CCLI BATTLE OF THE BALTIC Of Nelson and the North Sing the glorious day's renown, When to battle fierce came forth All the might of Denmark's crown, And her arms along the deep proudly shone ; By each gun the lighted brand In a bold determined hand, And the Prince of all the land Led them on. Like leviathans afloat Lay their bulwarks on the brine: It was ten of April morn by the chime: As they drifted on their path There was silence deep as death; For a time. But the might of England flush'd And her van the fleeter rush'd O'er the deadly space between. 'Hearts of oak!' our captains cried, when each gun From its adamantine lips Spread a death-shade round the ships, Like the hurricane eclipse Of the sun. Again! again! again! And the havoc did not slack, Till a feeble cheer the Dane To our cheering sent us back ; Their shots along the deep slowly boom : Then ceased-and all is wail, As they strike the shatter'd sail; Or in conflagration pale Light the gloom. Out spoke the victor then As he hail'd them o'er the wave, Then Denmark bless'd our chief As death withdrew his shades from the day: O'er a wide and woeful sight, Where the fires of funeral light Died away. Now joy, old England, raise ! Whilst the wine-cup shines in light; Brave hearts! to Britain's pride With the gallant good Riou : Soft sigh the winds of Heaven o'er their grave! While the billow mournful rolls And the mermaid's song condoles Singing glory to the souls Of the brave! T. Campbell CCLII ODE TO DUTY Stern Daughter of the Voice of God! There are who ask not if thine eye Oh! if through confidence misplaced They fail, thy saving arms, dread Power! around them cast. Serene will be our days and bright And happy will our nature be When love is an unerring light, And joy its own security. And they a blissful course may hold Ev'n now, who, not unwisely bold, Live in the spirit of this creed ; Yet seek thy firm support, according to their need. I, loving freedom, and untried, Too blindly have reposed my trust : Thy timely mandate, I deferr'd The task, in smoother walks to stray; But thee I now would serve more strictly, if I may. Through no disturbance of my soul I feel the weight of chance-desires: My hopes no more must change their name; Stern Lawgiver! yet thou dost wear Flowers laugh before thee on their beds, And fragrance in thy footing treads; Thou dost preserve the Stars from wrong; And the most ancient Heavens, through Thee, are fresh and strong. To humbler functions, awful Power! And in the light of truth thy Bondman let me live. W. Wordsworth. CCLIII ON THE CASTLE OF CHILLON Eternal Spirit of the chainless Mind! And when thy sons to fetters are consign'd, Chillon thy prison is a holy place Worn as if thy cold pavement were a sod, Lord Byron CCLIV ENGLAND AND SWITZERLAND, 1802 Two Voices are there; one is of the Sea, There came a tyrant, and with holy glee Thou fought'st against him,-but hast vainly striven: Thou from thy Alpine holds at length art driven, Where not a torrent murmurs heard by thee. -Of one deep bliss thine ear hath been bereft ; That Mountain floods should thunder as before, CCLV ON THE EXTINCTION OF THE VENETIAN REPUBLIC. Once did She hold the gorgeous East in fee Venice, the eldest child of Liberty. R |