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And he who guides the plough, or wields the crook, With understanding spirit now may look

Upon her records, listen to her song,

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Which Faith has suffered, Heaven could calmly brook.

Transcendent Boon! noblest that earthly king
Ever bestowed to equalize and bless
Under the weight of mortal wretchedness!
But passions spread like plagues, and thousands wild
With bigotry shall tread the Offering
Beneath their feet, detested and defiled.

XXX.

THE POINT AT ISSUE.

FOR what contend the wise?

for nothing less

Than that the Soul, freed from the bonds of Sense, And to her God restored by evidence

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Of things not seen, drawn forth from their recess,
Root there, and not in forms, her holiness;
For Faith, which to the Patriarchs did dispense
Sure guidance, ere a ceremonial fence

Was needful round men thirsting to transgress;
For Faith, more perfect still, with which the Lord
Of all, himself a Spirit, in the youth

Of Christian aspiration, deigned to fill

The temples of their hearts who, with his word

Informed, were resolute to do his will,
And worship him in spirit and in truth.

XXXI.

EDWARD VI.

"SWEET is the holiness of Youth";

- so felt Time-honored Chaucer, speaking through that Lay By which the Prioress beguiled the way,

And many a Pilgrim's rugged heart did melt.
Hadst thou, loved Bard! whose spirit often dwelt
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
(O great Precursor, genuine morning Star!)
The lucid shafts of reason to employ,
Piercing the Papal darkness from afar!

XXXII.

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

THE tears of man in various measures gush

From various sources; gently overflow

From blissful transport some, – from clefts of woe

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Some with ungovernable impulse rush;

And some, coeval with the earliest blush
Of infant passion, scarcely dare to show

Their pearly lustre,

coming but to ga;

And some break forth when others' sorrows crush

The sympathizing heart. Nor these, nor yet
The noblest drops to admiration known,

To gratitude, to injuries forgiven,

Claim Heaven's regard like waters that have wet The innocent eyes of youthful Monarchs, driven pen the mandates nature doth disown.

Το

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
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.

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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,

Are glorified while this once-mitred pair

Of saintly Friends the "murderer's chain partake,
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; 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 ;

* See Note.

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,

Emblem of faith untouched, miraculous attestation ! *

XXXVI.

GENERAL VIEW OF THE TROUBLES OF THE REFORMATION.

AID, glorious Martyrs, from your fields of light,
Our mortal ken! Inspire a perfect trust
(While we look round) that Heaven's decrees are
just:

Which few can hold committed to a fight
That shows, even on its better side, the might

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 Of truth) are met by fulminations new,

Tartarean flags are caught at, and unfurled,

Friends strike at friends,—the flying shall pur

sue,

And Victory sickens, ignorant where to rest!

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

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