This Valdo brooks not. On the banks of Rhone Nor are his Followers loth to seek defence, XII. THE VAUDOIS. But whence came they who for the Saviour Lord In Gallic ears the unadulterate Word, Where that pure Church survives, though summer heats Open a passage to the Romish sword, Far as it dares to follow. Herbs self-sown, XIII. PRAISED be the Rivers, from their mountain springs And in our caverns smooth thy ruffled wings!" XIV. WALDENSES. THOSE had given earliest notice, as the lark Springs from the ground the morn to gratulate; Or rather rose the day to antedate, By striking out a solitary spark, When all the world with midnight gloom was dark.-— Then followed the Waldensian bands, whom Hate In vain endeavours to exterminate, Whom Obloquy pursues with hideous bark*: XV. ARCHBISHOP CHICHELY TO HENRY V. "WHAT beast in wilderness or cultured field "Go forth, great King! claim what thy birth bestows; 'Conquer the Gallic lily which thy foes "Dare to usurp ;-thou hast a sword to wield, "And Heaven will crown the right."—The mitred Sire Thus spake-and lo! a Fleet, for Gaul addrest, Ploughs her bold course across the wondering seas; For, sooth to say, ambition, in the breast Of youthful heroes, is no sullen fire, But one that leaps to meet the fanning breeze. * See Note XVI. WARS OF YCRK AND LANCASTER. THUS is the storm abated by the craft The Church, whose power hath recently been checked, Of victory mounts high, and blood is quaffed And, under cover of this woeful strife, Gathers unblighted strength from hour to hour. XVII. WICLIFFE. ONCE more the Church is seized with sudden fear, And at her call is Wicliffe disinhumed: Yea, his dry bones to ashes are consumed And flung into the brook that travels near; Forthwith, that ancient Voice which Streams can hear Thus speaks (that Voice which walks upon the wind, Though seldom heard by busy human kind) "As thou these ashes, little Brook! wilt bear "Of Severn, Severn to the narrow seas, "How the bold Teacher's Doctrine, sanctified XVIII. CORRUPTIONS OF THE HIGHER CLERGY. "Woe to you, Prelates! rioting in ease "And cumbrous wealth-the shame of your estate; “You, on whose progress dazzling trains await "Of pompous horses; whom vain titles please; "Who will be served by others on their knees, "Yet will yourselves to God no service pay; "Pastors who neither take nor point the way "To Heaven; for, either lost in vanities "Ye have no skill to teach, or if ye know "And Alas! of fearful things |