William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
To Captain David PorterW
On Asia’s shores their banners wide display’d,
Though Heaven denied success, their leader’s name
Has still rank’d foremost in the rolls of Fame;
Hence the retreat, the theme of every tongue,
Through every age and clime incessant rung;
With Zenophon the bard adorn’d his lays,
And gave the mighty chief immortal praise;
With him the historian graced his proudest page,
And bade his glories live through every age:
Thus thine, O, Porter, shall, in lays sublime
Of future poets, live through endless time;
Thy noble daring, though with adverse fate,
The rich, historic page shall long relate,
And the glad voice of freemen’s loud acclaim,
Teach lisping Infancy thy honour’d name.
—O, may, great chieftain, that Almighty power,
Whose shield was o’er thee in the battle-hour,
When round thee fell thy brave, heroic band,
Still guard thee safely, with protecting hand,
In future conflicts!—and in health restore
Thee to thy friends and happy native shore!