Classic Poem

Mistaken trav'ller, hast thou liv'd to gain
Deliv'rance thus, and seen these shores in vain?
From mis'ry, anguish, and despair set free,
Is this the tribute truth receives from thee? —
Has gratitude to Heaven no soft appeal
To make thy heart a pious fervour feel? —
Like the chill'd snake thou art, tho' mercy shine
It cannot warm a breast so cold as thine!
The life prolong'd, a venom still will shew,
And o'er the richest balm a poison throw.
But no! the christian's hope shall still prevail,
When base V OLTAIRE and counterfeits shall fail
Robb'd of that varnish which insiduous art
To cheat the heedless gazer, may impart —
When from the wreck of slow revolving time
Eternity shall rise with form sublime —
In that dread hour (the triumph of the just)
Shall infidelity be laid in dust! —
Ev'n tho' her armies shou'd their myriads pour
Like sands upon the sea's prolific shore,
The christian faith o'er ev'ry foe shall rise
And wave its conq'ring banner in the skies.