From all that martial feats could yield And with the embrace was satisfied. -Fly, ministers of Fame, With every help that ye from earth and heaven may claim! Bear through the world these tidings of delight! --Hours, Days, and Months, have borne them in the sight Of mortals, hurrying like a sudden shower -The shock is given-the Adversaries Lo, Justice triumphs! Earth is freed! Joyful annunciation!--it went forthIt pierced the caverns of the sluggish North With medicable wounds, or found their graves Upon the battle field, or under ocean's waves; IV Nor will the God of peace and love His drought consumes, his mildew taints with death; He springs the hushed Volcano's mine, He puts the Earthquake on her still design, Darkens the sun, hath bade the forest sink, And, drinking towns and cities, still can drink Cities and towns-'tis Thou-the work is Thine! The fierce Tornado sleeps within thy courts He hears the word-he fliesAnd navies perish in their ports; For Thou art angry with thine enemies! For these, and mourning for our errors, And sins, that point their terrors, We bow our heads before Thee, and we laud And magnify thy name, Almighty God! But Man is thy most awful instrument, In working out a pure intent; Thou cloth'st the wicked in their dazzling mail, And for thy righteous purpose they prevail; Thine arm from peril guards the coasts Of them who in thy laws delight: Thy presence turns the scale of doubtful fight, Tremendous God of battles, Lord of Hosts! V Forbear: -to Thee Father and Judge of all, with fervent tongue But in a gentler strain Of contemplation, by no sense of wrong, (Too quick and keen) incited to disdain Of pity pleading from the heart in vainTO THEE-TO THEE Just God of christianised Humanity Shall praises be poured forth, and thanks ascend, That thou hast brought our warfare to an end, And that we need no second victory! If on thy love our Land her hopes shall rest, And all the Nations labour to fulfil Thy law, and live henceforth in peace, in pure good will. 1816. "REST, rest, perturbed Earth! O rest, thou doleful Mother of Mankind!" A Spirit sang in tones more plaintive than the wind: "From regions where no evil thing has birth I come-thy stains to wash away, The Heavens are thronged with martyrs that have risen From out thy noisome prison; Of hopeful life,--by battle's whirlwind blown flow, Though, from the widely-sweeping blow, The choirs of Angels spread, triumphantly augmented. II "False Parent of Mankind! Obdurate, proud, and blind, I sprinkle thee with soft celestial dews, Upon the act a blessing I implore, Of which the rivers in their secret springs, The rivers stained so oft with human gore, Are conscious;-may the like return no more! May Discord-for a Seraph's care Shall be attended with a bolder prayerMay she, who once disturbed the seats of bliss These mortal spheres above, Be chained for ever to the black abyss. And thou, O rescued Earth, by peace and love, And merciful desires, thy sanctity approve!" The Spirit ended his mysterious rite, And the pure vision closed in darkness infinite. And scattered rural farms of aspect bright; And, here and there, between the pastoral downs, The azure sea upswelled upon the sight. Fair prospect, such as Britain only shows! But not a living creature could be seen Through its wide circuit, that, in deep repose, And, even to sadness, lonely and serene, Lay hushed; till-through a portal in the sky Brighter than brightest loop-hole, in a storm, Opening before the sun's triumphant eyeIssued, to sudden view, a glorious Form! Earthward it glided with a swift descent: Saint George himself this Visitant must be; And, ere a thought could ask on what intent He sought the regions of Humanity, (Albeit of effect profound) II And lo! with crimson banners proudly streaming, And upright weapons innocently gleaming, Of a fair female train— In robes of dazzling white; While from the crowd bursts forth a rapturous noise By the cloud-capt hills retorted; In loose fashion tell their joys; say, Thus strives a grateful Country to display The mighty debt which nothing can repay! III Anon before my sight a palace rose Built of all precious substances,--so pure And exquisite, that sleep alone bestows Ability like splendour to endure: Entered, with streaming thousands, through the gate, I saw the banquet spread beneath a Dome of state, A lofty Dome, that dared to emulate With starry lustre; yet had power to throw . While the vault rang with choral harmony, Like some Nymph-haunted grot beneath the roaring sea. -No sooner ceased that peal, than on the verge Of exultation hung a dirge And, though some tears the strain attended, In peace of spirit, and sublime content! IV But garlands wither; festal shows depart, Like dreams themselves; and sweetest sound So shall the people gather and believe And to the like aspiring, WHO rises on the banks of Seine, But they are ever playing, And stands on tiptoe, conscious she is fair, And stands amidst you now an armed creature, Whose panoply is not a thing put on, Stalks round-abhorred by Heaven, a terror to the Earth! II I marked the breathings of her dragon crest; My Soul, a sorrowful interpreter, Before the ominous aspect of her spear; |