VIII.

THE VAUDOIS.

But whence came they who for the Saviour Lord

Have long borne witness as the Scriptures teach ?—
Ages ere Valdo raised his voice to preach

In Gallic ears the unadulterate Word,

Their fugitive Progenitors explored

Subalpine vales, in quest of safe retreats

Where that pure Church survives, though summer heats Open a passage to the Romish sword,

Far as it dares to follow. Herbs self-sown,

And fruitage gathered from the chesnut wood,
Nourish the sufferers then; and mists, that brood
O'er chasms with new-fallen obstacles bestrown,
Protect them; and the eternal snow that daunts
Aliens, is God's good winter for their haunts.

IX.

PRAISED be the Rivers, from their mountain springs
Shouting to Freedom," Plant thy banners here!"
To harassed Piety, "Dismiss thy fear,

And in our caverns smooth thy ruffled wings!"
Nor be unthanked their final lingerings—
Silent, but not to high-souled Passion's ear—
'Mid reedy fens wide-spread and marshes drear,
Their own creation. Such glad welcomings,
As Po was heard to give where Venice rose,
Hailed from aloft those Heirs of truth divine
Who near his fountains sought obscure repose,
Yet came prepared as glorious lights to shine,
Should that be needed for their sacred Charge;
Blest Prisoners They, whose spirits are at large !

X.

WALDENSES.

THESE who gave early notice, as the lark

Springs from the ground the morn to gratulate;
Who rather rose the day to antedate,

By striking out a solitary spark,

:

When all the world with midnight gloom was dark—
These Harbingers of good, whom bitter hate
In vain endeavoured to exterminate,
Fell Obloquy pursues with hideous bark *
But they desist not ;-and the sacred fire,
Rekindled thus, from dens and savage woods
Moves, handed on with never-ceasing care,
Through courts, through camps, o'er limitary floods;
Nor lacks this sea-girt Isle a timely share

Of the new Flame, not suffered to expire.

XI.

ARCHBISHOP CHICHELY TO HENRY V.

"WHAT beast in wilderness or cultured field

"The lively beauty of the leopard shows?
"What flower in meadow-ground or garden grows
"That to the towering lily doth not yield?

"Let both meet only on thy royal shield!

"Go forth, great King! claim what thy birth bestows;

Conquer the Gallic lily which thy foes

"Dare to usurp ;-thou hast a sword to wield,

"And Heaven will crown the right."-The mitred Sire
Thus spake and lo! a Fleet, for Gaul addrest,
Ploughs her bold course across the wondering seas;
For, sooth to say, ambition, in the breast

Of youthful heroes, is no sullen fire,

But one that leaps to meet the fanning breeze.

XII.

WARS OF YORK AND LANCASTER.

THUS is the storm abated by the craft

Of a shrewd Counsellor, eager to protect

The Church, whose power hath recently been checked, Whose monstrous riches threatened.

So the shaft

Of victory mounts high, and blood is quaffed
In fields that rival Cressy and Poictiers—
Pride to be washed away by bitter tears!
For deep as hell itself, the avenging draught
Of civil slaughter. Yet, while temporal power
Is by these shocks exhausted, spiritual truth
Maintains the else endangered gift of life;
Proceeds from infancy to lusty youth;
And, under cover of this woeful strife,
Gathers unblighted strength from hour to hour.