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THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES

THE

SIEGE OF

ZARAGOZA

&c. &c. &c. &c.

THE

SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA,
AND

OTHER POEMS

BY

LAURA SOPHIA TEMPLE,

AUTHOR OF LYRIC POEMS,
fife.

LONDON
PRINTED FOR

WILLIAM MILLER, ALBEMARLE-STREET

by w. bulmer and
st.

co.

cleveland-row,

james's.

1S12.

r'R

CONTENTS.
Page
Introductory Lines

3
-

The

Siege of Zaragoza
-

Youth and Age

23 28
31
-

An Evening Ode
The Joys of Faith The Feast of Gknullin
The
Interrogation

39

47
49
-

The Judgment Day The Soldier's Grave

52
-

The Years
Somebody
Solitude

to

Come
-

57

60
-

63
65
-

Fair Rosalie

Memory, Hope, and Despondency The Sick Man's Counsel to Youth

70
73

The Rose of Love

The Wish
-

77

79

The

British Stripling's

War-Song

81

K->*

CONTENTS.
Page

The

Warrior's Return from Battle

-

83

Woman's Love
The
Fall of Babylon

86
-

90
-

The Tale

of

my

Heart
-

95

The Days of Chivalry The Death of the Youthful

98
103

The Death

of the

Aged
-

105

The Withered Rose

Son?
-

107 109

The Orphan's Tale The Haunted Manor-House The The

Contrast
-

111

118
-

123

Victory

124
127

Despondency and Resignation

Song of Gladness
Reflection
-

130
132
130
-

Beauty's Grave

Time an Ode
Reason and Vanity
-

138

142

The

Vision

146

THE

SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA.

INTRODUCTORY
v/N
Was

LINES.

Spanish plains, by pale moon-light,

heard the sound of soft guitar,
in gallant trim bedight, to the tinkling minstrelsy.

While youth

Danced

And

often did that

beam

of night

Behold the blushes of the Maid,

The Maid who

listen'd

with delight,

To

Love's fond tone of ecstacy.

The

Peasant's cot in safety smiled

till'd his field

He

he pruned his vine

her sleeping child,

The mother

lull'd

And

all

was peace and harmony.

INTRODUCTORY LINES.

But

lo

the loud

drum

beat to arms

" To arms !" each Spanish

heart replied

From

song, from dance, from beauty's charms,

They

rush'd to wild-war's anarchy.

The

Spoiler

came

and
and

o'er their land,

;

His vulture-grasp of ruin spread

And

call'd his grim,

ruffian

band,

To

deeds of murderous revelry.

But

not, as wont, did Fortune's tide

;

Smile on that stern and ruthless pow'r

For ne'er

till

then the
of so

Demon
much

vied

With arms

bravery.

Pale,

but undaunted

all

the flower

Of

Catalonia firmly stood

And

in the battle's darkest

hour

Oft rais'd the shout of Victory.

INTRODUCTORY LINES.

And

old Galicia flung the yoke

off her

From

proud indignant neck,

Giant broke

Yea

like a starting

The

galling chain of slavery.

Abandon'd, and alone

she rose

And

gazing on the reeking plains,

Rush'd desperate on her tyrant foes

And stemm'd

the flood of misery. a

But who

shall sing

Thy

deeds of might,
shall tell

Fair, fallen Ci(y?

who

How

Zaragoza met the

fight,
?

Her watch-word Death or Liberty

Return, thou dark, and

evil

hour

To

Fancy's rapt, enthusiast view;

battle lour,

Again the storm of

" And

flash the red artillery."

INTRODUCTORY LINES,
Wizard of Song

awake awake

And And

hover o'er
bid

my

wild-harp's strings

my hand

such music make

As

suits this glorious history.

" Wizard awake

!"

the wizard came

But frown'd on

the presumptive hope,

Which deem'd my numbers, weak, and tame,

Might reach
this tale of Chivalry.

" Yet weave the that Wizard cried lay" " O till nobler bards arise."
sing
!

My

falt'ring

hand the cadence

tried,

And

roused this humble melody.

[7]

THB

SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA.

r ierce
Was

blazed the war!-o'er sad Iberia's land

spread Destruction's dark and giant hand,

Now

on her plains the bold invader

fair fields,

trod,

Sack'd her

defaced each household God,

tie,

Rent with

his

blastments ev'ry tender

And
"

basely proffer'd

Deatli

or Slavery.
call,

Rouse, Spaniards, rouse !" they heard the wakening

swore to vanquish, or to greatly
all felt
fall,

And

Youth Manhood Age

the patriot glow,

;

And

rush'd indignant on the vaunting foe

THE SIEGE OF ZAUAGOZA.

Rusli'd o'er the plains where ruthless slaughter stood,

Gloating with drunken joy on scenes of blood

And pledged
Or
die

themselves a ravaged land to save,

unbranded with the name of slave.

!

Lo

where the City midst her vineyards smiled

:

Prosp'rous, and gay, the sov'reign of the wild

Brave were her sons

a proud and noble race,

scorn'd the throb of fear,
:

Firm

in resolve

unsullied by disgrace;

Whose manly bosoms

Yet melted
at

the sight of Beauty's tear

full

That City own'd

many

home

of

bliss,

Endear'd by woman's smile,

by childhood's

kiss,

Where

fondness met the mild and matron eve,

And

listen'd to the lisp of infancy.

Sweet scenes! that were how short a time Sweet homes

!

to last,
!

uprooted by the whirlwind's blast

The

minstrel-lyre

may wake

a solemn lay,

To

tell

how

all

your joys were swept away,

THE SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA.

To

and pride, paint in strains of mingled grief,

How

Rapine triumph'd,

and how Freemen died.

waved
his

Long had

the war-fiend
!

sword of flame,

When
Blew

lo

to those devoted walls

he came

his shrill clarion

fierce defiance hurl'd,

:

And

all

the terrors of his might unfurl'd

Woe

to the battlements that

frown on high

Woe
Now
The

to

each

home each

heart of liberty!

swells

upon the

blast the horrid din,

yell that cries

" our work of death begin

blood our rapiers

!"

" For blood " Soon

for patriot

thirst,

shall those

haughty towers be

levell'd in the dust."

Sons of Renown

who heard

that demon-yell,
it

And

while ye listen'd

deem'd
his

freedom's knell

Heard red-eyed Massacre your doom forbode,

Heard the loud engines of

wrath explode,

10

THE SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA.

the dun war-cloud dim the noontide light,
dreadful brightness
fire

Saw

And
The

the glooms of night,

while ascended to the troubled sky

of agony

The bosom-rending scream

Sons of Renown
Say,
!

in that

tremendous hour,

did your firmness

lose its

wonted power
?

Did horror pale the

lustre in

your eye

Did coward weakness urge your

steps to fly

No

in your scornful glance high

honour spoke,

And
Ye

all

the hero in your souls awoke,

tie,

thought upon each dear domestic

And plunged amid

the fight, resolved to win, or die.

Proud

in

her sorrow

unsubdued by woe,
;

Brave Zaragoza

oft defied the foe

With potent arm

their dire approach repcll'd,

And many
Saw

a slave, and

many

a tyrant fell'd

her scath'd walls bedrenched with the flood

a Gallic traitor's recreant blood
:

Of many

THE SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA.

So

11

oft their

ranks retreated in dismay,

So doubtful seem'd the fortune of the day,

That Valour's Angel

rear'd his crest on high,

And

almost peal'd the shout of Victory.

But what
Which

is

that pale,

meagre form,
battle's

shrieks

amid the

storm

In whose eye and haggard mien

The

terrors of despair are

!

seen

Avaunt
I
I

avaunt!

know thee now

brow

know know

that care-contracted that keen

and hollow eye,

of bravery

Which

chills the heart

b
!

Ghastly Famine comes to blight

The

sturdy Soldier's

arm of might

Ghastly Famine comes to swell

The triumph

of the Fiends of Hell

12

THE SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA.

Wan

Disease, her steps attending,

Saps the frame of youth and health,

And, with powers of darkness blending,

Drains the Nation's richest wealth.

Weep O weep

to-morrow's ray,
;

Shall see the ruffian host prevail

Fallen Spain, to grief a prey,

Shall

mourn her

heroes, cold, and pale

castled wall

The banner'd hall, the

Shall soon be levell'd low,

And

children

maidens wives
all
!

all

To

slavery shall go

for courage
;

Not

yet

not yet
!

makes

One
Not

desperate effort more

the sword forsakes, yet th' enfeebled grasp

yet
is

Nor

hush'd the cannon's deafning roar.

But ah

the ruthless foe

!

Has

scaled the bastion's height

THE SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA.

13

And now around

above below,
fight
!

Deepens the deadly Yet

Full
still

repell'd
its

doth that

foul

band

many

a time

gory steps retread;

Full oft the ruin'd streets by valour's hand

Are ramparted with dead.

Again returns the hideous din of And red the blazes

!

fire

battle

who

shall fall

and who

shall

win
!

My fancy shudders
Ha, Fiends
!

as she gazes

and must your

strife defile

The

sacred

House of God

c
?

Must carnage

stain the holy aisle,

?

Where
Shall

Saints and Martyrs trod

his revelry
?

Murder hold

Within
Shall

Religion's fane

now

be heard the dying cry,

strain
?

Where

rose the

solemn Anthem's heav'n-fraught

14

THE SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA.

"

mercy

mercy cease the pray'r!"

;

Their hearts no mercy know

weep mourn violated Your Fathers Brothers Lovers

Weep
orphans

fair,

all laid low,

Yet unsubdued

alas, ye brave
!

Your

struggles are in vain

!

No no give us a glorious grave,

But not "
the tyrant-chain
!

Rally, comrades

for the cause

!

Of justice, and
Die

of truth

to preserve our Altars, and our laws

To
shield the dwellings of our
floors

youth.

The
Are

on which our children play'd,

;

stain'd with guiltless blood

Within our Temple's hallow'd shade

Rushes the battle-flood
;

The The

vineyards of our
Altars of our

toil

are waste

God

defaced

THE SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA.

15

On on
To gloryor

to

freedom or the tomb

to darker

doom

!"

The sword of valour gleams no more,

"Tis finish'd all
!

the

strife is o'er

The

patriot heart

is

hush'd in sleep,
wail,

And widow'd

love

may
faint

and weep
to tell

'Tis not for

my

tongue

How

long they struggled, and

how

well;

'Tis not for

my

weak hand

to raise

monument

to speak their praise

shall

Some prouder Bard

sweep the
fire,

lyre,

Some

soul of true poetic

Shall twine around the

column of

their fame,

never-dying

wreath to

eternize their

name.

16

THE SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA.

Brave Zaragoza

though thy sun

is

set,
!

Yet

ne'er shall Spain thy noble deeds forget

While, on her sad and desolated plains,

0)ie hireling slave of guilty France remains,

In the red combat's wildest, direst hour,

When
From

reigns around each fierce and vengeful power,

every tongue

may

thy loved

name be heard
!

Thou be

the Soldier's proudest battle-word

!

Brave Zaragoza

thou hast done thy part

Long

shall thy

mem'ry

live in ev'ry patriot

heart

In years long hence

when

this disastrous day,

roll'd
is

With

all its

tempest-clouds, hath

away

When
And

the dark history of this age

at

told

wonder'd
heroes

like

many

a tale of old

When

now unborn,

shall hear

with pride,

How

their bold Ancestors have fought

shall live in

and died

Thy wrongs To

many

a warlike strain,
j

bid the flame of valour blaze again

THE SIEGE OF ZVRAGOZA.

Oft as the Minstrel-harp repeats the theme,
Shall Youth's

17

warm

eye with wilder radiance beam,

Shall Youth's romantic

bosom heave the

sigh,
:

And

wish, like

Thee, to struggle, and

to die

When

his firm step shall seek the battle-field,

His arm the sword of Freedom

ce

stoutly wield,

Brave Zaragoza

!"

will the

Warrior cry

"

Thy Mem'ry nerve my soul

For Death or Victory

."

THE SIEGE OF ZARAG0ZA.

NOTES.
Note
a

Abandon'd, and alone

she rose
Spain, under

And stemm'd
That
desolated,

the flood of Misery.

and devoted
so

circum-

stances

of distress

intestine feuds,

convulsed by complicated, disheartened by frequent defeat and

left

treachery

harassed,dismembered and
a struggle so unequal, would

desti-

tute of the necessary resources and support

should,

in the hopeless extremity of her situation, at length

give up

be nothing but
that

more

than
of

we might

naturally

expect:

many
should

her provinces, like Catalonia, and

Galieia,

still resist,

with unshaken firmness, the concen-

tred force of the victorious enemy, and even obtain

signal superiority

on several

occasions,

is

a history so

new

in the Annals of

Mankind,

so far transcending

any

of the other mighty events that in our times

have

THE SIEGE OF ZAttAGOZA.

overspread the political horizon, that
the utmost stretch of credibility
to class
it
:

If)

it

seems to defy

and we are tempted

with the splendid prodigies of Fable.

Yet

amidst the wreck of suffering humanity, and the progressive horrors of triumphant guilt, with

which we

have too long been familiar

anxiously does the mind,

an eye of solemn contem-

emerging from the unfathomable abyss of crime and

misery, look around for the light that springeth from

darkness

and

fixing again

plation on the scenes of fierce

and disastrous contention,

behold a

new day

bursting from the confines of Despair

and Death.

Note

b.

Ghastly Famine comes to blight

The sturdy

Soldier's

arm of might.

Surrounded by every species of nun and calamity

involved in smoke and flame, which, confusing the

laws of nature, darkened the face of heaven

or glaring

terrifically on the spectacles of devastation, produced

the more dismal effect of nocturnal day

stunned

by

the hourly shock

of exploding

mines, or

bursting

20

THE SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA.

bombs

hemmed

in

on

all

sides

by falling

rafters, or

the blockade of dead bodies, which strewed every ave-

nue

Famine

and Pestilence

approached to aid the

work

of destruction
difficulties

with her

the
:

et the spirit of
fire

Zaragoza coped

of her valour, strength-

ened by the winds of adversity, blazed the more intensely

she

hurled defiance On the

foe,

and firmly
length by

confronted every danger.

Overpowered

at

numbers, the Zaragozians sunk amidst the ruins of their

City

but

immortality

is

the price of their blood

;

the

memory

of their deeds shall live for ever

yea,

the glory of Zaragoza shall be the inheritance of her

the trophy of their might. and the monument of their fame. Vengeance and Zaragoza, through the
sons,

vast

sweep of ages
shall

yet to

come,

shall

nerve the Host of

Spain,
land.

kindle the thirst

of noble enterprise

shall prove the tutelary fate of battle,

and crown with

never-dying praise the brave defenders of their native

THE SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA.

21

Note
Ha, Fiends
!

c.

and must your

strife defile
?

The
The
last

sacred

House of God

scene of the tragedy was reserved for the

St.

church adjoining the Monasteries of

Augustine and

Las Monica, into which the enemy having forced a passage, a conflict ensued that inundated the

pavement of

the Sanctuary with the mingled blood of Spain and

France

but

in the midst of the fury of carnage, the

falling in of the roof

seemed fated to

close the horrors

of the combat, and silence the groans of Zaragoza.

The

crash for a

moment suspended thought, and hushed

;

the scene in torpid consternation

but those who

es-

caped immediate death soon roused again to action, and

renewed the
received

fight

with unabated vigour.

The assailants
;

new reinforcements

every hour

yet the gallant

champions of Zaragoza

continued the defence, and

fallen comrades,

rallying round the sepulchre of their

still

performed miracles of hardihood and valour.

is

it

Noble

the picture and important the moral

that

teaches; but the Author here drops the pen, lest she

22

THE SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA.

should be suspected of violating historic truth to em-

Yet she

bellish a partial representation, or a fanciful hypothesis.

will not

cease to pray, that long after the

calamitous events which darken the present times, are

erased from the page of recollection, and every trace of those tremendous powers are swept from the face of

the earth, by the judgments of

its

Almighty Rider,

she
may

will not cease to

pray that the

name

of Zaragoza

still

survive

to strengthen the .-acred

duty of

repelling injustice, cruelty,

and oppression
is

and nobly

to prove that a nation's best defence

spirit,

in the firmness,

and independence of the individual.

YOUTH AND
YOUTH.
JNay, chide not
!

AGE.

old grey-beard, at hearing

me

dwell

On

the theme of
!

my

raptures and fears

Nay, chide not

the dream that you seek to dispel

Sheds light on the bloom of

my

years.

Let

me

grasp, let

me

gather, the fugitive flowers

That embellish the morn of

Let

my

day

me quaff the rich

sweets of those love-breathing hours,

Ere the nectar hath passed away.

AGE.

Fond

fool

heed

my

counsel

the counsel of one

life,

Who
Who

has proved the delusions of

his

wishing
alike

wearisome pilgrimage done,

its

Turns

from

joys and

its strife.

24

YOUTH AND AGE.

which the frowns

What

is

that thou call' st rapture

a thing
!

Of an

ingrate
love,

may melt

into air

What
The

is

but a sweet-bitter chalice that drowns

wits of the wise

and the

fair

YOUTH.

Ah

falsehood, thou Cynic

I'll

listen

no more
j

To

the heart-freezing words of thy tongue

!

Farewell

to the Sage,

with his wisdom and lore,

Who
Whose
Of

forgets that he once too was

young

rancour would sully and poison the springs

a bliss he

no longer can

taste

His glance o'er the bright earth who scowlingly And cries " 'tis a desolate waste!"

flings

AGE.

Yet

stay, thoughtless railer

yet heed

me
;

awhile

Ere thou

go'st

on thy journey of pain

stake not the peace of thy soul on a smile,

If thy soul

would

its

greatness retain.

YOUTH AND AGE.

Turn back from those
enamour thy

25

wilds that

sight,

And

the path of thy duties pursue;

for truth's steady light,

Quit the meteors of passion

And

bid

Fancy a

final adieu.

YOUTH.
Part with Fancy! no! no
!

have worshipp'd her long;

To

her

my

first

ofFrings were

made
!

Ah

ne'er from

my bosom

ah

ne'er from

my

song

May
And

the

beam
thou

of her loveliness fade.

steps

bid'st

my

from a paradise go,

?

To
Ne'er

the tame barren regions of truth

shall

they

I'll

yet pluck the blossoms that

grow

On

the sun-gilded uplands of youth.

AGE.

And how

wilt thou feel

when

the blush of thy prime

;

Hath met

the cold breath of decay

like

When

bowing,

me, 'neath the rigours of time,

Thou

waitest the close of thy day?

26

YOUTH AND AGE.

What
To

triumphs of virtue

what thoughts of the

its

past,

thee will rob death of

gloom

What

deeds o'er thy

name

will a radiancy cast

That

will shine thro' the night of the

tomb

YOUTH.

Oh

father,

my

father! the spell

its

is

no more
;

That around me

witchery spread

To
I

the heights of renown do

my proud

wishes soar;
fled
:

have dreamt

but my dreamings are

;

And

yet, 'twas a vision so beauteous, 1

its

weep

That

graces so rapidly flew

And am tempted
Would

to wish that the spirit of sleep

the dream of

my

transport renew.

AGE. Nay, mourn

not,

my

child, that the

shadows are flown

Through which thy blind

footsteps have trod;

scorn the vain toys that thy soul hath outgrown,

And

arise at the voice of thy

God

YOUTH AND AGE.

2J

He

bids thee the race of thy virtue begin,

shall

Ere time

have

silver'd thine hair;

He

bids thee, he bids ev'ry pilgrim of sin,

his

For the day of

judgment prepare.

YOUTH.
Yet hold
!

gloomy mentor

soft

whispers descend

To mine
They
tell

ear from the mansions above,

me

the task of

my

labours to blend

With

the sweet smile of soul-wedded love.

!

Return then, dear guest

and thy

station

resume,

In the folds of this sensitive heart

tomb

There dwell

till

the chills of the mouldering

Command

thee again to depart.

'28]

AN

EVENING ODE.
Ihou
Oft fans

summer Wind, whose

loaded wing

Rich with the treasured sweets of Spring,

me

at the close of
I

day

As down the glen

wend my way,

In calm, yet melancholy mood,

To

the green

home

of Solitude
!

Thou summer Wind

if I, like

thee,

Were
I

buoyant, strong, and swift, and free,

would not haunt the woodland bower,

drink the sweets of herb, and flower
loiter
;

To
1

would not
rolls

by yon

tide,

That

along in silver pride,

kiss a

Whose

limpid waters

land
:

Where

beauty waves her richest wand

AN EVENING ODE.
However
Its

29

fair

that land might be,

graces should not fetter

its

me

However green

vales

might shew,
;

To

other realms

my

wings should go

Should swiftly soar an awful height,

And plunge amid

the fields of Light.

!

Thou land unknown

thou world on high

!

might a mortal's curious eye

of thy day explore

The wonders

Learn when the night of death

is

o'er

The

joys that blessed spirits prove

:

In that pure scene of light and love

Pulse of my
Ah
rest,

soul

thy throbbings
!

cease
!

poor

flutt'rer

rest in

peace
strife,

Ah

rest

awhile

this

dream of

This
Is

little

twinkling lamp of
;

life,

wasting fast

the time

is

nigh
:

When

thou and doubt shall bid good-bye

30

AN EVENING ODE.
For mark

how

fast the

hours decay

How summer

seasons melt

away

Another and another year,

Brief flowers arise and disappear
;

Scarce doth the rose of

summer blow,
it

Ere winter winds have

laid

low

How
To

fast

do Time's dark pinions ply

reach that goal

Eternity.

31

THB

JOYS OF FAITH.
vJ
let me weep
!

Nay, do not chide the

mourning nature
this

tears,

The burning

tears that

gives

To woes
View

like these.

Look round
War,

ample Earth,

all its

scenes of anguish and of blood.

the ghastly fields
;

Go

to the fields of

When

drunken slaughter battens on the brave

Hear thou the groans

that rise from widow'd hearts

Made

desolate
a

look on those famish'd ones

That wring

Mother's soul with cries for bread

friendly

Gaze on the Wretch who hath no

home
forth

To

shield

him from the storm, who wanders

O'er the bleak world, biding the bitter blasts

Of penury and
That
tells

scorn

Hear the low

plaint

how

Falsehood's smooth and honied tongue

32

THE JOYS OF FAITH.

the maiden-ear

Wrought on
Robbed

how damned
proudest

arts

beauty's

bosom of
;

its

gem
thou cmist,

And

left

a canker there
to

Then

if

Forbear

weep.

O
The

when my mind sums up

deadly aggregate of crime and grief

nature teems
life,

With which our

when Reason's eye

cares,

Surveys the path of

marking the

The chequer'd
Our
passage to

ills,

that rise

and thickly crowd

it

the tomb, when

looks

down

On

the world's passing pageant,

and beholds

The naked and

the gilded misery

On

their sad journey through this vale of tears,

Sees foolish

Man

(of ev'ry vain desire

The

sport and slave) drinking, yea to the dregs,

The cup

of bitterness
lose,

then doth my soul

o'er

Her courage

and

my

stricken heart,

sorrow comes,

like thai

which once of old

THE JOYS OK FAITH.

The
Psalmist

33

felt,

when hy the

rivers

wide

Of

Babylon, the mighty and the proud,

sat

He

him down and wept.

Thou dream

of Life

What

is

there in thee that can yield delight

inly feel, as I

To them who
The woes

do now,

that feeble nature hath to bear.

What

though the dawn of youthful hope may give

its

Awhile

pleasant light

though jocund health

charm

May
Of

point the sparkling eye, and dearest

fond affection hold the willing heart

In sweetest, gentlest bonds

yet these

shall

go

Yea they

shall

go

What

mortal grasp can hold

The

toys that Hope's creative

hand presents
art essay

To charm

her Votary

or

what

To ward

the subtle shaft of

call

wan

disease
life

And O what magic

The
soul

again to

of withered love? Where

is

the

Man

34

THE JOYS OF FAITH

Who
Can

clasping to his breast the flowers of Joy

say,

" Ye

shall not fade

Time hath no power

To
I

scath

my

fair possessions

in my strength

proudly, safely walk !"

Child of the dust

Doat not on shadows

There
is

in this grovelling scene

bliss

no

real

and substantial

To

feed the craving soul

Her bourne of
her Father's voice

rest

Is far

away

here doth she sojourn sad

till

In piteous bondage,
Shall call her home.

Then praised be the Power

meek
of heart

That comes
Glad

to whisper to the

tidings,

is

in the

dark and evil day

When
And

there

none

to help, that sooths, assures,

;

mildly counsels

whose unchanging ray

life

Shines forth a beacon on the wilds of

To

guide the Pilgrim, as the watch-tower's blaze

Lights the lone wand'rer on his midnight way,

THE JOYS OK FAITH.

85

Whom

storms drive devious

!

Sacred Religion!
my bowed mind

Staff of the weary

Lo

thine hallow 'd form

Breaks through the gloom, and wraps

In solemn trance
;

Now on my wond'ring ear

o'er Zion's holy hill

tide of

music pours, rich as the song

Whose cadence swept

To

cheer the shepherds

who

at

midnight watch'd
fleshly fears

In Bcth'lem's vale

Fled are the

woe.

That compassed me, and weigh'd

E'en
to the depths of

my

spirit

down

Awake, my Lyre,

And

sing a joyful strain

sing of

Her

Who

brings the wretched peace, and turns to day

:

Sorrow's Cimmerian darkness

O'er my lyre

Some Angel

hover, and assist

!

my hand

To

swell the lofty lay

Approach, ye many,

Ye whom

the fickle sun of worldly joy

!

Ne'er warm'd

Come,

all

ye desolate

and

tell

36

THE JOYS OF FAITH.

cares

What, of your heavy load of

Lightens the mis'ry.

and pains,
!

O, ye outcasts sad

Who

mark with

wistful eye the plenteous feast

taste

That ye must never

who see the Earth

which bounteous Heav'n
fruits

Teeming with goodly

Gives for the use of

fruits,

all

and see those

Grasp'd by the Monster Power,

who

faint

and slow,

Totter to Plenty's gate, and trembling ask,

(x\nd vainly oft) the bread of
life

whose

tears

Water
Tell

the crust the proud-rich

man

bestows

how

the blessed hand of Faith upholds,

And
Of

leads your footsteps through the

:

rugged paths

sorrow

turning

all

your deepest groans

it

To hymns of gladness how

Futurity's dark veil,

rends away
to

and gives
all

view
dwell on Earth,

That promis'd hour when

who

And

all

who

rest within the silent grave,

Shall stand before the

Mighty One of Heav'n.

sworn to wipe away

When He

(the Just) has

THE JOYS OF FAITH.

37

His people's

tears,

and heal the grievous

ill

Of them

that are in pain.

Look on

that Bier

And

view yon mourner

who

with fixed gaze

!

Hangs
''

o'er the breathless clay for ever

!

" Farewell," he
love,

cries,

But not

we shall meet again

faithful spirits one,

That sacred covenant of truth and

That vow which made two

Ends not with

this brief clay;

!

O, gentle Saint
doating eye

Thou

yet art

mine what though the greedy worm

Destroy that form on which

my

Hath dwelt

delighted

what though

that fair cheek

Be

pillow'd in the dust,

Thou, beauteous Clay,

Wert but

the casket that awhile contain'd

My
But

treasure
tli'

dust shall to the dust return

ethereal flame,

that flame divine,

but not for ever."

Lit up by God's

own

hand, shall never die.

Farewell

38

THE JOYS OF FAITH.

Power Benign

Friend of the wretch

who

has no friend but thee

!

Father of the fatherless

thine arms,

Thine everlasting arms, are round the child

Who

loves thy

name.
!

Weep weep no more,

is

Thou orphan one

His hand

His eye

on thy path,

will ne'er forsake

despis'd of Men,
is

Droop thou no more

Thy Father
fallen,

in

Heav'n-

O when upon
My

this

unrepining soul

His chastisements have

when my

heart,

orphan heart looks round

like

this desert

world
',

And,

Noah's dove, finds not a resting-place

faint
I

W'hen
With

journey o'er the wilds of

life,

sullen Misery

my

heritage,

My
To

only

home

the Grave

O then, sweet Faith

!

Nerve

my

sick heart

and guide my weeping eye

so my soul

thy bright land of promise

Shall smile at every storm of earthly grief,

Shall triumph o'er despair.

39

THE

FEAST OF GLENULLIN.

1 he Minstrel was
Tbrough tbe
That

feeble

the Minstrel was grey

fire

Yet Age bad not dimm'd the dark

balls of Glenullin

of bis glance,
bis lay,
:

resounded

told of the days

and the deeds of romance

He
The

dwelt on the theme of the heroes of old,

chiefs

who were

foremost in striking the shield,*

They heard him

Its terrible

relate

how

the war-tempest roll'd

field.

wrath o'er the blood-streaming

* "

struck thrice

we rushed on,
fly

my

in the
;

echoing shield, the starting foe arose sound of our arms ; their crowded steps

over the heath

come

the strength of their arms withered away."

they thought that the mighty Fingal was Ossian.

40

THE FEAST OE GLENULLIN.

He

spake of the joy that the Warrior knows

gloriously falls 'mid the hills of his
harte, as
it

Who

fame

Whose

sinks to eternal repose,

his

Hears the praise of the valiant embalming

name

The Laird of Glenullin

And

his

claymore half drew,

;

courage flamed forth from his red-rolling eye

proud glance of scorn on the nobles he threw,

his Bride,

Then smiled on

who

sat droopingly by.

Lo

the measure
longer
it

is

chang'd

and

far dift'rent the

theme-

No

tells

of the death-dealing strife

sings of the loveliest

The

minstrel

now

dream,
life

That sheds

its

soft smile

on the morning of

He

sings of Affection

that pearl of the breast

ne'er can be melted
is

Which, when genuine,

away

The

pride of Glenullin

charmed

to rest

While thus

flows the tide of that old Minstrel's lay.

THE FEAST OF GLENULLIN.

41

THE MINSTREL'S SONG OF LOVE.

The
sun's last

beam had

left

the west,

Hie mavis long had gone

to rest,
!

When

forth I stole with thee, Ellen

Say doth thy heart remember now,

The warm,

the pure, the tender vow,

?

Which

then I breath'd to thee, Ellen

Dost thou recal that hour of

bliss,

The modest,
That

sacred, fervent kiss,

seal'd thy love for

as

me, Ellen
token dear,

Hast thou preserv'd,

Thro'

many

a storm and
I

many

a year,
?

The pledge

gave to thee, Ellen

I've worn the love-lock and the ring,

Thro'
I

many an autumn, many

a spring,
!

once received from thee, Ellen

42

THE FEAST OF GLENULL1N.

And now my

tried

and

faithful flame,

Returns the rich reward to claim

That once thou

proinised'st

me, Ellen.

The grey Minshvl

leant o'er his harp's tuneful wires,

And

brush'd from his dark eye the gathering tear,

flash'd
its

Then

wild glance with mysterious

fires,

And

again did the chieftains his sweet cadence hear.

turns the cheek of that lady so pale
sits
?

But why
She who

at the banquet,

Glenullin's
all

fair

bride
?

Why

fast fall
is

her tears on her golden-weft veil

fair face

Why now

her

with blushes

dyed

She hath gazed on the wand'rer, the warbler of song,

And
Yea,

she knows the

warm beam

of a love-lighted eye,
it

her heart knows the form

has worshipp'd so long,

to

But she thinks of Glenullin, and wishes

die.

THE FEAST OF GLENULLIN.

The
Still
still

43

bright-flowing goblet

blush'd on the board,

;

the sallies of mirth flew around undecay'd

To

the court of the castle fresh bridal guests pour'd,

grief of the white-bosom'd maid.

But none mark'd the

Her

eye once again sought the spot where he sung,

seat
it

But the

was vacant

the harper was gone

Round

the hall her sad glances she fruitlessly flung,

They met

not the form of the loved Athalone.

it

Ah

was

the ghost then of

him
to

she adored,

That came from the death-field

warn her away

Had

fate for

an instant her lover restored,

!

To beckon

her soul from the precincts of day

But what

are those sounds that tumultuously rise

Climb, Warder

O climb

to the battlement's height

And

say, thro' the blackness that curtains the skies,

What

object of terror

may gleam on

thy sight

44

THE FEAST OF GLENULLIN.

" Ah woe

to Glenullin

All

woe

to her chief!
!

And woe
Her

to her tall banners

waving on high

courts shall re-echo the wailings of grief,

shall be scatter'd

Her Clans

the foemen are nigh."

But who

is

that warrior
thro' the

whose proud-champing steed

as to share in the fight
!

Dashes wild

gloom,

111

Ill

bodes to Glenullin his terrible speed

bodes to Glenullin his claymore so bright

'Tis

He 'tis the

Minstrel

a minstrel no more,
young Athalone
!
!

'Tis the peerless in battle, the

" False
Give

traitor

my

soul's beauteous idol restore

me

back the rich treasure thou basely hast

stol'n!

Coward kinsman

my

life

hath escaped the dark snare,

;

Hath escaped

the foul blow of the murderous hand

Thro' the storms of the wave, and the wilds of despair,

The

exile returns to fair Scotia's dear land.

THE FEAST OF GLENULLIN.

45

On on

to the death-fight

Glenullin the proud

ill

My

brave trusty Clansmen but

Chieftain
is
!

brook delay;

Thou bonneted

thy crest shall be bow'd

Ere yon darkness

chased by the red beam of day."

Lo

they rush to the combat

the Castle's wide halls

strife,

Re-echo the din of the blood-flowing

Athalone
Glenullin
strikes the
is

death-blow

He
is

falters
life

he

falls-

low

and apace ebbs his

his

And now
Peace
!

his dark spirit for ever

fled

peace to

manes

his sins

be forgiven

And now

shall the lover to happiness

bliss, the

wed,

Taste the permanent

pure rapture of Heav'n.

She hath

told

him

the tale which they framed to deceive

in honour's

That her hero had fallen

And

proud bed;

her agonised bosom yet more

to bereave,

How

the stern voice of tyranny doom'd her to wed.

46

THE FEAST OF GLENULLIN.

(c

Never more

never more
in

shall the malice of art,

E'er sully with tempests the

morn
death

of thy hloom
will

We

meet

and not even

shall

we

part

Together our hearts

descend to the tomb."

[47

THE

INTERROGATION.
When
When
all

sprightly

Youth no longer pours

Her

rosy smiles on

me

that gilds her pleasant hours

Hath wholly ceased

to be

When Time

hath touch'd these locks of mine,

all to

And tum'd them

snow ;

Say, shall Affection's tide divine,

Through

this

fond heart continue

still

still

to flow

Shall Tenderness

lag behind.
flight
?

Unwilling yet to take her

Shall

Hope

still

shed

illusive light

Or

o'er

my

dull

and sober'd mind,

steal,

Will a cold twilight

forerunner of the night.

48

THE INTERROGATION.

Tell me,

my

heart, wilt thou forget

The?e fragrant flowers of

May

Or

lose the

Mem'ry, when
lit

its

beams

are set
!

Of

the bright orb that

thy summer-day

Shall words, and looks, that Fancy's eye

Counts over with a Miser's care,

Be swept from
Nor

pale Reflection's sky,

leave a wreck to tell that

it

" such things were

*'"

Forbid

Heav'n

when on my brow
;

Is

stampt the seal of Age

soft song,

When

Hope's

and passion's vow,

No more my
As

charmed thoughts engage;

in the west, at even-tide,

A
To

rich and purple

glow

is

seen,

mark, where

in the footsteps of his pride,

The beauteous Monarch

of the day hath been

to

Ah

thus

let

Fancy conjure

my

view,

The sweet remembrance

of these seasons fair;

first

Shew me

the scene where

!

Affection grew,

And

lo

mine eager eye

shall dwell

for ever there

[49

THE

JUDGMENT
moved out of their places And the Angel which
upon the Earth,
lifted

DAY.

" And the Heavens departed as a Scroll, when it is and every Mountain and Island were rolled together

up

his

saw stand upon the Sea, and hand to Heaven, and sware

by Him that liveth for ever and ever, that there should be time no longer And the seventh Angel poured out his Vial into the air and there came a great voice out of " It is done." the Throne
saying

Revelations, chap. vi. 10, 18.

Awake the night of Death

!

is

past

The Trumpet sounds

Behold
!

a final blast

the Heavens have roll'd away

to the

Come, Sinner,

Judgment-day.

50

THE JUDGMENT-DAY.

Yawn
The

wide, ye graves

and give to view

pale, the trembling, ghastly

crew

Yawn

wide

and

all

your dead restore,

is

For conquer'd Time

now no more.

Rise, Sinner, from thy bed of dust,

And

hear the sentence of the Just

canst not hide

Thou Thou

thou canst not

fly,

canst not 'scape

His wrathful eye

The

seventh vial

is

pouring out

And
That

hark

the universal shout

issues

from the jasper throne

Tis

finish'd all

His

will

be done.

Now those that wept

The
trial's

shall

weep no more,

past

the struggle's o'er

Now they

that felt affliction's rod,

Shall view the glories of their God.

THE JUDGMENT-DAY.

51

Arise

the night of death

is

past

'

The trumpet sounds

Behold
!

a final blast

the Heav'ns have rolled away,

to the

Come, Sinner,

Judgment-day.

52]

THE SOLDIER'S GRAVE,

OK,

THE

DEATH OF MOORE.
It
Come

is

a wild and lonely spot

Beside the ocean-wave

to thee

then

and

will

shew

A
No

British Soldier's grave.

marble there,

in

sculptured pride,

Arrests the traveller's eye,

To vaunt

the praises of the dust

'neath that sod doth
lie
:

Which

THE SOLDIER'S GRAVE.

53

Yet,

He

was great and good

no

fear

His manly bosom knew,

And

never

in a

sordid cause

His trusty blade he drew.

At Honour's
His arm

call

in Honour's
;

field

its

prowess tried

And

as the lofty

Hero

wish'd,

In Honour's bed he died.

The

valiant deeds

which he had wrought

;

Sweeten'd the pang of death

And

tranquilly the gallant Chief

Resign'd his noble breath.

He

heard the shout of Victory

raised a dying hand.

And
To

speak the triumph that he

bless his native land.

felt

And

54

thb soldier's grave.

* thy voice
!

"Farewell,

my

Country

may

my death approve Be mine the meed the precious meed,

My
life

A generous Nation's

love !"

'Twas Night and now the length Began

at to fail

Battle's din

And

fitful

gleam'd the cold moon's ray

a visage pale.

On many
* Meanwhile
Sir

John Moore, who had exerted himself

with his usual animation, fell, like Wolfe, at the moment of Victory. He was advancing at the head of the 42d
regiment, which he had just addressed
in

his death was occasioned by a cannon which struck him a mortal part he was carried to a tent supported by sashes. While his wound was probed, be said to an
ball

a short speech

in

officer

whom

time he had to

he desired to attend him during the short " You know I have live always wished

to die this way."

Although

suffering great pain, he ap-

peared eager to speak again, and the first question put by

him was

"are

the French beaten?"

of this fact, he exclaimed wiil be satisfied I hope

"
my

On being assured

hope the people of England Country will do rne justice."

I

Official

Account.

THE SOLDIER'S GRAVE. The winter-wind howl'd mournfully

Across that dreadful plain
;

55

Seeming, to Fancy's

startled ear,
:

A requiem
When
lo

for the slain

to drear Corunna's walls

!

A
And

mournful train drew nigh

tears of

manly sorrow

fiow'd

From many

a soldier's eye.

Silent

and sad
laid

They

with trembling hands the grave him

in

Then

sooth'd with one deep bosom-prayer

The manes

of the brave.

To

that rude turf let Spanish maids

And
And

Spanish youths repair ;

oft repeat the sacred

name

Of him who slumbers

there.

56

the soldier's grave.

And

wreaths of laurel

let

them

strew,

And

heave the grateful sigh,

to save

For him who died, their land

From yoke

of slavery.

Come

to the wild

and lonely spot

!

Beside the ocean-wave

come

and

let

us proudly view

A British Soldier's grave

[57]

THE

YEARS TO COME.
JV1y transient hour,
Is speeding fast,

my

little

day,
:

how

fast

away

Already hath ray

summer sun

Half

its

race of brightness run.

I

Ah me

hear the wintry blast

My
The

"

life

of life" will soon be past,

flush of

youth will

all

be

o'er,

The

throb of joy will throb no more

mistress of

And Fancy,
Will cease

my

lyre,

to lend her sacred fire.

My
For

trembling heart
skies of

prepare, prepare

gloom, and thoughts of care

58

THE YEARS TO COME.

Sorrows and wants

will

make

thee weep

And

fears of

age will o'er thee creep.

in

Health that smiled

Will cease
to

bloomy

pride,
;

warn

thy sluggish tide

The

shaft of pain, the frost of woe,

to flow
;

Will bid the current cease

And who,

alas

shall

then be nigh,
i

To
To
To

sootli

me

with affection's sigh

feeble

press

my

hand

in their's,

plead for

me

in silent prayers,

And

cheer

me

with those hopes that shed

Rapture

o'er a

dying bed

Days of the

future cease to roll

!

Upon my

wild, affrighted soul

!

Mysterious Fate

I will

not look

Within thy dark, eventful book.

Enough

for

me

to feel,

and know
u<>
;

That love and

life

must shortly

THE YEARS TO COME.

That joy
will vanish, fancy

59

fly,

And

death dissolve the closest

tie.

E'en now
I list the

while mourns my pensive rhyme,

;
!

warning voice of time

And O
Tells

this sigh

this start of fear

me

the night will soon be here.

[GO]

SOMEBODY.
VV hen
day has bade the world farewell,
of midnight hoarsely swell,
care,

And winds

O, with what deep, and earnest

I offer

up the whisper'd prayer,

For Somebody

And when,

with blush of orient dye,

Fair morning greets

my

waking eye

Far doth

my
a

soul her views extend,

And many

warm good morrow send

To Somebody.

hear of honour, virtue, truth,

boasted gifts of

The
1

many
1

a youth

hear and sigh

turn aside,

And

think, with mingled grief and pride,

Of Somebody.

SOMEBODY.

61

join the vain fantastic crowd,

And

with the rest

laugh aloud

They know They do

not that

my

peace

is

fled

not see the tears I shed

For Somebody.

Fortune

gay capricious power

Who
How

rul'st at will life's

I

chequer'd hour,
aid,

Might

one instant bribe thine

should the
lot

blissful

be made,

Of Somebody.

His destin'd path

all

strewn with flowers,

Fragrant as those in Eden-bowers,

Beauty and Love, with gentle wile,

Should pour their brightest, sweetest smile

On Somebody.

62

SOMEBODY.

The

praises of the

good and great

Should on

his graceful foot-steps wait,

And

ever on the breath of

Fame,

Should swell the dear, remember'd name

Of Somebody.

But

ah where do my wishes
! !

fly ?

Alas

not fortune's

wand have

I,

And
Is all

deep esteem that e'er shall

live,

my

doating heart can give

To Somebody

Father of mercies

save

save

And smooth

his passage to the

Grave

bless with thy

life,

Almighty power

The

and sooth the dying hour

Of Somebody !

[63

SOLITUDE.
1 o Wye's
fair

banks a wanderer came,

;

Cloath'd in the weeds of sadness

To whom
The The

forgotten was the

name,
;

pleasant

name

of gladness

languid look, the deep-driwn sigh,

Bespoke a heart o'ercharged with woe;

And

often from the downcast eye,

silent tears

Would
" And " "
" "

unbidden flow.
!

O receive
flies

thy child again

to

Who

from crowds
to thine

peace and thee

!

take

me

arms

and deign
!

My
Thy

bosom-friend once more to be

!

Yes Solitude
shades to
I

to thee I

fly

"

me

will ne'er

be dreary,

" For
Si

have roam'd the world's wide waste,

return,

And now

how

sick,

and weary

64

SOLITUDE.

"
(i

O O

let

me

sit

beneath thy willow,

!

And

listen to the rippling tide

"

be this verdant turf

farewell the

my

pillow

" And now

" And oh
!

dreams of pride

farewell the faithless gleams

" That

flit

athwart pale fancy's sky

"

Hope's meteor beams

flash

" That

and die

" The
'

kiss of

Friendship

when

she swore

No
The

time our hearts should sever

smiles that will return
seasons gone for ever"

no more,

" The
She

said

and

sat

her

down

to rest

Beside the

silver

wave

And
And

bared her wildly throbbing breast,

call'd

on Solitude

to heal

and save.

[65

FAIR ROSALIE,
OR

THE BRIDE.

txooD

morrow, good morrow, thou bonnie Bride,

All deck'd in thy vestments gay,

See, the broad sun blazes in
all its

pride

To welcome

thy wedding-day.

The

altar's

prepared, and the priest

is

there,

And
Then

the bridegroom waits for thee,

hasten to bind thy dark-brown hair,

!

Oh

hasten

fair Rosalie.

66

FAIR ROSALIE.

She hasten'd

to

bind her dark brown hair

the brightest dye,
that ladie fair,

With wreaths of

But pale was the cheek of

And

the tear was in her eye.

She dash'd

it

away

that burning

tear

With

that beauteous

hand of snow,

And

glittering in all her costly gear,

faint

She descended

and slow.

As a

statue pale,

and

ween

as cold,

At the

altar's foot

she stood,

And

they that beheld her, both young and old,

fair as

Declared she was

good.

bless thee

bless thee

thou bonnie bride,

Why
The

droop'st thou thy lovely head?

guests are assembled, the dancers glide, the marriage-feast

is

And

spread.

FAIR ROSALIE.

Cj

" And what

is

the dance and feast to

?

me

And what
And what
is

are the guests so gay

the splendour, though proud

it

be,

That waits on

my

wedding-day

" Will
T

it

make me

forget that gallant youth

W ho received my maiden
Will
it

vow

pay

me

for all the tender truth

Once

plighted

but broken now ?"

fair

cheer thee

O cheer thee,

Rosalie

For behold thy wide domain,

See the wealth and the grandeur that smile on thee, See thy
vassals, a

goodly train

" Will

the wealth and the grandeur that smile on

real joy impart
?

me

Any

Will the vassals that bend the

servile knee,
?

Will they cure a broken heart

G8

FAIR ROSALIE.

"

I think of the days that

have rolled by
;

Since we parted
I

to

meet no more

see the last glance of

my

Ronald's eye
shore.

Ere he sought a foreign

"

have sweet love-tokens (ah

precious wealth)

That dwell on

my

perjured breast

stealth,

With

miser's care do I view

them by

In the lonely hours of

rest.

"

why

did ye urge

me, ye Parents dear

?

To
Ye

break

my

fond maiden troth

to life-long

've

doom'd

me

sorrow

and fear

Of my

angry Maker's wrath.

" But

my course will

be short

from
;

this

world of woe

My

soul ere long will depart

kills

Grief surely
I shall die

though the work be slow

of a broken heart."

FAIR ROSALIE.

69

And

short ivas her course in this world of

woe

No

hand could

balm impart

Sorrow's Angel struck the unerring blow

She died of a broken heart.

[70]

MEMORY, HOPE,
AND

DESPONDENCY.
utrike.
And
give

Minstrel
soul

strike the chords

once more

my

some soothing

strain;

Yet not the

lay thou breath'd'st before,

:

That

roused alone the slumbering nerve of pain

arise

Didst thou but know what thoughts

When

that sweet Dirge I chance to hear,

How Memory
On many On many
And many

with reverted eyes,

Gazes through many a withcr'd year,

a hope in bright array,
;

That Time's rude wing hath swept away

a scene of calm repose, a

morn

that cloudless rose

On many
And many

a joy long since decay'd,

a wish by

wisdom doom'd

to fade

MEMORY, HOPE, AND DESPONDENCY.

71

Thy

voice would cease

thy strains would

die,

Nor longer wake

the nerve of agony.

Yet

strike,
let

Minstrel

strike the

Lyre

And

me

have that

lofty lay,
fire,

Whose
Entranced

whose notes of liquid flow

my
heart,

and

stole

my
!

griefs

away.

That

swell prolong

The pomp
Hath roused my
I find,

of Song,

soul from sadness

I

find

My
Glow
I

kindling mind
!

with a noble madness

pant to join the ardent band

Who
I

combat

for a deathless

name

long, with firm, advent'rous hand,

To

snatch the laurel-wreath of

Fame

Like those who wont, in days of yore,

To

breathe such notes as

made

a world adore.

72

MEMORY, HOPE, AND DESPONDENCY.

Alas

alas

The hope how

rich

vain

Of mine no

and mellow'd
of Glory

strain,

Shall win the

meed

Alas

alas my humble name

!

Will never swell the trump of fame,

Nor

shine in distant story

!

Cease, Minstrel, cease the lofty lay

My
The

high resolves have past away;

flame of hope no more within

me

burns,

To

my drooping soul returns, earth, to grovelling earth

[73

THE

SICK MAN'S

COUNSEL

TO YOUTH.

Why
To

art

thou sad

the fields of
;

life

thee are fresh and fair

dost thou to thy

Why

bosom clasp
?

The demon

of despair

are thine

While health and strength

Yet pours
its

while youth

jocund

ray,

peace should crown thy balmy night,

And

rapture gild thy day.

The

breath of spring

the summer's bloom,

tomb,

Alike must yield delight;

But he who hastens

to the

Drinks not their beauties bright.

74

THE SICK-MAN'S COUNSEL TO YOUTH.

Nor breath
Avails
of spring, nor summer's rose
health
is

when

fled

In vain, in vain to

wan

disease,

Are

all their glories

spread.

Ah

waste not then the precious store

idle, fruitless

In

woe

While health and

virtue smile, thy tears

Have no

just cause to flow.

For thee the bounteous hand of Heav'n

Lights up the genial day
!

And

would'st thou, fool, ah would'st thou turn

From

Nature's feast away

I once, like thee, in love deceived,

The path

of sadness trod

Forgot each duty, spurn'd each joy,

And murmur'd

at

my God.

THE SICK-MAN'S COUNSEL TO YOUTH.

But

f5

lo

He came

on

fiery
!

wing

My
My

foolishness to quell

Before his chastisements of wrath,

pigmy sorrows

fell.

His mighty arm my

strength laid low,

And

wither' d

up

my

prime;

His anger

turn'd these locks to snow,

And

not the hand of Time.

Then

did

think of days mis-spent,

Occasions long gone by.

And

wish that

had sooth'd the heart

Of drooping

misery.

No

deed of mine, no generous deed,

cheer'd the breast of woe,

Had
For

selfish griefs, for selfish cares,

My tears

had wont

to flow.

76

THE SICK-MAN'S COUNSEL TO YOUTH,

And now upon my

lone death-bed
I
?

What
What

bosom-stores have

soothing whispers of the past,

food for

What

memory

gaze upon

this

hollow eye,
!

Dimm'd by
And husband

severest dole

well thy

morn of
soul.

life,

That seed-time of the

Shake

off thy griefs,

and feed the poor,

And
So

chase the orphan's sigh,

shalt thou grasp an envied wreath

Of flowers

that never die.

77

THE

ROSE OF LOVE.
Lxo, Rose of Love
!

and grace some other breast,

be prest
!

No
I

more

to

mine
well

shall thy bright leaves

fast

know

full

how

thy sweets decay,

;

How

soon thy beauty vanisheth away

And my To

romantic soul would never bear

view the ruins of a

shalt not render

gem

so fair.
!

Thou

me
!

a wretch forlorn
I

Go, Rose of Love

Could
I

ere

have

felt

thy thorn.

believe thy brilliant hues would last,

Might'st thou survive, unshaken by the blast

Of

time and fate

Ah

then delicious flower

With

joyous haste I'd plant thee in

my

bower.

78

THE ROSE OF LOVE.

Thy charms

should ne'er
I

my

ravish'd sight depart,

For ever would

clasp thee to
!

my
!

heart
!

But
I

as

it is

sweet bud
dare not
!

adieu

adieu

may

not,

sip thy

heavenly dew

Go, Rose of Love

and grace some other breast

No

more

to

mine must thy bright

leaves be prest.

[79]

THE WISH.
\J

would

were a

little

Babe
!

Once more upon my mother's knee

Clinging unto the sacred breast

Which

nourished me.

wish that time would dawn again,

I

When

nor fear nor anguish

knew ;

When

every tear was soon dispersed

Like morning dew.

hour of Infancy
riper age
ill

Sweet calm

That

must never know ;

for

How

exchanged

manhood's

care,

And

days of woe.

80

THE WISH.

How
That

ill

exchanged

for Reason's lore,

leads the wilder'd heart astray;

ill

How

exchanged

for

Hope's

soft song,

And

meteor

ray.

How

ill

exchanged

for Passion's

dream,

For Siren Pleasure's transient

bliss;

How

ill

exchanged

for Friendship's smile,

And

Judas'

kiss.

O, would

were a

little

Babe,
!

Once more upon my

mother's knee

Clinging unto the sacred breast

Which

nourish' d

me.

[81

THE BRITISH STRIPLING'S

WAR-SONG.

JDehold
The

the

young Hero who

flies

to the battle,

foe of his country to

is

meet

How

proud

the glance of that eye as he passes

It dreads not the

shame of

defeat.

"

Farewell to thy green

hills,

thou island of beauty

!

Thou
In
spirit

land where
I

my

forefathers sleep

undaunted

rush to the death-field,

The

harvest of valour to reap.

"

Thy

hearths shall be circled by love and by friendship,

sacred thy altars shall be
;

Still

Or

the red plain of carnage, where

lie

my brave comrades,

Shall serve as a pillow to me.

82

THE BRITISH STRIPLING^ WAR-SONG.

with pride and with conquest,
shall

"

Begone, ye dark bodings

The

blade of

my

good sword

glow ;
slaughter,

While shame, and the ravaging Demon of

Shall seize on the insolent foe.

"

My

Country

farewell

o'er thy hills

and thy

vallies,

The branches

of Liberty

wave

Unfell'd by the tyrant

still

shall they flourish,

!"

Or thou

field

of

War, be my grave

[83]

THE

WARRIOR'S RETURN FROM BATTLE.

Tl o m e,
And
Warrior,

home

now

the

combat

is

ended

under the shade of thy laurels repose

of battle with carnage
is

The Demon

sated,

'Tis time that the day of thy labour should close.

The

wife of thy

bosom

shall

watch

for thy

coming,
;

With

love's wildest rapture shall gaze

on thy face

Thy

children shall lisp out the

name

of their father,

And

struggle to share in a father's embrace.

Speed, Warrior, speed

why

that dark look of sorrow?

;

thy path with the garlands of victory strewn " Peace peace / nought but the shades of the slaughtered think of Long long dying-groan/'
See
see
shall I

their last

84

the warrior's return from battle.

O cheer thee O cheer thee

!

for

Fame
drown

with her trumpet

all

Shall boast of thy valour, and

their cries

And soon shall the gore-dripping phantoms that haunt thee

Be chased by
the

beam

of thy Rosalind's eyes.

" But

met on the War-heath

wildly she bade

a poor frantic maiden,

And

me

her lover restore"

more
f

He was brave he was beauteous the joy of my bosom,

And
"
must

I behold

thee,

my

true-love, no

met too

Widow, who sought

for

her husband
;

Amid

the grim heaps of the weltering dead

in frenzy

She found him the mourner

was gazing
fled.

On

eve-balls

whose

lustre for ever

had

[ger

" Two orphans clung round

her

with coldandwith

hun-

The famishing wretches

did bitterly weep,

And

oft

would they

kiss

the pale cheek of the murder'd,

And

wish that their father would wake from his sleep.

THE WARRIOR'S RETURN FROM BATTLE.

" Are
The
these then the horrible spoils of
tear of the orphan

85

my

conquest

the widow's despair

from the
field of

Must my

heart, as I speed

my

ravage,
?

Be wrung by the

grief of the love-stricken fair

" Adieu

to the

joy of

my

terrible

triumph

And
The

farewell,

Contentment, for ever

to thee

voice of

my

Country

may welcome
tasted

her Hero,

But peace never more must be

by me."

86]

WOMAN'S LOVE.
1

ell me

once more the moving

tale,

The

piteous tale of
that poor

Woman's

love

shrunk, and pale, With hopeless passion vainly

How
Maiden
strove.

Relate

how, milder than the dove,

his

She met

proud unfeeling scorn

And

tried to

smile though doom'd to prove

Mis'ry's most sharp

and deadly

thorn.-

Tell,

how with dim and

fixed eye
;

She saw him woo a

fairer bride

One who could

all

the

homage buy,
;

That worldlings pay

to fortune's tide

woman's love.

87

How quelling
She

all

her wounded pride,

his cold perfidy forgave,

And

breath 'd a blessing, ere she died,

On Him who doom'd

her to her grave.

Thy

story cease

no more
me
I

I'll

hear
;

Such sorrows
For
selfish

are for

too deep

man,

cannot bear
thus should weep,

That

faithful

woman

And from her pure

affection reap
;

No

other harvest than despair

early

That Fate her

bloom should steep

Thus

in irremediable care.

hapless

Woman

thy poor heart

Grief's keenest

pang must surely know;

Ah

couldst thou act the Stoic's part,

thy

And from

mind the

traitor

throw

88

woman's love.

Man
From

merits not the tears that flow

the fond Virgin's trembling eyes;

Her

stedfast faith
is

her tender glow,

His fancy

too coarse to prize.

Hope

not in

him

that e'er thou'lt find

The words

of truth

the flame sincere

can bind,
career.

No

plighted vow

his heart

Or check
Let but a

his passion's

mad

fairer

form appear,
;

And

all his

constancy gives way

Thy deepest sigh thy saddest

One

tear,

instant will not bribe his stay.

And

thou

art left

with bosom torn,

(A wound

that time can never heal)

soul forlorn,

With bloom defaced with

" To
feel the grief that

wretches feel"

woman's love.

89

To

droop

and only comfort

!

steal

From

the dark vista of the

tomb

Alas

that Fate should set

its

seal
!

On

those that merit gentler

doom

[90]

THE

FALL OF BABYLON.
"

A sword

is

upon the Chaldeans

and upon the inhabitants of Babylon and upon he therefore the wild Princes, and upon her wise men;
beasts of the desert shall dwell there,

saith the Lord,

and
it

it

shall

be no

more

inhabited for ever

neither

shall

be dwelt
Spoiler

in
is

from

generation to

for the Lord God of and make drunk surely requite: recompences her Princes and her wise men, hercaptains and her rulers and We would sleep a perpetual sleep not healed her broad have healed Babylon but she be utterly broken and her high gates walls be " Saith the burnt with the King whose name
upon
her,

even

generation-- Because the

upon Babylon!
1

come

shall

will

tlic v

shall

is

shall

shall
is

fire

Lord of

Hosts."'

Jeremiah, chap.

und

li.

JVIetii ought

roam'dthe crowded
;

street

Of Babylon

the proud

The laugh

of noisy wassail ers

Re-echo'd long and loud.

THE FALL OF BABYLON.

91

From gorgeous

halls I

heard the sound

;

Of

lute

and harp

arise

Where monarchs Of

sat,

who drank

the draught

love from ladies' eyes.

Loud, loud the

silver timbrels ring,

!

And
But
sin

mirth each heart employs

and blasphemy are there,

rude, unholy joys.

And

The

captains and the mighty

men
;

Are drunk with pride and power

Nor deem
Hath

they that the word of

God

will'd their final hour.

heard a voice go forth throughout

Chaldea's smiling land
;

saw o'er that

fair

City spread

Destruction's giant hand.

92

THE FALL OF BABYLON.

u

thou most proud

thy

behold
is

come

Thy doom,
Thou

doom

nigh

canst not turn aside

is

my

wrath,

The time

now gone

by.

"

but thou vex'd And mock'd the Lord thy God

would have heal'd thee
thy guilty tribes shall feel
of

And now

The judgments

my

Rod.

"

Thy brazen
The

gates, thy lofty walls,

!

spoiler shall destroy

rise,

is

And

groans shall
riot

where now

heard

The

shout of joy.

" The crowded

halls,

where now reside

Thy

wise and mighty

men,

Shall be the panther's dwelling-place.

Shall be the lion's den."

THE FALL OF BABYLON.

heard and vvorshipp'd

1)3

Of
The

these by sin

but the were closed

still
;

ears

Princes and the Rulers

In pleasure's lap reposed

The

laws their

Maker gave

to

them,

Beneath

their feet are trod

And drunk
They
cry

with foolishness and pride,

" there

is

no God

!"

lo
!

''

I sat

me down and wept"

when,

How
I

dim the noon of day

gaze, and find that banquet-scene

Hath vanished away.

stately towers
?

Ah me

where now the

Of Babylon
Her pond'rous
Her

the proud

gates are broken down,

lofty walls are

bow'd

94

THE FALL OF BABYLON.

Her crowded
streets are desolate,

Her Rulers

are no

more

halls

And
I

in her courts

and ruin'd

hear the lion's roar.

When

will

my

chasten'd heart forget

?

That solemn dream of woe

Ah

never

till

the

hand of death

Shall lay this

bosom low.

[95

THE

TALE OF MY HEART.
Ihou
Each
heart of

my bosom

come

tell

unto

me
!

feeling

and thought that belongeth

to thee

tell

me

the tale of thy hopes and thy fears,

The gloom and

the sun-shine, the bliss and the tears.

All, all that hath brighten'd or clouded thy fate,

Thou

heart of

my bosom

charge thee relate.

" In sooth

'tis

a story so gay and so sad,

;

A record
So

of seasons so dark and so glad

sullied

by

error, so

warm'd by the
life's

ray,

Young

tenderness flings over

I disclose to

rugged way,

That what

thine innermost ear,

medley of

follies

may

haply appear.

06
"

THE TALE OF MY HEART.

Well,

list!

O Remembrance thy treasures unfold

my
bidding the moments of old,

Call back at

And
And

lo
all

survey them

their spring-tide I taste,

is

the cold present

quickly effaced:

I hail the soft tint

Its

of each beautiful flower,

to life's first

perfume that gives

sunny hour

" That sweet hour of morning when bright-eyed Romance

!

Holds the senses of youth

in her

love-blooming trance,
it

That sweet hour of morning

and comes
?

once more
?

The proud

flowing tide of

my joys

to restore

Shall hope breathe her descant

her descant whose

trill

Promised blessings unnumber'd, and years without

ill ?

"

No

never

sad day when Reality came

that happiness

And
Alas

told
!

me

was but a name

happiness flew
it
!

as she spake,

how my

So

fast that I scarcely

could bid

adieu

My

pulse seem'd suspended

erst

how chill'd was the glow

!

That

bade

my

current so rapt'rously flow

THE TALE OP MY HEART.

" Ah me
what

97

shall I tell thee

relics are

mine

What

buds, that have blossom'd to waste, I inshrine

What once tender feelings now wither'd in death! All nipp'd by the blight of ingratitude's breath
No,
fool
!

thou hast whisper'd that secret of pain,

its

Hast dwelt on

sorrows again and again.

" But

soft

I ne'er told

thee

how Peace comes

woe
;

to

throw

Her

soft shining

beam

o'er the sabbath of

She chases She

my sadness

she makes me her

throbbings to

nest,

lulls all

my turbulent

rest,

And
"

bids

me
I

no longer in bitterness cry

would

were moulder'd

why cannot

die

?"

98]

THE

DAYS OF CHIVALRY.
" The age of Chivalry
is

gone

And the glory of Europe

"

is

extinguished for ever."

Burke.

1 he

days of Chivalry are fled,

is

And

Beauty's empire

no more

No
Do

longer in her fetters led,

mighty Monarchs tremble and adore

spirit

The high-toned

of those olden years,

Prompting the wild romantic deed,

For ever quench'd

no more

shall

Woman's
!

tears

Bid Valour rush

to conquer, or to bleed

THE DAYS OF CHIVALRY.

99

Ye

banner'd halls

where knights and

ladies fair

Listen'd the Minstrel-lay;

Where

bright eyes spread the gentle snare,

to decay
!

Long have ye moulder'd

O'er your
tall

battlements the thistle waves,

The

lute's

sweet voice

is

silent

now,

And

sadness muses o'er unletter'd graves

beauty's conscious smile bless'd passion's fervent

Where

vow.

How

silent

now

the strain

That mourn 'd the

fair one's

proud disdain

How

cold the hand that bade the cadence

for Beauty's sake
!

wake

That combated a world

The

heart that loved, the hand that fought,

;

Are mingled with the dead

Their sorrows now

their deeds are nought,

Their memory

is fled.

That, which was erst of every tongue the theme,

Now

lives

but in the Poet's dream.

100

THE DAYS OF CHIVALRY.

He

Child of Fancy and Romance,

Turns from
this iron

age

To

con a

fairer

page

That opens

to his raptured glance.

The golden The

years ere

years return once more,

ta'en his flight

Love from earth had

The Cherub wears

the smile which then he wore,

its

The Sun

of Chivalry pours forth

radiant light.

That Sun

will

never

rise

again
;

In Europe's stormy sky

The

nations

now

a prey to grief and pain,

Heed

not the lustre of proud Beauty's eye. of Discord, starting from his sleep,
his red

The Fiend

Bared

arm and swore

and
o'er the

That

o'er the land

deep

His legions he would pour

They came

and

in

a sea of blood

Quench'd the young, the brave, and good.

THE DAYS OF CHIVALRY.

I

101

saw the mailed monarch

fly,

Terrors flaming from his eye

I

saw him on the gory heath,

;

Brooding o'er the scene of death

I

mark'd

his

frown,

heard his troublous cry

victory.

His drunken shout of

dark, distemper'd years,

That meet

my

startled

view

O
When
And

dimm'd by blood and

tears,
!

By

crimes of deepest hue

will your terrors roll away,

peace once more bestow her lovely light?

Say

will there

dawn no azure day

terrific

To
Lo

chase this wild

night?

where winter winds are raving

!

O'er the pale uncoffin'd slain

See

where

Gallia's banners waving,

!

Mock

the grief of wretched Spain

102

THE DAYS OF CHIVALRY".

Heard'st thou the shriek that rose

From

Zaragoza's blood-stain'd tower

What

tongue can

tell

the wrongs, the woes

Of

that disast 'rous hour,

When Murder
And

waved

his

crimson sword on high,

held his dreadful revelry.

tear

Nor woman's

nor

childhood's rosy

charm

Had power

to stayth'

exterminating arm.
!

O O

History's foulest page

records of a guilty age!

tell

Records that

the coward deed

That bade the helpless and the lovely bleed

The days of Chivalry arejled!

A)id Europe's glory
is

no more
is

cloud of darkness o'er the earth

spread,

And

Mercy's Angel seeks some happier shore.

103

THE

DEATH OF THE YOUTHFUL.

.Death
And
"
I

came

to the

couch of the Youthful,

!"

am ready " the victim replied,

said
I

" Thou must go with me

"

am

ready to go with thee !"

Yet

life

was but just

in

its

morning,

The

race of existence new,

To

the Maiden, who, thus so calmly,

Could bid the bright earth adieu.

Perhaps, though, the sharp tooth of misery

Had
And

prey'd on her virgin breast

she long'd, from the arms of sorrow,

fly

To

to the cold grave's rest

104

THE DEATH OK THE YOUTHFUL.

Perchance she had writhed with the anguish

From

love unreturn'd that flows

Perhaps the keen

frost of indifference
?

Had

blighted her beauty's rose

No

Sadness to her was a stranger

blest with requited love,
to the

She was

Yet meekly she bow'd

It

summons,

came from

the realms above.

105

THE

DEATH OF THE AGED.

-Death
And
The
stole to the

bed of the Aged,

task
is

whisper'd

"

Thy

done

shades of the night

fall

around thee,

Tired wretch, to thy

rest

begone

!"

But the Aged with

grief heard the

;

summons,

And
It

begg'd for a short reprieve

was hard

very hard he murmur'd,

The

blessings of life to leave.

" And

what, are the blessings thou boastest,

close of thy wint 'ry day
it
?

At the

When

each hour, as

swiftly passes,
?

Beholds thee more feeble and grey

10G

THE DEATH OF THE AGED.

" When
the last gleam of health and pleasure thy cheerless path has
fled,

From

And

the friends

whom

thy youth delighted

?

All sleep with the silent dead

"

what

is

the hidden motive

so cling to
life,

That makes thee

And

repine at the gracious mandate

tells

That

thee to quit

its strife

?"

'Tis that life

is

an old acquaintance,
I

With whom
'Tis the

am

grieved to part

thought of
at

its

brighter moments

That throbs

my

partial heart.

'Tis to
I

me

as a

worn-out garment

am

loath to throw aside,

gloss

Rememb'ring the
It

and the beauty

shew'd in

its

days of pride.

107]

WITHERED
JD e
ii

ROSE.

ld yon

rose

yon wither'd rose,

May
it
;

So

late the pride of

in beauty's

No more
Its

garb

glows,

hour hath pass'd

away.

No more
To

the wild-bee checks his flight,

shrine
;

visit that fair

it

No more
With

strikes the ravish'd sight

blushes, pure as thine.

Yet

still it

charms the pensive heart

Far more than brighter flowers,

For e'en

in

death

its

leaves

impar

The

sweets of Eden-bowers.

108

THE WITHERED ROSE.

With holy
sadness and delight,

The

traveller lingers nigh.

To ponder
And

o'er

its

early blight,
sigh.

catch

its

balmy

For thus do Virtue's lovely deeds,

Give sweetness to decay
;

Thus do they

live,

when gaudy weeds

Have bloom'd

and pass'd away.

its little

Pride can but fret

hour
;

And

share the general

fair

doom

But Virtue's

and fragrant flower

Can triumph

o'er the

Tomb,

109

SONG.
O ing
Wake
not of Love
!

to me the theme
;

Is only fraught

with pain

not the

memory

of a dream

I ne'er shall taste again.

Its

blushing hopes,

its

tender fears,
;

This heart would fain forget

For sad

to Fancy's eye appears

The sun whose beams

are set.

Romantic hours

in vain I try

Your sweet
Where'er
I

idea to lose

I
fly,

turn, where'er

The Ghost

of bliss pursues.

110

SONG.

Some charm

that bloom'd in days of yore,

tears to flow
lives
;

Commands my
Some
cherish'd

hope that

no more,

The

present turns to woe.-

Mysterious alchemy of mind

That poisons pleasure's stream

And

bids

me

life's

warm

noon-tide find

A
Ah

cold and sunless dream.

tyrant

Love

to fickle

man
;

Thou

art a frequent guest

But ever

since the world began,

breast.

Thy home was Woman's

111

THE

ORPHAN'S TALE.
GERTRUDE.

XtouGH
The

is

the road, and dark the sky,

blast of

Winter hurries by
at the close of day,
I

wanderer
!

Ah

whither shall

bend

my way

The hour

of want apace comes on,

Friends of

my youth,
to

ye

all

are

gone

Not one remains

wipe the tear

Of

helpless grief,

and pain, and fear;

On me No

no tender parent smiles,

brother's love

my woe

beguiles

The hand once prone

Is

to guide

and save,

long since moulder' d

in the grave,

H2
And when
I

THE ORPHAN'S TALE.

press the couch of death,

Ah who
!

shall catch

my

parting breath

STRANGER.
" And who
art

thou

O lorn one

say
?

That journeyest on thy lonely way

Ah

stay

awhile and /will guide,

!

And

help to stem misfortune's tide

Thou
Tell

sad complainant, faint, and pale,

me

thy bosom's secret tale

Scant arc

my means but, Child of care

share

Come, and my humble dwelling

My My
Tell

tongue shall sooth

my tears shall flow,

woe
pale,
;

heart will share the mourner's

faint,

Then, sad complainant,

and

me

thy bosom's secret tale !"

GERTRUDE.
Shall I describe

my dawning

day

That vernal time, when, bright and gay,

THE ORPHAN'S TALE.

113

The sun

of sweet contentment smiled

?

Upon
Could

a happy playful child

I

again an infant be,

blessed mother's knee
!

Upon my
Might
I

again

my

fond arms spread,

!

And

in her

bosom hide mine head

I

Ah

could
lisp

to her feet repair,

And

once more

my

nightly prayer

Hear once again

That was
to

the blessing given, the voice of

me

Heaven

Those hours

roll'd by,

and others came

That own'd a sweeter, dearer name

Then how

that Mother, wise

and good.

Her

Gertrude's guardian Angel stood

Oh

while she spake of sacred things,

How pure
Lifted

Devotion's snowy wings

raptured soul on high,

my

And

taught

me how

to live
I

and

die

114

THE ORPHAN'S TALE.

Days of
Mother
I yet
!

delight,

for ever fled

long number'd with the dead

!

behold ye

o'er

my

soul

The

shades of joys departed roll;

I see the

youth who bravely strove

Who
Again
I

sought and
I

won my

virgin love

thread the

mazy dance,

meet

his

fond impassion'd glance,

I

With him

read, with

him

I stray,

And

life's fair

spring-tide rolls away.

This dream was

It

far too

sweet to hold,
;

vanish'd as a tale that's told

it

The tempest rose

loar'd afar,

We
My
His

heard the deadly blast of War,

Frederick's heart the signal knew,
battle- blade the
-v

Hero drew,
!
!

And oh

he cried

" Adieu Adieu

THE ORPHAN'S TALE.

" Fair Munich's banners proudly wave,
I

join the standard of the brave

Idol of

Thou

my

doating heart,
! !

oh must we part Yet weep not thus there a Power

And must we then
is

Shall guard

me

in the evil

hour

Mid

horrors of the gory field,

shall

His mighty arm

shall

be

my

shield

!"

Yes we meet some brighter day Now my firm soul away away
He
said

and from our humble door

to return

Departed

no more

The

bolt of

War

unerring sped,

My
The

Frederick's lofty spirit fled

truth,

The manly form

face
lit

the heart of
I

up with joy and youth,

which
loved to read

That

face in soul

The

which

will'd the noble

deed

116'

THE ORPHAN Mid

TALE.

weltering heaps unshrouded lay,

the cold and frozen clay. the hand that should have closed

Upon

Where was
Those
lids

on which pale death reposed

Where was
Thy
spirit

the maid on whose fond breast

?

should have gone to rest

That hapless

Maid, misfortune's heir,

all

Was

biding

the blasts of care,

steps pursued,

Gaunt Poverty her

Her

tears a

Mother's grave bedew'd,

seal'd in sleep,

Those sacred eyes were

And

was

left

to

roam

and weep
:

With no kind arm

to shield

and

save,

Without a home beside the grave.

When
And

shall I to the

tomb descend,

dwell with thee,

shall I hail, in

my

childhood's friend

When
The

realms above,

sainted object of

my

love

THE ORPHAN'S TALE.

1/

Ah

soon

not long
we

this heart will

beat-

Yes., Frederick,

shall surely meet."

The
But

stranger cheer'd the dying Maid, vain was

all his

kindly aid

The
"
I

tide of life refused to flow

" go," the Martyr cried,

I go.

Heaven opens on my
Adieu, thou World

ravish'd sight,

thou mass of Night."

He whisper'd
Then
The

o'er her corse a prayer

Composed her limbs with decent

yielded to the

care,

greedy tomb
that e'er did bloom.

sweetest

Maid

118]

THE

HAUNTED MANOR-HOUSE.
A FRAGMENT.

"

Where,

Traveller, art thou journeying

?

This dark and stormy night

The moors

are bleak

and

shelterless-

wait the morning light

(l-

There have been strange and

Beheld on that wide heath
;

fearful sights

And

fiendish laughter has

been heard,

Mix'd with the shriek of death.

THE HAUNTED MANOR-HOUSE.

t(

119

Within

a thick

and gloomy wood,

barren wold
;

Which

skirts that

There dimly

rises

on the sight and old

j

A
"

Mansion

vast

Its

ancient towers, with ivy clasp'd,

to decay
its
;

Are mouldering

No

blaze has cheer' d

ruin'd hall

Full

many

a winter's day.

"

O, Traveller

'tis

a dismal spot,

The Mansion

in the

wood

For many say that there was done

Some

horrid deed of blood.

" At midnight hour,

I've often heard,

Pale glimmering lights are seen

o'er that ancient pile
j

To wander
(No

earthly lights, I ween.)

20

THE HAUNTED MANOR-HOUSE.

" And often, through the wood's dark paths,

A O

form
!

is

seen to glide

mercy

they that met that form,

have almost died."

With

fear

The Traveller spurr'd

He
And

his

foaming steed-

scorn'd the idle tale

soon he far behind him

in the vale.

left

The Hamlet

It

was a shrewd and biting wind,

That swept across the wold, But he was " wrapp'd and coated well,"

And might

defy the cold.

THE HAUNTED MANOR-HOUSE.

121

He

reach'd the

wood

and now the moon

sky,

Broke through the stormy

And

rested on a dusky pile,

his eager eye.

That met

And now

he check'd his panting steed,

drear-

To

view that Mansion

linger'd

But while he

o'er his heart

fear.

There crept a nameless

It

was
It

so wild

and lone a

spot,

seem'd such glooms to wear,

stoutest heart

The

might surely think

there.

That Murder lurked

Around

that old and crumbling pile

The night-wind

whistled shrill

He

gazed within

its

frowning porch
still.

There

all

was dark and

122

THE HAUNTED MANOR-HOUSE.

" But what
that

is

which

steals

along

With

slow assassin-pdce ?"

as

The Traveller shudder' d

A
pale and spectre face.

he view'd

On

which the cold moon's

sickly
;

beam

Diffused a doubtful light

And now
The

a deadly groan disturb'd

solitude of night.

The

Traveller chid his throbbing heart,

vaulted from his steed,
fear'd

And

For much he

some

ruffian

hand,

Had done

a murderous deed.

123

THE CONTRAST.
Ihoo
I inherit

art blithe,

and

free

from care,

dark despair; with hope beats high,

;

Thy young heart

Mine
is

fraught with misery

Thou
Love

hast pluck'd Love's sweetest flower,

forsakes

my joyless
fair

bower

Health on thy
I

cheek doth bloom,

am

hastening to the tomb

to thee appears a foe,

Death

I'm impatient for his blow,

To

escape Misfortune's wave

In the chambers of the grave.

124]

THE VICTORY.

.Hark

hark
tell

how the merry bells pour

is

out their peals

They
Each

that the battle

won

patriot

bosom exultingly

feels

The
Joy

deeds that our heroes have done

!

joy to those heroes

their path shall be strew'd

:

With
With

the laurels that bloom for the brave

reverence, with rapture, the Chiefs shall be view'd,

Who

combat the feeble

to save.

But how

is

the triumph Britannia hath gain'd,

The triumph The

I

ah
woe

how

is it

bought

robe of her conquest with carnage

is

stain'd

',

weep

at the

that

is

wrought.

THE VICTORY.
been to the death-field

125

I've

I've ponder'd awhile

;

O'er the mangled remains of the dead

And now, plumed

The

Victory

shrink at thy smile

lustre that graced

it is fled.

My
I

fancy hath gazed on the Warrior's eye

it

As

roll'd in the

frenzy of death

have seen how the vulture flew eagerly by

To
I

her meal on that blood-stained heath

last sigh

have heard the

of the Lover, that rose

To

his lips in a half-utter'd prayer

Constancy glows

Heard him

bless his soul's idol

frosts

for

E'en amid the cold

of despair.

The wind
As
it

of the winter

more

sullenly blew,
;

swept o'er that terrible plain

The mild
From

orb of night her fair radiance withdrew

that scene of destruction

and pain

126

TIIK VICTORY.

But the

field

was illumined by death-fires that blazed,

!

Ah, horribly blazed

from

afar,

had razed
!

For the hut of the peasant the

spoiler

Such

such are thy miseries O War

of

Thou home

my

Fathers

thou land of

my
!

birth,

Join the death-dealing combat no more

Though

the

Demon

of blood o'er the nations of earth

shall pour,

His ravaging legions

Yet waste not the

lives

of thy good and thy brave

it

In the war-strife, though noble

be

Though

the tempest of battle

still

fiercely
!

may

rave,

Let Peace smile for ever on Thee

127

DESPONDENCY
AND

RESIGNATION.
-"

And

I said
I

that I

had wings
at rest.'"

like a

Dove

.'-

for then would

Jlcc

away and be

1 hou

little

Dove, that wand'rest

like thee
;

free,

would that
soon,
if

had wings

How

of thy powers possest,

rest
is
.

I'd fly

away, and be at
is

My
No

heart

sick

my heart

sad

strain of mirth can

make

it

glad

Way-worn and

faint, I struggle on,

My

wishes cross'd

my hopes

all

gone

128

DESPONDENCY AND RESIGNATION.

Each day bedimm'd by chequer'd

fears.

Each night

of anguish mark'd

by

tears.

And

if in life's

meridian hour,
is

This weight of misery

If thus, while
I start,

my dower

summer
as I

breezes blow,

and shiver
will

go

Alas

how
I

my bosom

bear
care,

That dark and wintry hour of

When
No

shall stand, a lonely tree,

kindly aid to shelter

the last tie
is

me

When

snapt in twain,

That bound me

to a world of pain.
I

And must
Must my
last

know

that dreadful day

?

hold be rent away

'Ye Powers of mercy

save oh save
!

And

take

me

to

an early grave.
wretch
!

" Thou

selfish

and wouldst thou die

fly
?

Wouldst thou from every duty

DESPONDBNCV AND RESIGNATION.

Forsake the fond and faithful breast,

129

That cradled

all

thy cares to rest

Leave stranger-hands

to close the eye

That smiled upon thine infancy?"

No

I will kiss affliction's

rod

Will

bless the chast'nings of

my God

E'en that dread hour of dark despair,

My My

bowed

heart shall learn to bear

(And

sure for every

meaner

grief

patient soul

may

find relief)
I'll fix

My

thoughts,

my

hopes,

on high,

And gaze upon Eternity.

ISO

THE

SONG OF GLADNESS.
Awake,
No more
The calm

my Lyre

the lowering storm

At length has

rolled far

away;

the clouds of care deform

horizon of

my day.

Awake,

my

Lyre

and

let

thy strain

In clear and sprightly numbers flow;

For

soft

contentment's smiling train,

Now

chase the haggard sprites of woe.

Fair Spring

again

I hail

thy sweets,

And on
I

thy charms delighted gaze;

retreats,

haunt the woodlands green

wend

the mountain's secret ways.

THE SONG OF GLADNESS.

Thou
dost not

131

mock

a wretch forlorn,

Thy
Nor

presence comes to heal and save

will the sun that lights thy morn,

a mother's recent grave.

Shine on

To pluck
With her

thine earliest wildest flower,

o'er

thymy heaths

I'll

rove

And balmy

gales from every bovver,

Shall tint once

more the cheek

I love.

That languid eye

Its

shall

reassume
;

mind-fraught, soul-inspiring look

that dear

On

brow shall Peace re-bloom,

Where

pale Disease his station took.

And / will

gaze

and smile and weep,

the fervent prayer,

And inward pour

To Him whose

tender mercies keep

This heart from madness and despair.

132

REFLECTION.
Oome,
Come
From
be
pale Reflection
!

dwell with
!

me

my

bosom's sober guest

pride divorced, from passion free,

My wearied heart with thee shall rest O come ! and let us read the page
Remembrance opens
to our view
riper age
!

come and
!

let

my

Smile

at

the pictures that

my

girlhood drew
self,

And

view

my

former
elf,

A
That

little

simple

trusted Falsehood

when

she coax'd and smiled

life,

Nor

ever deem'd that

(The chequer'd scene of

strife)

Was

other than a morning bright and mild.

REFLECTION.

133

Ye

lovely, lovely days

What
Your

time shall e'er erase

;

cloudless sunshine, and your vernal green

What hand from

this

fond soul

Shall rend the sacred scroll

That holds the records of what once hath been.

I'm not the creature

I've seen the I've

was then

busy haunts of men,

known

the powers of Malice and of Art

in the guiltless heart
!

Plunge their arrows

No more Simplicity sweet maid

(A blushing tenant of the shade)
Smiles with confiding joy on
all

she meets

This bosom once so gay,

Now
The

to cold

doubt a prey,

kindly glance no more with rapture meets.

134

REFLECTION.

Yet

tho' the world's rude blast has scath'd

Full

many
that

a bosom-flower
is

Tho'

all

dew

gone which bath'd

;

My
Still

first fair,

vernal hour

much remains

of hope and bliss

;

To

gild

my

noon-tide sky

The Muse's witching

smile, and Friendship's kiss,

And

holy presages that shall nut die.

What though
For

th'

enchanter Love

my

sad brow hath wove

flower) a wreath of thorns;

(Unmingled with a

Yet Patience hath a balm

The

mightiest griefs to calm,

To

sink beneath their weight

my

spirit scorns.

Man

is

a pilgrim here,
fear,

Waiting with hope and

The moment when

Bidding

his Father's voice,

his heart rejoice,

REFLECTION.

1S5

Shall call him

home,

mind

O
To

let

not then th' immortal

Ignobly be confined
this

dim

vale through

which

'tis

doom'd

to

roam

Walk humbly
And

mourner on thy destined way,

to Heaven's eternal day.

look beyond the grave

136

BEAUTY'S GRAVE.
1

read

softly,

Stranger!

this is

ground

That no rude

footstep should impress

pity gaze around,

With tender
Let sadness

all

thy soul possess.

lest

wave,

Tread

softly

you crush the flowers

That

o'er this turf arc taught to

Transplanted from their native bowers.

To

shed their sweets o'er Beauty's grave.

And, Stranger

let

your musing heart

Mark

ivell this fresh

and verdant sod,

And

ere you from the scene depart,

let

your soul

commune

with

God

BEAUTY
Thus
Thus

GRAVE.

die the fragile

buds of earth

fade the lovely and the brave

Come
And

here ye thoughtless sons of mirth,

pause awhile o'er Beauty's grave.

Sweet

vvither'd

Rose

may

thy pale

doom

Call tears into the virgin's eye.

O may
And

a voice within the

tomb
must die;

Remind
tell

her

all

that live

her in the days of youth

To

think of

Him who

being gave

And

bid her seek the ways of truth

Like her who sleeps in Beauty's grave.

13S

M E,

AN ODE.

1 hese

azure days are waning

fast.

And

soon the rough autumnal blast

strip the forest-bower,

Will come and

Of summer's And

last, last

lingering flower;

wintry snows
smile yon

will
hills

then be seen
of vivid green
;

Where

O'er the heath and o'er the plain,

Will howl the storm, will drive the rain.

And thus doth Time with rapid

O
glances of proud Beauty's eye,

stride

O'ertake our youth's meridian tide.

How

soon your liquid lustres die

TIME.

139

graces of the virgin brow

love-born smiles

where are ye now

One moment

since that cheek

how

red
:

And now the blush of conquest fled

Those locks that did so richly
flow,
!

Ah

turned, turned

all to

snow

" Relentless Time

!"

the Poets sing,

spring,

" To wither youth's voluptuous

And
The

from the maiden's cheek remove

rose that

woke the sigh of

love."

While

thus they of his thefts complain,

shall

My
1

Lyre

wake another
foe,

strain

To me

lie is

no dreaded

gaze on him
his

and
for

feel not

woe.

To

power

I patient

bend,

And own him

my

kindest friend.

Take the

gifts that
!

youth bestows

Take, oh Time

her flaunting rose.

140

TIME.
I

These
For
all

owe thee

these,

and more,
lore
:

thy preciuus

precious
me

'Twas thou that taught'st

not to weep

When
I

starting, as

from troubled sleep,

found the dream of

bade
its

Hope

untrue,

And

witcheries adieu.

Thou

hast told

me

not to

deem

That Friendship's smiles are what they seem

Hast proved how
oft

with

gems

divine
:

My

fancy deck'd a worthless shrine

Hast shewn

my

sad and weary breast,

its

This world was not

home

of rest.
!

O O

truths, that sages vainly preach

lore, that

none but Time can teach

'Tis thou that art the truest test

Of what

is

wisest, safest, best

'Tis thou that lull'st the deadly throe

That throbs when disappointment's blow

TIME.
Hath
fallen

141

on the shrinking heart,

And bade

both hope and peace depart.

!

Oh

friend sincere
all

oh kindliest aid
;

When When
Which
As

my

brighter visions fade

is

vanish'd

that sweet romance,

held up friendship to

my

glance,

the pilot that would guide

My

bark o'er
I

life's

careering tide

When

have

seen and wept to see

Affection hath no boon for

me

To

thee

I trust

my

load of grief,

And

find for all a sure relief

can'st not heal

?

The wounds

of fate I erase to feci.

What

are the

wounds thou

142

REASON
AND

VANITY.
In
"
the pride of
I will build

my

heart would

vauntingly cry

an illustrious name
bliss will I

fly

To

the

summit of

eagerly

On

the wide-spreading pinion of fame.

All panting with ardour

my bosom

shall

spurn

At the views of the low-minded throng;

With nobler ambition my

spirit shall

burn,

Shall burn for the triumphs of Song.

" The

storms that howl o'er me, the perils of chance,

Will break not

my

sabbath of joy

Romance
!

With

thee for

my

comrade,

wild-eyed
alloy.

My

raptures shall

meet no

REASON AND VANITY.

143

The broad wing

With

of Time, as he passes, we'll load

trophies that never shall die.

Unwearied

my

soul shall pursue the bright road

That

leads to a station

on high.

" Yes

strains of

my

wild harp

your

memory

shall

glow

When

to dust this frail body's

consigned

O'er the tomb of

Its

my slumbers

the laurel shall grow,

leaves with the eypress entwined

strings of

Yes

my

wild-harp

your heart-prompted lay

From

oblivion's dark
!

ocean

may save

Genius

the

beams that illumine thy day,

Shall irradiate the night of the Grave."

Twas

thus that

my

spirit,

with gladness elate,

The theme

of her wishes pursued,

And

still

as I

turned to the pages of Fate,

bliss

This vision of

was renewed.

144

REASON AND VANITY.

When sudden there

A
voice that

burst on

my wondering
:

ear

my

senses

awoke

I listened in breathless attention

and
it

fear,

When

these were the words that

spoke

"Vain Boaster! and

think'st thou
is

thy

labours shall claim

The meed

that to Bards

assigned,

Who

for ages
left

have shone

in the

annals of fame.
?

And

every compeer behind

!

Vain Boaster

the songs that so precious you

deem

In the fever and madness of pride,

Shall pass

down

the current of Time's rapid stream

And

be

lost in oblivion's

dark tide.

ce

Then

turn thee,

child of the dust

and pursue

path that will lead to the sky

Keep

the precepts of virtue for ever in view,

so shall thy

And

name never

die.

REASON AND VANITY.

145

The

glories of

Genius but blaze

for awhile,
\

And

then are extinguish'd in night

for ever

But Virtue

and ever

shall smile

In Eternity's Regions of Light."

MG

THE

VISION
<l

Arise

Arise and come with me

!

O'er the land, and o'er the sea

will said

shew thee wond'rous things

:"

He

and shook

his seraph wings.

gazed upon the heavenly guest

That shone upon

my dream

of rest

Bright was his eye

I

yet drawing near,

saw

'twas sullied by a tear:

His robes, that floated wide,

With gory

streaks were dyed

And by

that tear,

and by those robes of blood,

The Angel

of the Earth before

me

stood.

THE The

VISION.

147

Spirit touch'd
o'er the sea,

me
and

with his

wand

When

o'er the land,

Swift as a passing thought

we

flew,

While

far

beneath our feet the tempests blew;

At length alighting on a barren heath,

" Behold"

my guide exclaim'd " behold the

field

of

death."

The scene was dark the scene was

For the
battle-strife

still-

had ended

Save, where the vulture's clamour shrill

With
I

the groans of the dying blended.

heard the warrior curse the hand*

That

laid his

country low;

The power

that strode in ruin o'er the land,

its

And bade

the life-blood of

children flow.

I turn'd

me

to

my

radiant
its

guide

"

Shall

fell

Ambition thus

purpose wreak ?"

148

THE

VISION.

When

with a gentle frown the Cherub cried,

grief,

" Restrain thy

Mortal

'

blind and

weak

!"

While

yet the

Angel spake, that ghastly plain

Had
And

vanish'd from

my

sight,

in its stead arose a glittering

Fane,

With many

a lofty turret fair and bright.

its

Through

wide portal as we went,

The sound

of merry music
its

met mine ear

The harp

airy cadence lent,

And

silver-toned flute breath'd descant clear.

Within a gorgeous

hall of state

The banquet-board was

spread

And Grandeur

at the revel sat,

diadem of brightness bound

Full

his

head.

many

a minstrel -hand,

Attuned the

lyre to that vain mortal's praise,

Yea

glorified the ruler of the land,

Heaven
to yield

And

pray'd high

him length of

day:

THE
" Behold"

VISION.

149

the Angel cried,

!

" Behold the man of hlood

'"'

Behold the

slave of cruelty

and

pride,

"

Who o'er

the groaning earth pours Ruin's flood.

For him the reeking plain

" Teems with the horrors of the gory

strife

" For him

"

the

widow of the

slain

Weeps

out the remnant of her wretched

life,

" Surrounded by her infant train,

<l

Who

ne'er a father's smile will

meet again."

" Where

is

the bolt of wrath," I sighed

"
" Silence"

Why

sleeps the

arm of might
replied,

?"

the pensive Monitor

"

TV

Eternal ways are wise, and right."

" Heboid" he cried.- Methought the wheels of Time

One thousand
I

years had rolled

on
a clime,

gazed

and oh

how changed was many

The

days of grief and cruelty were gone.

150

THE

VISION.

Low

in the dust the

Tyrant
pass'd

lay,

All but his

name had

away

Hush'd was the

battle-roar

An
I fixed

age of gladness dawn'd once more.

that brave land *

mine eyes again on

Which Whose

proudly struggled in misfortune's day,

patriot sons, at honour's high

command,

Strove with the

demon Power, and

scorn'd his iron sway.

Lo

on the plains where Misery wept,

rose of

The

Joy was blooming

War's horrid scythe now calmly

slept,

No
Upon The

more the death of millions dooming.

those fields where heroes died,
;

smile of sylvan peace was spread

I

Raptured,

turn'd

me

to

my beamy

Guide,

When

from

my waking

soul that wond'rous vision fled,

Spain.

London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co.

Cleveland-row,
St.

James's.

ERRATA.
Page
.

23, line 31, 40,

7, for those,

read these.

90, 107, 110,

6,_/br when, read where. S, for harte, read heart. 2,/br he, read her.

H)/or
5,

inipar, read impart. far alchemy, read alchymy.

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