VIII.

But lo! a Congress[309]! What! that hallowed name Which freed the Atlantic! May we hope the same For outworn Europe? With the sound arise, 380 Like Samuel's shade to Saul's monarchic eyes, The prophets of young Freedom, summoned far From climes of Washington and Bolivar; Henry, the forest-born Demosthenes, Whose thunder shook the Philip of the seas[310]; And stoic Franklin's energetic shade, Robed in the lightnings which his hand allayed; And Washington, the tyrant-tamer, wake, To bid us blush for these old chains, or break. But _who_ compose this Senate of the few 390 That should redeem the many? _Who_ renew This consecrated name, till now assigned To councils held to benefit mankind? Who now assemble at the holy call? The blest Alliance, which says three are all! An earthly Trinity! which wears the shape Of Heaven's, as man is mimicked by the ape. A pious Unity! in purpose one-- To melt three fools to a Napoleon[ek]. Why, Egypt's Gods were rational to these; 400 Their dogs and oxen knew their own degrees, And, quiet in their kennel or their shed, Cared little, so that they were duly fed; But these, more hungry, must have something more-- The power to bark and bite, to toss and gore. Ah, how much happier were good AEsop's frogs Than we! for ours are animated logs, With ponderous malice swaying to and fro, And crushing nations with a stupid blow; All dully anxious to leave little work 410 Unto the revolutionary stork.