Resistless vigour, resolute and warm,

Strings every nerve, and braces every arm.

Foremost to vindicate the righteous cause,

And from th' oppressor guard their injur'd laws,

Thro' many a rolling century these have shone

Th' unfailing champions of the Swedish throne,

And now with all my forces singly cope,

Sweden's last bulwark, and her choicest hope.

[Pg 28]

No trivial loss their courage will alarm,

No threatening martial show their minds disarm,

And bribes, those glittering, oft successful darts,

Will find no entrance to their guarded hearts.

No—fields must smoke, and blood in torrents flow,

Ere all our force can master such a foe."

More had he said, but, with indignant heat

Inspired, Ernestus started from his seat:

His soul's resistless ardour bade him rise,

His kindling soul came rushing to his eyes—

"Yes! fresh domains to ruin must succeed,

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