III. 2. Lo, steel-clad War his gorgeous standard rears! And mow through infancy and age; Penance dreams her life away; In cloister'd solitude she sits and sighs, The weak wan votarist leaves her twilight cell, Beyond this nether sphere, on Rapture's wing of fire. III. 3. Lord of each pang the nerves can feel, Canst thou, with all thy terrors crown'd, This remarkable event happened at the siege and sack of Jerusalem, in the last year of the eleventh century. Hume, I. 221. Flush'd with youth, her looks impart She smiles! and where is now the cloud Her touch unlocks the dayspring from above, And lo! it visits man with beams of light and love. ROGERS. FRANCE. YE clouds! that far above me float and pause, Ye woods that listen to the night-bird's singing, My moonlight way o'er flowering weeds I wound, By each rude shape and wild unconquerable sound! O, ye loud waves, and O, ye forests high, Yea, every thing that is and will be free! Bear witness for me, wheresoe'er ye be, With what deep worship I have still adored The spirit of divinest Liberty.. When France in wrath her giant limbs uprear'd, And, with that oath which smote air, earth, and sea, [free, Stamp'd her strong foot and said, she would be Bear witness for me, how I hoped and fear'd! With what a joy my lofty gratulation Unawed I sang, amid a slavish band: And Britain join'd the dire array; Though dear her shores and circling ocean, Though many friendships, many youthful loves Had swoln the patriot emotion, And flung a magic light o'er all her hills and groves; Yet still my voice unalter'd sang defeat To all that braved the tyrant-quelling lance, And shame too long delay'd, and vain retreat! For ne'er, O Liberty! with partial aim I dimm'd thy light, or damp'd thy holy flame; But bless'd the pæans of deliver'd France, And hung my head, and wept at Britain's name! 'And what,' I said, though Blasphemy's loud scream With that sweet music of deliverance strove? VOL. II. D Though all the fierce and drunken passions wove A dance more wild than ever maniac's dream? Ye storms, that round the dawning east assembled, trembled, The sun was rising, though ye hid his light!' Her arm made mockery of the warrior's ramp, Domestic treason, crush'd beneath her fatal stamp, Then I reproach'd my fears that would not flee; 'And soon,' I said, 'shall Wisdom teach her lore In the low huts of them that toil and groan! And, conquering by her happiness alone, Shall France compel the nations to be free, Till Love and Joy look round, and call the earth their own!' Forgive me, Freedom! O, forgive those dreams! One thought that ever bless'd your cruel foes! A patriot race to disinherit Of all that made their stormy wilds so dear, [taineer!To taint the bloodless freedom of the mounO France! that mockest Heaven, adulterous, blind, And patriot only in pernicious toils! Are these thy boasts, champion of humankind: To mix with kings in the low lust of sway, Yell in the hunt, and share the murderous prey; To' insult the shrine of liberty with spoils From freemen torn; to tempt and to betray! The sensual and the dark rebel in vain, Slaves by their own compulsion! In mad game They burst their manacles, and wear the name Of Freedom graven on a heavier chain! O Liberty! with profitless endeavour Have I pursued thee many a weary hour: But thou nor swell'st the victor's strain, nor ever Didst breathe thy soul in forms of human power. Alike from all, howe'er they praise thee (Nor prayer nor boastful name delays thee), Alike, from Priestcraft's harpy minions, And factious Blasphemy's obscener slaves, Thou speedest on thy subtle pinions, [waves ! The guide of homeless winds and playmate of the And there I felt thee-on that seacliff's verge Whose pines,scarce travel'd by the breeze above, Had made one murmur with the distant surge! Yes! while I stood and gazed, my temples bare, And shot my being through earth, sea, and air, Possessing all things with intensest love, O Liberty, my spirit felt thee there! COLERIDGE. |