Miscellaneous Poems. IN THE ORDER OF THEIR COMPOSITION OR PUBLICATION. The Violet. [1797-] THE violet in her greenwood bower, Where birchen boughs with hazels mingle, May boast itself the fairest flower In glen or copse or forest dingle. Though fair her gems of azure hue, Beneath the dewdrop's weight reclining, I've seen an eye of lovelier blue, More sweet through watery lustre shining. The summer sun that dew shall dry Ere yet the day be past its morrow, Nor longer in my false love's eye Remained the tear of parting sorrow. To a Lady. WITH FLOWERS FROM A ROMAN WALL. [1797.] TAKE these flowers which, purple waving, Warriors from the breach of danger The Bard's Encantation. WRITTEN UNDER THE THREAT OF INVASION IN THE AUTUMN OF 1804. THE forest of Glenmore is drear, It is all of black pine and the dark oaktree; And the midnight wind to the mountain deer Is whistling the forest lullaby: The moon looks through the drifting storm, But the troubled lake reflects not her form, For the waves roll whitening to the land, And dash against the shelvy strand. There is a voice among the trees That mingles with the groaning oak - There is a voice within the wood, 'Wake ye from your sleep of death, 'Souls of the mighty, wake and say To what high strain your harps were strung, When Lochlin ploughed her billowy way And on your shores her Norsemen flung? Her Norsemen trained to spoil and blood, 'Mute are ye all? No murmurs strange Mimic the harp's wild harmony! Mute are ye now? - Ye ne'er were mute When Murder with his bloody foot, And Rapine with his iron hand, Were hovering near yon mountain strand. The Norman Horse-Shoe. [1806.] AIR-"The War-Song of the Men of Glamorgan." RED glows the forge in Striguil's bounds, Barb many a steed for battle's broil. From Chepstow's towers ere dawn of morn And forth in banded pomp and pride In crimson light on Rymny's stream; |