Spring! thy impatient bloom restrain, br Nor wake so soon thy genial pow'r, br For, deeds of death must hail thy reign, br And clouds of fate around thee low'r. br Alas! not all thy store of charms br For patriot hearts can comfort find, br Or lull to peace the dread alarms br Which rack the friends of human kind. br In vain thy balmy breath to me br Scents with its sweets the ev'ning gale; br In vain the violet's charms I see, br Or fondly mark thy primrose pale. br To me thy softest zephyrs breathe, br Of sorrow's soul-distracting tone, br To me thy most attractive wreath br Seems ting'd with human blood alone. br Arrest thy steps, thou source of love, br Thou genial friend of joy and life br Let not thy smile propitious prove br To works of carnage, scenes of strife. br Bid Winter all his frowns recall, br And back his icy footsteps trace; br Again the soil in frost inthrall, br And check the War-fiend's murd'rous chace. br Ah, fruitless pray'r! thy hand divine br MUST on the teeming season lead, br And (contrast dire!) at War's red shrine br Must bid unnumber'd victims bleed. br But not in vain—if on this hour br The fate of Freedom shall depend— br If o'er this earth th' Eternal Pow'r br The scale of Justice now extend.