Celestialof or relating to the sky, the heavens, or divinity choir! enthron'd in realms of light, Columbia's scenes of glorious toils I write. While freedom's cause her anxious breast alarms ,To whom does the word her refer? She flashes dreadful in refulgentradiant; shining in quality or state arms. See mother earth her offspring's fate bemoan, And nations gaze at scenes before unknown!What was happening at the time in the American colonies that was new in the world? See the bright beams of heaven's revolving light Involved in sorrows and veil of night!
Washington Crossing the Delaware, by Emanuel Leutze
"In bright array they seek the work of war, / Where high unfurl'd the ensign waves in air."
The goddess comes, she moves divinely fair, Olive and laurelWhat do these classical references symbolize? bind her golden hair: Wherever shines this native of the skies, Unnumber'd charms and recent graces rise. Muse!a Greek goddess, in this context Erato, who inspires poets; classical poets often asked muses to help them relate a story. bow propitiousfavorably disposed; being a good omen while my pen relates How pour her armies through a thousand gates, As when Eolusthe Greek god of the winds; more commonly known as Aeolus heaven's fair face deforms, Enwrapp'd in tempest and a night of storms; Astonish'd ocean feels the wild uproar, The refluent flowing back surges beat the sounding shore; Or thick as leaves in Autumn's golden reign, Such, and so many, moves the warrior's train. In bright array they seek the work of war, Where high unfurl'd the ensignflag waves in air. Shall I to Washingtonrefers to George Washington, not the location their praise recite? Enough thou know'st them in the fields of fight. Thee, first in peace and honors,--we demand The grace and glory of thy martial band. Fam'd for thy valour, for thy virtues more, Hear every tongue thy guardian aid implore! One century scarce perform'd its destined round, When GallicFrench; reference to the colonists' defeat of the French in the French and Indian War powers Columbia's fury found; And so may you, whoever dares disgrace The land of freedom's heaven-defended race! Fix'd are the eyes of nations on the scales, For in their hopes Columbia's arm prevails. Anon BritanniaGreat Britain droops the pensivein serious or deep thought head, While round increase the rising hills of dead. Ah! cruel blindness to Columbia's state! Lament thy thirst of boundless power too late. Proceed, great Chief, with virtue on thy side, Thy ev'ry action let the goddess guide. A crown, a mansion, and a throne that shine, With gold unfading, WASHINGTON! be thine.