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The native tribes—yet not at once subdued;
Its pristine strength long storms on storms withstood:
A Nunio's justice, and a Castro's sword,
Oft raised its turrets, and its dread restored.
Yet, like the sunshine of a winter's day
On Norway's coast, soon died the transient ray.
A tyrant race, who own'd no country[1], came,
Deep to intrench themselves their only aim;
With lust of rapine fever'd and athirst,
With the unhallowed rage of game accurst;
Against each spring of action, on the breast
For wisest ends, by Nature's hand imprest,
Stern war they waged; and blindly ween'd, alone
On brutal dread, to fix their cruel throne.
The wise and good, with indignation fired,
Silent from their unhallowed board retired;

  1. A tyrant race, who own'd no country, came,—before the total declension of the Portuguese in Asia; and while they were subject to Spain, the principal people, says the historian Faria, who were mostly a mixed race born in India, lost all affection for the mother country, nor had any regard for any of the provinces where they were only the sons of strangers: and present emolument became their sole object.
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