V. And ye, Pierian Sisters, sprung from Jove A corresponding virtue to beguile 145 That not in vain they laboured to secure, And sage Mnemosyne,-full long de- For their great deeds, perpetual memory, barred And fame as largely spread as land and sea, By Works of spirit high and passion pure! XL. FEELINGS OF A FRENCH ROYALIST, ON THE DISINTERMENT OF THE REMAINS OF THE DUKE D'ENGHIEN. [Composed 1816.-Published: vol. of 1816.] The Olympian summit hath destroyed for DEAR Reliques! from a pit of vilest 119 aye Your kindred Deities, Ye live and move, Spared for obeisance from perpetual love, For privilege redeemed of godlike sway) Now, on the margin of some spotless fountain, Or top serene of unmolested mountain, Strike audibly the noblest of your lyres, And for a moment meet the soul's desires! 126 That I, or some more favoured Bard, may hear What ye, celestial Maids! have often sung Of Britain's acts,-may catch it with rapt ear, And give the treasure to our British tongue! 130 So shall the characters of that proud page Support their mighty theme from age to age; And, in the desert places of the earth, When they to future empires have given birth, So shall the people gather and believe 135 The bold report, transferred to every clime; And the whole world, not envious but admiring, And to the like aspiring, Own-that the progeny of this fair Isle Had power as lofty actions to achieve 140 As were performed in man's heroic prime; Nor wanted, when their fortitude had held Its even tenor, and the foe was quelled, Of popular reason, long mistrusted, freed For this refreshing incense from the Your thrones, ye Powers, from duty fear West! -Where snakes and lions breed, Be just, be grateful; nor, the oppressor's Where towns and cities thick as stars Of Andes-frozen gulfs became its The peaceful guest advancing from afar. bridge Bright be the Fabric, as a star The vast Pacific gladdens with the Fresh risen, and beautiful within !-there freight Upon the Lakes of Asia 'tis bestowed The Arabian desert shapes a willing road Across her burning breast, 25 meet Dependence infinite, proportion just; A Pile that Grace approves, and Time can trust 55 With his most sacred wealth, heroic dust. III. But if the valiant of this land In reverential modesty demand, That all observance, due to them, be paid Where their serene progenitors are laid; Kings, warriors, high-souled poets, saint like sages, 61 He hears the word-he flies And navies perish in their ports; 100 England's illustrious sons of long, long For Thou art angry with Thine enemies! |