SAXON MONASTERIES, AND LIGHTS AND SHADES OF THE RELIGION. By such examples moved to unbought pains, The people work like congregated bees; Eager to build the quiet Fortresses Where Piety, as they believe, obtains From Heaven a general blessing; timely rains 5 Hurled down a mountain-cove from stage Or needful sunshine; prosperous enter Would elevate my dreams. A beechen bowl, A maple dish, my furniture should be; 10 Crisp, yellow leaves my bed; the hooting owl prise, Justice and peace:-bold faith! yet also rise The sacred Structures for less doubtful gains. The Sensual think with reverence of the palms Which the chaste Votaries seek, beyond the grave; If penance be redeemable, thence alms My night-watch: nor should e'er the And if full oft the Sanctuary save To seek the general mart of Christendom; Flowed in thy line through undegenerate Whence they, like richly-laden merchants, To their beloved cells:-or shall we say That, like the Red-cross Knight, they urge their way, To lead in memorable triumph home Truth, their immortal Una? Babylon, Learned and wise, hath perished utterly, Nor leaves her Speech one word to aid the sigh II veins. Of their protection, gentle virtues thrive; That would lament her;-Memphis, Tyre, As oft, 'mid some green plot of open With all their Arts,-but classic lore Wide as the oak extends its dewy gloom, The fostered hyacinths spread their purple bloom. glides on By these Religious saved for all posterity. And awes like night with mercy-tempered Issues the master Mind, at whose fell The chaste affections tremble to fulfil Their purposes. Behold, pre-signified, The Might of spiritual sway! his thoughts, his dreams, ΙΟ Do in the supernatural world abide : So vaunt a throng of Followers, filled with pride In what they see of virtues pushed to extremes, And sorceries of talent misapplied. XXIX. DANISH CONQUESTS. WOE to the Crown that doth the Cowl obey 2! Dissension, checking arms that would restrain The incessant Rovers of the northern main, 2 See Note, p. 921. Helps to restore and spread a Pagan But of the lights that cherish household Fierceness and rage; and soon the cruel Dane cares And festive gladness, burns not one that dares 5 Tc twinkle after that dull stroke of thine, Feels, through the influence of her gentle Emblem and instrument, from Thames to The full-orbed Moon, slow-climbing, doth That quench, from hut to palace, lamps From Monks in Ely chanting service high, By wrong triumphant through its own While-as Canute the King is rowing by : "My Oarsmen," quoth the mighty King, 66 draw near, excess, From fields laid waste, from house and home devoured That we the sweet song of the Monks By flames, look up to heaven and crave O suffering Earth! be thankful; sternest And far above the mine's most precious ore Of war, but duty summons her away THE turbaned Race are poured in thicken- Of those Enthusiasts a subservient friend, To giddier heights hath clomb the Papal XXXVII. PAPAL ABUSES. XXXIX. PAPAL DOMINION. As with the Stream our voyage we UNLESS to Peter's Chair the viewless wind Must come and ask permission when to blow, pursue, The gross materials of this world pre Resist—the thunder quails thee!—crouch -rebuff Shall be thy recompense! from land to land IO At a proud Legate's feet! The spears that The ancient thrones of Christendom are line stuff Baronial halls the opprobrious insult For occupation of a magic wand, feel; And 'tis the Pope that wields it:whether rough Or smooth his front, our world is in his hand! PART II. TO THE CLOSE OF THE TROUBLES IN THE REIGN OF CHARLES I. I. [Composed ?.-Published 1845.] How soon-alas! did Man, created pureBy Angels guarded, deviate from the line Prescribed to duty:-woeful forfeiture He made by wilful breach of law divine. With like perverseness did the Church abjure 5 Obedience to her Lord, and haste to twine, 'Mid Heaven-born flowers that shall for aye endure, Weeds on whose front the world had fixed her sign. O Man,-if with thy trials thus it fares, If good can smooth the way to evil choice, |