The Saints must govern is their common cry; And so they labour, deeming Holy Writ Disgraced by aught that seems content to sit Beneath the roof of settled Modesty. Sheds ruin from her sides; and men Wonder that aught of aspect so serene green, And seeming, at a little distance, slow, 5 The Romanist exults; fresh hope he The waters of the Rhine; but on they That eye (which sees as if fulfilled and done EVEN such the contrast that, where'er we Worse than the product of that dismal Against the ancient pine-trees of the night, grove 5 When gushing, copious as a thunder- And the Land's humblest comforts. Now shower, The blood of Huguenots through Paris Recalls the transformation of the flood, streamed. XLIII. THE JUNG-FRAU AND THE FALL OF THE THE Virgin-Mountain1, wearing like a Queen A brilliant crown of everlasting snow, 1 The Jung-frau. her mood Whose rage the gentle skies in vain re III. CHARLES THE SECOND. Dropped from an Angel's wing. With moistened eye We read of faith and purest charity 5 WHO Comes-with rapture greeted, and In Statesman, Priest, and humble Citizen: caressed Oh could we copy their mild virtues, then What joy to live, what blessedness to die! Methinks their very names shine still and bright; Apart-like glow-worms on a summer night; ΙΟ Or lonely tapers when from far they fling PERSECUTION OF THE SCOTTISH COVENANTERS. [Composed?.-Published 1827.] WHEN Alpine Vales threw forth a suppliant cry, The majesty of England interposed And the sword stopped; the bleeding wounds were closed; And Faith preserved her ancient purity. ACQUITTAL OF THE BISHOPS. A VOICE, from long-expecting thousands sent, Swerves not-diverted by a casual law. Had mortal action e'er a nobler scope? The Hero comes to liberate, not defy; 10 And while he marches on with steadfast hope, Conqueror beloved! expected anxiously! The vacillating Bondman of the Pope Shrinks from the verdict of his steadfast eye. X. OBLIGATIONS OF CIVIL TO RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. UNGRATEFUL Country, if thou e'er forget The sons who for thy civil rights have bled! How, like a Roman, Sidney bowed his head, And Russell's milder blood the scaffold wet; But these had fallen for profitless regret 5 Shatters the air, and troubles tower and Had not thy holy Church her champions spire; bred, Lavished on Him-that England may rebel And hallowed ground in which their fathers lay; Against her ancient virtue. HIGH and Then to the new-found World explored Low, their way, 5 That so a Church, unforced, uncalled to brook Watchwords of Party, on all tongues are rife; As if a Church, though sprung from Ritual restraints, within some sheltering heaven, must owe nook To opposites and fierce extremes her Her Lord might worship and his word Down a swift Stream, thus far, a bold Blest while their Spirits from the woods design ascend Have we pursued, with livelier stir of Along a Galaxy that knows no end, [Composed 1842.-Published: vol. of 1842.] FROM Rite and Ordinance abused they fled O'er the dark steeps, or on the horizon line Striding with shattered crests his eye To Wilds where both were utterly unathwart. known; So have we hurried on with troubled But not to them had Providence forepleasure: Henceforth, as on the bosom of a stream That slackens, and spreads wide a watery gleam, II shown What benefits are missed, what evils bred, 5 In worship neither raised nor limited We, nothing loth a lingering course to Save by Self-will. Lo! from that distant measure, shore, May gather up our thoughts, and mark at For Rite and Ordinance, Piety is led leisure How widely spread the interests of our theme. XIII. ASPECTS OF CHRISTIANITY IN AMERICA. Their spirit, in your Children, thus approve. Transcendent over time, unbound by place, A last farewell, their loved abodes forsook, Concord and Charity in circles move. |