William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
An Essay: ‘Here rests from toil, in narrow bounds confined’H
The human shell of a celestial mind—
Who, once, with splendour fill’d a scene so large,
And took the fate of empires in his charge:
A hero with a patriot’s zeal inspired—
By public virtue, not by passion fir’d:
A hero disciplined in wisdom’s school,
In action ardent, in reflection cool—
In bloom of years who gain’d a glorious name,
And reap’d, betimes, the harvest of his fame.
Before Quebec he chased the flying foe,
And quick as lightning struck their fatal blow—
By active valour made the day his own,
And lived to see the numerous foe o’erthrown.
Crown’d by just Victory, drew his latest breath—
As wont to smile on danger, smiled on death:
And having bravely for his country fought,
Died nobly as he wished, and calmly as he ought.
The troops around him shar’d a generous grief,
And, while they gather’d laurels, wept their chief—
Their chief, to whom the great Montcalm gave way,
And fell, to raise the honours of the day.