She was a maiden city, bright and free; And what if she had seen those glories fade, When her long life hath reach'd its final day: 212. LONDON, MDCCCII. O Friend! I know not which way I must look To think that now our life is only drest For show; mean handiwork of craftsman, cook, Or groom!--We must run glittering like a brook Delights us. Rapine, avarice, expense, The homely beauty of the good old cause 213. THE SAME. Milton thou shouldst be living at this hour: Have forfeited their ancient English dower And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power. Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart : So didst thou travel on life's common way W. WORDSWORTH. 214. When I have borne in memory what has tamed Great nations; how ennobling thoughts depart When men change swords for ledgers, and desert The student's bower for gold,—some fears unnamed I had, my Country!-am I to be blamed? Verily, in the bottom of my heart Of those unfilial fears I am ashamed. For dearly must we prize thee; we who find And I by my affection was beguiled: What wonder if a Poet now and then, Among the many movements of his mind, W. WORDSWORTH. 215. HOHENLINDEN. On Linden, when the sun was low, But Linden saw another sight, By torch and trumpet fast array'd To join the dreadful revelry. Then shook the hills with thunder riven; But redder yet that light shall glow 'Tis morn; but scarce yon level sun Can pierce the war-clouds, rolling dun, Where furious Frank and fiery Hun Shout in their sulphurous canopy. The combat deepens. On, ye Brave And charge with all thy chivalry! Few, few shall part, where many meet! And T. CAMPBELL. 216. AFTER BLENHEIM. It was a summer evening, Old Kaspar's work was done, And by him sported on the green She saw her brother Peterkin In playing there had found; He came to ask what he had found That was so large and smooth and round. Old Kaspar took it from the boy Who stood expectant by ; And then the old man shook his head, "Tis some poor fellow's skull," said he, "I find them in the garden, For there's many here about ; And often when I go to plough The ploughshare turns them out. For many thousand men," said he, "Were slain in that great victory "Now tell us what 'twas all about," With wonder-waiting eyes; "Now tell us all about the war, And what they fought each other for." "It was the English," Kaspar cried, 66 My father lived at Blenheim then, So with his wife and child he fled, Nor had he where to rest his head. "With fire and sword the country round Was wasted far and wide, And many a childing mother then And newborn baby died : But things like that, you know, must be At every famous victory. "They say it was a shocking sight After the field was won ; For many thousand bodies here Lay rotting in the sun : |