with Hope's bright Star. 
 Thus with triumphant unexceeded sway, 
 Or in the blaze of Glory's conquering day, 
 
 - Or in the dreadful Night of Death's dark gloom, 
 Sweet Beauty rules with animating' bloom ! 
 The greenest ga <% laud weaves for Conquest's brow,
 
 
 
 23Qf VIRTUOUS AN9 
 
 And makes the proud, the lofty Monarch bow ; 
 Illumes the darkness of the eternal wave, 
 And kindles glory in the solemn grave ! 
 
 Through the dim regions of departed time, 
 Like monuments resplendently sublime, 
 Which spread their fulgour through the sombre air, 
 The names of many a wise and virtuous Fair, 
 With splendors immarcessible shall shine, } 
 While Emulation's kindling flames divine, C 
 The female world illumine and refine. \ 
 Through the Historic telescope, our eyes, 
 In distant Rome's corruption-clouded skies, 
 Mid Horror-glaring Meteors red with crimes, 
 O'er blood-assembled Seas of Tyrant times ! 
 Mid satellites of Luxury and Power, 
 Behold a mildly brilliant Planet tower, 
 And keep her danger-crouded course unstnin'd, 
 Though to the bloody Comet Nero, chain'd ! 
 It is divine Octavia, whose soft light 
 Illumes the murkiest shades of heathen Night. 
 Her Virtue, Beauty and Refinement shed, 
 A radiance from whose power dark Demons fled ; 
 And which, with jealous Malice they essayed, 
 T:> eclipse with Slander's fame-destroying shade. 
 E'en her imperial Hufcband's savage soul, 
 Was forced to feel their dominant control, 
 And the execution of his Hell-inspired design 
 Her taintless blood to spill, awhile decline. 
 Tis true her seraph charms could not assuage,
 
 
 REFINED BEAUTY. 23T 
 
 "he infamous Poppea's harpy rage; 
 
 Nor pitiful Tigellinus inspire, 
 
 Y/ith one warm glow of Feeling's noble fire : 
 
 skit their confederate machinations failed, 
 
 To force from wretches on the stake impaled, 
 
 Sufficient evidence to stain the fame, 
 
 Of her whose life was pure as solar flame. 
 
 So influential on the public mind, 
 
 The charms of virtuous Beauty thus refined ; 
 
 That when the imperial Tyrant's pityless power, 
 
 Hung o'er her harmless head with bloody lower, 
 
 And the fair Empress- into exile hurled ; 
 
 The indignation of an angered World, 
 
 Waked by the weeping Sufferer's cruel Woes, 
 
 In threatening .murmurs round his throne arose ; 
 
 Claiming the banished Innocent's recall, 
 
 And liberation from her captive thrall. 
 
 The monster's merciless mandate was repealed, 
 
 And her imfiressive Majesty revealed ! 
 
 or, acclamations .from a Nation's tongue, 
 As she returned, her joyous welcome rung. 
 The incensed Defenders of an injured breast, 
 Puli'd clown the proud Poppea's rival crest ; 
 Her statues tumbled headlong to the dust, 
 And called for vengeance on her crimes to burst; 
 Octavia's images with chaplets hung, 
 Bright feuilhige and flowers around them flung ; 
 Triumphant bore them through the sounding streets, 
 And placed them o'er the Temple's sacred stats.
 
 233 VIRTUOUS AND 
 
 Strong-visaged Labor sought the wine-crown'd board, 
 
 And viands rich and fruits the tables stored ; 
 
 Loud peals of Joy the trembling breezes sweli'cl, 
 
 And care from every bosom was expel'd. 
 
 A Sovereign, o'er the ample city throned, 
 
 FESTIVITY diffused her pleasures round : 
 
 'Till saturated with the vinous dew 
 
 Her Votaries from their sparkling boards withdrew ; 
 
 Unapprehensive that fierce Fortune's frown, 
 
 So soon to Death would bring their Favorite down : 
 
 Or else their vigilance had never slept 
 
 Till from her life the threatening storm was swept 
 
 The Rival Tigress stung with envious ire, 
 
 Inflamed again the /-Tyrant's slumbering lire: 
 
 Assassination, red with patriots' blood, 
 
 In readiness before the Monsters stood ; 
 
 And fiercely at their Hell-inspired behest 
 
 His gory dagger plunged in her white Breast ! 
 
 Again her influence o'er the public mind 
 
 Was evidenced by sorrows uncoufined. 
 
 All Rome was wrap'd in melancholy Woe, 
 
 And weeping thousands felt their anguish flo\r. 
 
 Like the portentous rumblings which presage, 
 
 The mountain-bwaliowmg Earthquake's bursting rage; 
 
 Indignant murmurs through the Nation ran, 
 
 And awed the Emperor and his fell Divan. 
 
 In every Nation and in every age, 
 Octavias brighten the Historic page. 
 In Grecian tablets, see fair Phitas's name,
 
 REFINED BEAUTY. 23* 
 
 Engraved in capitals of brilliant fame. 
 
 In her what lustrous graces were conjoined ! 
 
 What charms of Person, and what powers of Mind ! 
 
 While yet a young and inexperienced Maid, 
 
 Great Antipater deigned to ask her aid. 
 
 In exigence and matters of emprise, 
 
 With her was wont to counsel and advise ; 
 
 To her the powers juridical resigned, 
 
 And the great secrets of the State confined. 
 
 Afflicted Virtue, Innocence distress'd, 
 
 And Modesty by poverty oppress'd, 
 
 Her kindness and munificence engaged : 
 
 O'er them she w-ept and their keen woes assuaged. 
 
 The Macedonian Troops with faction wild, 
 
 At her approach grew orderly and mild ; 
 
 Distraction, tumult, turbulence and ire, 
 
 And raging Insurrection's kindling fire; 
 
 As if by Fascination's magic sway, 
 
 Her harmonizing influence could allay. 
 
 To Rome's records again my Muse returns, 
 To sing a page that with bright glory burns ! 
 'Tis her portrayed with such transcendant mien, 
 She sings; the lovely Palmyrenean Queen! 
 In Beauty Cleopatra's counterpart, 
 But her superior both in mind and heart. 
 Famed Odenathus well might feel her charm at, 
 Or in the shade of love or blaze of arms. *- 
 Her cheeks of clear vermilion-tinted brown, 
 And bosom softer than the Cygnet's down ;
 
 240 VIRTUOUS AND 
 
 Her voice of fine commanding melody, 
 
 Her lofty port and graceful dignity, 
 
 Her sloe-black genius-emanating eye, 
 
 And soul refined, magnanimous and high ! 
 
 These well a Warrior Prince's heart might \vin, 
 
 And sway the blazing Battle's thundering din ; 
 
 Might well the throne of Sovereignty adorn, 
 
 And life's inglorious occupations scorn. 
 
 Where in the page of past or present time, 
 
 Is found a sovereign's name less stained with crime 
 
 Or which to brighter ministerial fame, 
 
 And regal wisdom dare prefer a claim ? 
 
 Arabia, Persia, and Armenia owned, 
 
 With her a potent Princess was enthroned ; 
 
 Regarded her augmenting strength with awe, 
 
 And energy in all her measures saw : 
 
 Her martial skill with admiration view'd, 
 
 And for her Friendship and Protection sued : 
 
 Her counsel prudent, luminous, profound, 
 
 The Palmyrean prince with honors crowned ; 
 
 Shed lustre through the Battle's blackening clouds, 
 
 And pointed Victory to his bleeding crouds ! 
 
 Palmyra's Temples, Palaces and Towers, 
 
 In beaming pomp proclaimed Zenobia's powers. 
 
 Their crumbling vestiges and relicks grey, 
 
 E'en now her proud Magnificence display ; 
 
 And to the curious Pilgrim's pausing eye, 
 
 Who lingering sadly round heaves many a sigh, 
 
 Present material Monuments sublime,
 
 REFINED BEAUTY. Z4 1 
 
 Of high-spuled Beauty's triumph over time ! 
 
 For numerous Centuries armed with steel and flume, 
 
 Have not destroyed the trophies of her Fame ; 
 
 And when at length their last dim beam expires, 
 
 Her deeds shall live in History's deathless fires ! - 
 
 Her charms, by great Aurelian drawn, 
 
 Shall shine unchanged till Time's last glimpse is gone! 
 
 On Conquest's tide with bannered sails unfurl'd, 
 The dread and wonder of a warring world ! 
 With fierce intrepid legions at his will, 
 That haughty Ivnperor own'd Zenobia's skill ; 
 Confess'd his fears of her well-managed might, 
 Invoked the Gods to aid him in the Fight, 
 And doubtful of the Conflict's final fate, 
 In vain attempted to capitulate. 
 The Quern indignantly his pi-offers spnrn'd, 
 And bold defiance to his threats return "d; 
 To accept his proposition to retreat, 
 Though liberal, she regarded as defeat ; 
 Nor till the accession ol resistless Hosts, 
 Confirmed Aurelian's angry boasts, 
 With vengeance menaced her beleaguered bands, 
 And proved his power to enforce his fit -ret coum.ands; 
 Did her sublime- un or.quered spirits sink : 
 "Tw-is piui'ent then to fly flora Ruin's brink. 
 In haste sin' fled; but with eler."u- speed, 
 Was oveinLej, by mni;y a nmiM : i si rd ; 
 Arrested on tl,e banks of EUJ-! i ;t< s, 
 
 V
 
 242 Tinruous 
 
 And, sagely sad in dignified distress; 
 With majesty of mien and iofty head, 
 Back to the proud exulting Emperor led. 
 At length the Conqueror's glorious Victories o'er, 
 He Itf; the land of carnage, death and gore ; 
 And back to g-reat imperial Rome return'cl, 
 "Where Conquest's altars blazed and bonfires burn'd ; 
 Where trumpets peal'd and acclamations rung; 
 Where arches siione, with rich festoons o'erhung ; 
 And all a City's gorgeous charms unveil'd, 
 The grand Aurelian's glorious entry hailM. 
 'Twas vanquished Beauty's powerful splendors shed, 
 Such blazing honors rour.d the Conqueror's head : 
 'Twas not the captive Tetricus that crowned, 
 His brilliant fame and waked the applauding sound; 
 Tt was the achievement of the immortal deed, 
 Which from Zenobia's power the Emperor freed. 
 A c'eed whose glory now to celebrate, 
 In all the grandeur of triumphant state, 
 The v^st preparatory rites begin, 
 Ard Rome's wide regions tremble with the din ! 
 The morn of Triumph dawns. The trumpets sound, 
 And mingled music sprightly and profound ; 
 Transporting, martial, mellow, dulcet, gay, 
 Salutes with spreading notes the exultant day. 
 A thousand portals are unfolded wide ; 
 The streets are deluged with the peopled tide ; 
 The pavements tremble with thick-thundering tread j 
 And incense on the fragrant gales is spread.
 
 
 REFINED BEAUTY. 243 
 
 hest pride, by mettled Chargers drawn, 
 Careering Cnariots gilcl the dusky dawn; 
 On Victpry's altars slaughtered bullocks bleed, 
 And their ascending fat by fire is freed: 
 With thankful paeans the great temples sound, 
 And Mars beholds with gold his statues crowned. 
 The proud processionary order plan'd, 
 The march began obedient to command ; 
 The slow-advancing van in victor show, 
 Displayed the furry lords of Northern snow ; 
 The gentler natives of the milder East ; 
 An.l every kind of huge and swarthy Beast, 
 That roams beneath the blaze of torrid skies. 
 There gleamed the royal Tigers' threatening eyes ; 
 And ponderous Elophants with heavy peace, 
 In the grand Phalunx held tlie tVont-rank place. 
 Lo 1 next in order to the wild menage, 
 Are the actors on the gladiatorial stage : 
 A savage-heart teci| fierce, inhuman Host! 
 To sport with biood their tracie. their pridl, their boast! 
 To these succeed the ambassadorial tiv.in, 
 A splendid link in the triumphal chain ; 
 On embassy from various realms they came, 
 Where endless Winters blow or Summers flume ; 
 Or where those raging uncontrolled extremes, 
 Usurp no sway o'er Phoebus' milder beams. 
 In richest variegated robes arrayed, 
 The tastes of different Kingdoms they displayed ; 
 Tu proud Aurelian's pomp, their own combined,
 
 14* VIRTUOUS AN 
 
 And in the general praise, their plaudits join'd. 
 The Captives next of many a conquered State, 
 Proceed^ with saddened air and sullen gait ; 
 In humble-crested, long-extended ranks, 
 Alemmani Sarmatians, Syrians, Franks, 
 Egyptians, Vandals, Goths and Gauls proclaim, 
 The victories that emblaze the Emperor's fame. 
 In ti e sublime procession now appears, 
 The captive Queen ; her cheeks impearl'd with tears, 
 Her graceful limbs with golden chains compress'd , 
 Her languid head hung drooping o'er her breast ; 
 With splendid jewels decked her vestments shone, 
 In brighter blaze than when she graced the thron 
 That peerless form which Princes had admired ; 
 Whose charms, with love, proud conquering Chieftains 
 Which once had fierce embattled armies ied, [fired, 
 And worn the palm where wounded thousands bled ; 
 Now under loads of gold and diamonds bowed, 
 To catch the gaze of an admiring croud; 
 To swell the grandeur of the proud display, 
 And give more, glory to the Conqueror's sway; 
 That form) now vanquished, humbled and disgraced, 
 Whose beauteous neck a golden chum embraced, 
 Held and supported by a menial's ham', 
 Was forced to bear Submission** finblic brand I 
 Next in the grand processional y line 
 The vanquished Sovereigns' sumptuous Chariots shine. 
 Now, blazing in their splendor-Hashing rear, 
 iicauld the Conqueror's kingly Car appear I 

 
 Its sculpt 11 
 
 REFIN'ED BEAUTY. 
 
 sculptured wheels adorned with glittering gold, 
 In triumph once for Gothic Kings had roll'd ! 
 High on its sparkling scat the victor shone, 
 In pomp elate, conspicuous and alone ! 
 Four antler-crowned Stags with frontlets high, 
 To harness trained beneath the Emperor's eye, 
 In stately elegance his chariot drew, 
 And srmff'd with nostrils spread the odorous dew; 
 Gazed wondering on the unwonted croud, 
 And wildly hearkened to its plaudits loud : 
 With animation listened to the music's strains, 
 And pranced responsive to the gingling chains. 
 Proud Statesmen next in flowing purple stoled, 
 Illumed with bhizing gems and stars of gold ; 
 With haughty S.\r in the slow march advance, 
 Oft throwing o'er the Chief an envious ^hu.cc. 
 To them pronr.sr.uous multitudes succeed, 
 And give the Conqueror his deserved meed; 
 The Castle-towers with acclamations shake, 
 And make tlie rnarble-piHar'fl temples quake ; 
 Their shii ing bcsveis circled through the air, 
 While maids and matrons joined the rapturous cheer. 
 The mighty legions now in marshalled rows, 
 The prfat magnificent procession close : 
 Like some broad sea beneath red westering Sol, 
 Whose sun-top'd waves in sha ie and splendor roll ; 
 The armor-gleaming columns dark and bright, 
 Slow moved \viih measured step and crests upright ; 
 3
 
 246 YIRTUOUS AND 
 
 
 All cap-a-pee in warlike metal maii'd, 
 
 As when their strength the embattled foe assailed. 
 
 Their battered, blood-died breast-plates, trench'd with 
 
 Evinced their valor in the field of Mars ; [scars, 
 
 Their brazen bucklers' dimly gleaming beams, 
 
 Sword-sculptured dints, and javelin-furrowed seams, 
 
 Their veteran-visaged helms, and gore-stained-plumes, 
 
 Told that their arms had furnished food for tombs I 
 
 Steel-pointed pilums lofty, ponderous, bright, 
 
 Tip'd with the ascending Sun's quick-glancing light, 
 
 High o'er their towering crested helmets spire, 
 
 And flash in air like streams of vivid fire. 
 
 Long silver-co-ver'd pikes aloft in air, 
 
 The Empire's golden-pictured Eagles bear ; 
 
 Aurelian's rich embellished image too, 
 
 In graphic elegance waves high to view ; 
 
 And consecrated portraits drawn in gold, 
 
 For Chiefs whose Cars o'er conquered realms had roll'd; 
 
 For Claudius, Caesar, and Augustus ! names, 
 
 Enduring as the Danube or the Thames ; 
 
 In awful pomp on floating canvass blazed. 
 
 Strewn round, the Emblems of proud Empires razed, 
 
 With Painture's potent eloquence proclaimed, 
 
 How alpine Kingdoms fell and cities flamed ; 
 
 How Temples, Castles, Palaces, and Thrones, 
 
 Defiled with floods of blood and wrecks of bones, 
 
 In ruin round the carnagecl globe were spread, 
 
 And piled o'er armies slain and princes dead ; 
 
 As those tremendous Victors swiftly hurled 

 
 
 KEFINED BEAUTY. 
 
 eir sweeping devastations through the world. 
 
 To crown the splendors of the august display, 
 Magnific spoils enrich'd the grand array ; 
 Each conquered region's captured banner waved 
 To mark its former Chieftain now enslaved. 
 There Monarchs' crowns and vanquish'd Warriors' 
 The arms and regal ensigns of fallen realms; [helms, 
 There Asia's wealth in bright profusion shone, 
 And poured a blaze ere then to Rome unknown. 
 Here in sublime disorder, mingled dies 
 Of various-tinted diamonds dim the eyes ; 
 There in methodic symmetry disposed, 
 Bright tons of golden plate their flames disclosed. 
 Arranged amid the various spoils were seen, 
 The sumptuous vestments of the Syrian Queen ; 
 Rich flowing silks the pride of Eastern looms, 
 Resplendent coiffures deck'd with gorgeous plumes; 
 Embroidered cambrics, finely figured lawn, 
 On which each flower that scents the summer's dawn. 
 In variegated imitation blows, 
 And o'er the woof its mimic radiance throws. 
 Deep-crimsoned robes with snowy ermine edged, 
 Like plumes with which the bright Flamingo's fledged,, 
 Efl'used around their richly flaming rays, 
 And seemed consuming in a scarlet blaze. 
 
 As, through the assembled legions of that day, 
 Aurelian's pomp revealed its bright display ; 
 So, tempest-conquering Sol, his victory o'er, 
 And Winter's warring wiur hviutis erased, to
 
 248 
 
 Superbly blazing in triumphal state, 
 Throws widely ope the oriental gate ; 
 Ascends with rrfajesty the throne of Spring, 
 While hills with songs resound and forests ring ; 
 And from the zenith of successful pride, 
 Diffuses o'er the world his splendid tide ; 
 Wakes gladness 'mong the votaries of his reign, 
 And hears his praise proclaimed o'er land and main ! 
 
 Whence all this proud exuberence of shew? 
 Was it to laud .Zenobia's overthrow ? 
 Oh surely not ; it was to celebrate 
 The achievements which reduced her royal state 
 The valor, skill, and Kingdom-conquering might, 
 .Which sealed Aurelian's glory in the fight ; 
 Which nalhless her high power-controlling charms, 
 Her Prudence, Wisdom, Genius and proud Arms, 
 Triumphant bore her opposition down, 
 Demolished her bright throne and siczcd her ciown! 
 What eminent eulosi-lum on her r.-ime, 
 That an illustrious Emperor draws his fame, 
 His highest fame from an ascendant power, 
 His Hosts gained o'er het in a prosperous hour ! 
 
 But yet unsung the strongest proof remains, 
 Of her high influence. For when waj/d with chains, 
 And led on foot before the Monarch's Car, 
 Mid Conquest's vocal hum and mtling jar; 
 A melai.choly Captive drooping, taint, 
 Sublimely sorrowing, without groan or plain 
 Her languid loveluicss and beaming grace,
 
 
 JTY. 249 
 
 >ier half-concealed soul-expressive face, 
 Her humbled majesty and withering pride, 
 Attracting every eye ; she cast a cloud, 
 O'er the high spirits of the splendid croud ; 
 With softening sympathy's vibrations shook, 
 Their hearts' stern nerves and gloomed their gaybome 
 With pitying admiration and respect, [look ; 
 
 Their bosoms swell'd, and cheeks with tears bedcck'd. 
 Beneath the tender shower and woe-shed damp, 
 The flame was dim'd in Victory's golden lamp ; 
 The sparkling drops that trickled from her eyes, 
 Half drown'd the Conqueror's pomp-displaying dies, 
 And vanquish'd Empire secm'd temptation small, 
 1 or which to doom bo great a Queen to fall ! 
 
 But when the pomp rose through the imperial dome. 
 Still tenderer throbs shook the proud pulse of Rome J 
 *Twas P.ty's impulse at the expected fate, 
 Which seemed the unhappy Princess to await. 
 1 or by the practice of Aurelian's time, 
 To pui.ibh Usurpation's dating crime, 
 The Vector's vengeance, fraught with cruel pride, 
 Poured not at once its anger-flaming tide ; 
 Lut first its scalding, scorn-imbitter'd rills, 
 5*. low o'er the victim's naked head distils; 
 Tacn from the summit of triumphal power, 
 T'iC sounding Capitol's stupendous tower I 
 Us wrathful floods precipitately sweep, 
 A ii<! whelm the Capt'-ve in the eternal dcrpi 
 inch was the frightful fate Zcnobia feui'dj
 
 250 VIRTUOUS AND 
 
 But e'en Aurelian's heart was not so seared, 
 
 So dead to the fine feelings of the soul, 
 
 As to disclaim her charms' divine control. 
 
 Ti:c iiiipcrial Fabric's crimson throne was gained, 
 
 Anticipated death her life-strings pained, 
 
 Commiserating thousands wept around, 
 
 At every breath expecting the dread sound, 
 
 The annunciation of the dire decree, 
 
 Which was to doom her to Eternity ! 
 
 Before the throne the Conqueror bade her stand, 
 
 And frowning as to give the death-command, 
 
 Announced her pardon ! ai)d with royal tone 
 
 Bade her respect his laws and sovereign throne ; 
 
 Directed manumission from her chains, 
 
 And granted her the I>RIDE of his domains; 
 
 A sweetly-blooming, sylvan paradise, 
 
 Perfumed by gales impregn'd with odorous spice; 
 
 A lovely Vilia where the honored Queen, 
 
 Reposed through lite upon a flowery green! 
 
 In modern tonics of Poesy divinv, 
 And History sage the powers oi Beauty shine: 
 A cluster consecrate to Virtue's cause, 
 Of Female names, e'en now demand applause, 
 E'en now applause receive ; e'en now illume, 
 With Wisdom's beums the deeps of mental gloom. 
 A Carter, Seward, Williams and a More, 
 Adorn- the world with Learning's splendid lore. 
 Shall not Columbia's charming flowerets vie 
 With those that bioom beneath Britannia's sky?
 
 
 REFINKD BEAUTY. 
 
 icy shall. Already their rich petals spread, 
 And o'er the' land a dulcet fragrance shed ; 
 Soon will their spirit-breathing beauties flush 
 Columbia's cheek with Science* sweetest blush. 
 Shall riot Virginia's lovely Daughters share, 
 Coequal fame with Freedom's worthiest Fair ? 
 Ti.ey shall: for lo 1 where yon Coliegial ground, 
 With the Anne Smith Academy is crowned ; 
 A pledge is seen that Erudition's power, 
 Shall here exalt the charms of Beauty's Bower. 
 Ye friends of Liberty and virtuous LAWS, 
 Of Science, and Religion's sacred cause ; 
 Who feel wiuit sway the female soul refined, 
 Can exercise o'er the great PUBLIC MIND ; 
 Extend a free, a kind supporting hand, 
 To that sublimest f.ibric of our land ; 
 Its generous Founders' grand exertions aid, 
 And rear yourselves a name that ne'er shall fade. 
 Ye Fathers, Mothers, Guardians of the Fair, 
 Oh make their minda^ their deathless minds your care ! 
 Give them to improve, to polish and enlarge, 
 Beneath that Institution's nurturing charge. 
 On Beauty's cheek, there a salubrious clime 
 Implants a rose that braves the blasts of Time : 
 There scenery sweet, magnificent and gay, 
 Controls the feelings with benignest sway ; 
 And social manners there refined and pure, 
 Those charms impart which e'en through life endure. 
 There HYBKRT, Literature's fair Handmaid weaves,
 
 25" VIRTUOUS AND REFINED BEAUTT. 
 
 Intwined with odorous Vinue's virent leaves, 
 
 Perennial garlands for each Vestal's brows, 
 
 Who in her academial Temple bows. 
 
 With transport the predictive Muse divines, 
 
 That from that Temple's scientific shrines, 
 
 Its Votaries will in trains sue essive rise, 
 
 For life prepared, and blooming for the skies ; 
 
 Exhibiting to Man's admiring mind, 
 
 The powers of BEAUTY VIRTUOUS AND REFINEB. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 A few typographical errors may be discerned, which 
 escaped notice, in the progress of the work through the 
 Press : the following only, it is believed, affi ct rhc sense. 
 On page 44, line 882 when should be read whom. On 
 fiage 78, line 754 the name Edwin should be Melville, 
 and the same alteration is necessary, page 79, line 786 
 On page 91 ; line 183 in nome copies, midnight should 
 be changed to midway.
 
 University of California 
 
 SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 
 
 Return this material to the library 
 
 from which it was borrowed. 
 
 RECD LD-URL 
 
 MAR 2 8 1994
 
 UC SOUTHERN REG *L BffiMM 
 
 HI | II " 
 
 A 001372621 1