By which the Prioress beguiled the way,
And many a Pilgrim's rugged heart did melt.
Hadst thou, loved Bard! whose spirit often
dwelt

5

In the clear land of vision, but foreseen
King, child, and seraph, blended in the mien
Of pious Edward kneeling as he knelt
In meek and simple infancy, what joy
For universal Christendom had thrilled
Thy heart! what hopes inspired thy genius,
skilled,

(0 great Precursor, genuine morning Star)
The lucid shafts of reason to employ,
Piercing the Papal darkness from afar!

10

XXXII.

EDWARD SIGNING THE WARRANT FOR THE
EXECUTION OF JOAN OF KENT.

THE tears of man in various measure gush
From various sources; gently overflow
From blissful transport some-from clefts of

woe

5

Some with ungovernable impulse rush;
And some, coëval with the earliest blush
Of infant passion, scarcely dare to show
Their pearly lustre coming but to go;
And some break forth when others' sorrows

crush

The sympathising heart. Nor these, nor yet
The noblest drops to admiration known,
To gratitude, to injuries forgiven-

10

Claim Heaven's regard like waters that have

wet

The innocent eyes of youthful Monarchs driven To pen the mandates nature doth disown.

XXXIII.

REVIVAL OF POPERY.

THE saintly Youth has ceased to rule, discrowned

By unrelenting Death. O People keen

For change, to whom the new looks always green!

Rejoicing did they cast upon the ground

Their Gods of wood and stone; and, at the

sound

5

Of counter-proclamation, now are seen,
(Proud triumph is it for a sullen Queen!)
Lifting them up, the worship to confound
Of the Most High. Again do they invoke
The Creature, to the Creature glory give;
Again with frankincense the altars smoke
Like those the Heathen served; and mass is

sung;

And prayer, man's rational prerogative, Runs through blind channels of an unknown tongue.

XXXIV.

LATIMER AND RIDLEY.

How fast the Marian death-list is unrolled!
See Latimer and Ridley in the might

Of Faith stand coupled for a common flight!
One (like those prophets whom God sent of old)
Transfigured,' from this kindling hath foretold
A torch of inextinguishable light;

The Other gains a confidence as bold;
And thus they foil their enemy's despite.
The penal instruments, the shows of crime,

1 See Note.

6

IO

Are glorified while this once-mitred pair
Of saintly Friends the "murtherer's chain par-

take,

Corded, and burning at the social stake:
Earth never witnessed object more sublime
In constancy, in fellowship more fair!

XXXV.

CRANMER.

OUTSTRETCHING flame-ward his upbraided hand (O God of mercy, may no earthly Seat

Of judgment such presumptuous doom repeat!) Amid the shuddering throng doth Cranmer

stand;

5

Firm as the stake to which with iron band
His frame is tied; firm from the naked feet
To the bare head. The victory is complete;
The shrouded Body to the Soul's command
Answers with more than Indian fortitude,
Through all her nerves with finer sense endued,
Till breath departs in blissful aspiration:
Then, 'mid the ghastly ruins of the fire,
Behold the unalterable heart entire,

AID, glorious Martyrs, from your fields of light, Our mortal ken! Inspire a perfect trust

1 For the belief in this fact, see the contemporary Historians.

(While we look round) that Heaven's decrees are just:

Which few can hold committed to a fight

That shows, ev 'n on its better side, the might 5
Of proud Self-will, Rapacity, and Lust,
'Mid clouds enveloped of polemic dust,
Which showers of blood seem rather to incite
Than to allay. Anathemas are hurled

From both sides; veteran thunders (the brute test

ΙΟ

Of truth) are met by fulminations new— Tartarean flags are caught at, and unfurledFriends strike at friends-the flying shall pur

sue

And Victory sickens, ignorant where to rest!

XXXVII.

ENGLISH REFORMERS IN EXILE.

SCATTERING, like birds escaped the fowler's

net,

Some seek with timely flight a foreign strand; Most happy, re-assembled in a land

By dauntless Luther freed, could they forget Their Country's woes. But scarcely have they

met,

Partners in faith, and brothers in distress,
Free to pour forth their common thankfulness,
Ere hope declines :—their union is beset
With speculative notions rashly sown,

5

Whence thickly-sprouting growth of poisonous

weeds;

10

Their forms are broken staves; their passions,

steeds

That master them. How enviably blest

Is he who can, by help of grace, enthrone
The peace of God within his single breast!

XXXVIII.

ELIZABETH.

HAIL, Virgin Queen! o'er many an envious bar Triumphant, snatched from many a treacherous wile !

All hail, sage Lady, whom a grateful Isle
Hath blest, respiring from that dismal war
Stilled by thy voice! But quickly from afar 5
Defiance breathes with more malignant aim;
And alien storms with home-bred ferments
claim

10

Portentous fellowship. Her silver car,
By sleepless prudence ruled, glides slowly on
Unhurt by violence, from menaced taint
Emerging pure, and seemingly more bright :
Ah! wherefore yields it to a foul constraint
Black as the clouds its beams dispersed, while
shone,

By men and angels blest, the glorious light?

XXXIX.

EMINENT REFORMERS.

METHINKS that I could trip o'er heaviest soil,
Light as a buoyant bark from wave to wave,
Were mine the trusty staff that JEWEL gave
To youthful HOOKER, in familiar style
The gift exalting, and with playful smile:1
For thus equipped, and bearing on his head
The Donor's farewell blessing, can he dread
Tempest, or length of way, or weight of toil?-

1 See Note.

5