And spreads her arms-as if the general If, when that interference hath relieved him, air Alone could satisfy her wide embrace. Melt, principalities. before her melt! Her love ye hailed-her wrath have felt; He must sink down to languish In worse than former helplessness-and lie Till the caves roar,—and, imbecility Again engendering anguish, But she through many a change of form The same weak wish returns, that had [creature, hath gone, And stands amidst you now, an armèd Whose panoply is not a thing put on, But the live scales of a portentous nature; That, having wrought its way from birth to birth, [to the earth! Stalks round-abhorred by Heaven, a terror I marked the breathings of her dragon crest; My soul, a sorrowful interpreter, rest, Seemed to bisect her orbèd shield, As stretches a blue bar of solid cloud Across the setting sun, and through the fiery west. So did she daunt the earth, and God defy! And, wheresoe'er she spread her sovereignty, Pollution tainted all that was most pure. Have we not known-and live we not to tell That Justice seemed to hear her final knell? Faith buried deeper in her own deep breast Herstores, and sighed to find them insecure! And Hope was maddened by the drops [lived rest: From shades, her chosen place of shortShame followed shame-and woe supplan that fell ted woe-.. Is this the only change that time can show? How long shall vengeance sleep? Ye patient heavens, how long? Infirm ejaculation! from the tongue Of nations wanting virtue to be strong Up to the measure of accorded might, And daring not to feel the majesty of right. Weak spirits are there-who would ask, Upon the pressure of a painful thing, The lion's sinews, or the eagle's wing; Or let their wishes loose, in forest glade, Among the lurking powers Of herbs and lowly flowers, Or seek, from saints above, miraculous aid; That man may be accomplished for a task Which his own nature hath enjoined-and why? before deceived him. By more deserving brows. -Yet so ye prop, As if the wreath of liberty thereon PASSING OF THE BILL FOR THE CLOUDS, angering yet, extend in solid bars Through the gray west; and lo! these waters, steeled By breezeless air to smoothest polish, yield Where ruthless mortals wage incessant wars. TO THOMAS CLARKSON, ON THE FINAL Is it a mirror?-or the nether sphere [thee How toilsome, nay, how dire it was, by Is known, by none, perhaps, so feelingiy; But thou, who, starting in thy fervent prime, Didst first lead forth this pilgrimage sublime, With unabating effort, see, the palm A great man's happiness; thy zeal shall find Repose at length, firm friend of human kind! A PROPHECY. FEBRUARY, 1807. HIGH deeds, O Germans, are to come from you! near; [the reeds, Great Pan himself low-whispering through Be thankful, thou; for if unholy deeds Ravage the world, tranquillity is here!" 44 trace Go back to antique ages, if thine eyes For his field-pastime, high and absolute, While, to dislodge his game, cities are sacked! [found, COMPOSED WHILE THE AUTHOR WAS Thus in your books the record shall be "A watchword was pronounced, a potent sound, [dew ARMINIUS!-all the people quaked like Stirred by the breeze-they rose a nation, true, ENGAGED IN WRITING A TRACT OCCASIONED BY THE CONVENTION OF CINTRA, 1808. enslave NOT 'mid the world's vain objects! that [vaunted skill The free-born soul,-that world whose In selfish interest perverts the will, Whose factions lead astray the wise and brave; [trance; True to herself-the mighty Germany, She of the Danube and the Northern sea, She rose, and off at once the yoke she threw. All power was given her in the dreadful Those new-born kings she withered like a [shame Woe to them all! but heaviest woe and To that Bavarian who did first advance flame." His banner in accursed league with France, First open traitor to a sacred name! Not there! but in dark wood and rocky cave, And hollow vale which foaming torrents fill With omnipresent murmur as they rave Down their steep beds, that never shall be still: Here, mighty nature! in this school sublime I weigh the hopes and fears of suffering Spain: For her consult the auguries of time, And through the human heart explore my | Like echo, when the hunter-train at dawn way, [may, Have roused her from her sleep: and And look and listen-gathering, whence I forest-lawn, [resound Triumph, and thoughts no bondage can Cliffs, woods, and caves her viewless steps restrain. And babble of her pastime !-On, dread power! OF mortal parents is the hero born When dreary darkness is discomfited: see! Hills, torrents, woods, embodied to bemock ADVANCE-Come forth from thy Tyrolean With such invisible motion speed thy flight, Through hanging clouds, from craggy height to height, [herdsman's bower, Through the green vales and through the That all the Alps may gladden in thy might, Here, there, and in all places at one hour. Ah, no! though nature's dread protection fails, HAIL, Zaragoza! If with unwet eye We can approach, thy sorrow to behoid, Yet is the heart not pitiless nor cold; Such spectacle demands not tear or sigh. These desolate remains are trophies high Of more than martial courage in the breast Of peaceful civic virtue. they atttest Thy matchless worth to all posterity. Blood flowed before thy sight without re[heaved Disease consumed thy vitals; war up. The bread which without industry they find. The ground beneath thee with volcanic There is a bulwark in the soul. This knew morse; force; Dread trials! yet encountered and sustained SAY, what is honour?-"Tis the finest sense Stoop their proud heads, but not unto the A foe's most favourite purpose to fulfil : course, BRAVE Schill! by death delivered, take thy | Internal darkness and unquiet breath; flight. [rest And, if old judgments keep their sacred From Prussia's timid region. Go, and [cipitate With heroes mid the islands of the blest, Him from that height shall Heaven preOr in the fields of empyrean light. By violent and ignominious death. A meteor wert thou in a darksome night; Yet shall thy name conspicuous and sublime, Stand in the spacious firmament of time, To whose all-pondering mind a noble aim, Is there a power that can sustain and cheer year, The captive chieftain, by a tyrant's doom, |