53 



with the toils of the day, and oppressed by the weight of his ar- 

 mour, which he continues to wear : he is troubled witli a lethargick 

 heaviness, which he counteracts by exci'cisc, declaring that his 

 disposition to slumber in his post arose not from any intcmpci'ance 

 either in diet or in wine, as mouldy biscuit and rain-water had been 

 for some time his chief sustenance : and that he was accustomed to 

 make the moist earth his bed, and to divide his time between his 

 poetical and his military labours. He then relates the following 

 nocturnal adventure, which may perhaps be considered as the most 

 striking and pathetick incident in this singular poem : 



While thus I strove my nightly watch to keep, 

 And struggled with th' oppressive weight of sleep, 

 As my quick feet, with many a silent stride, 

 Travers'd th' allotted ground from side to side, 

 My eye perceiv'd one quarter of the plain 

 White with the mingled bodies of the slain ; 

 For our incessant fire that bloody day 

 Had slaughter'd numbers in the stubborn fray. 



As oft I paus'd each distant noise to hear, 

 Gazing around me with attentive ear, 

 I heard frooi time to time a feeble sound 

 Towards the breathless Indians on the ground, 

 Still closing with a sigh of mournful length ; 

 At every interval it gather'd strength ; 

 And now it ceas'd, and now again begun, 

 And still from corse to corse it seera'd to run. 

 As night's encreasing shade my hope destroys. 

 To view the source of this uncertain noise. 

 Eager my mind's unquiet doubts to still, 

 And more the duties of my post fulfil. 

 With crouching steps I haste, and earnest eyes. 

 To the low spot from whence the murmurs rise ; 

 And see a dusky Form, that seems to ti-ead 

 Slow, on four feet, among the gory dead. 



With terror, tJiat my heart will not deny, 

 When this strange vision struck my doubtful eye, 

 Towards it, with a prayer to Heav'n, I prest. 

 Arms in my hand, my corselet on my breast ; 

 But now the dusky Form, on which I sprung, 

 Upright arose, and spoke with plaintive tongue : 



