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

Their pearly lustre,

coming but to go;

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.

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.

XXXVII.

ENGLISH REFORMERS IN EXILE.

SCATTERING, like birds escaped the fowler's net,
Some seek with timely flight a foreign strand;
Most happy, reassembled in a land

By dauntless Luther freed, could they forget
Their Country's woes. But scarcely have they met,
Partners in faith, and brothers in distress,
Free to pour forth their common thankfulness,
Ere hope declines: - their union is beset
With speculative notions rashly sown,

Whence thickly-sprouting growth of poisonous

weeds;

Their forms are broken staves; their passions,

steeds

That master them.

How enviably blest

Is he who can, by help of grace, enthrone

The

peace of God within his single breast!

XXXVIII.

ELIZABETH.

HAIL, Virgin Queen! o'er many an envious bar Triumphant, snatched from many a treacherous wile!

All hail, sage Lady, whom a grateful Isle
Hath blest, respiring from that dismal war
Stilled by thy voice! But quickly from afar

Defiance breathes with more malignant aim;
And alien storms with homebred ferments claim
Portentous fellowship. Her silver car,

By sleepless prudence ruled, glides slowly on ;
Unhurt by violence, from menaced taint
Emerging pure, and seemingly more bright:
Ah! wherefore yields it to a foul constraint
Black as the clouds its beams dispersed, while shone,
By men and angels blest, the glorious light?

XXXIX.

EMINENT REFORMERS.

METHINKS that I could trip o'er heaviest soil,
Light as a buoyant bark from wave to wave,
Were mine the trusty staff that JEWEL gave
To youthful HOOKER, in familiar style
The gift exalting, and with playful smile: *
For thus equipped, and bearing on his head
The Donor's farewell blessing, can he dread
Tempest, or length of way, or weight of toil? -
More sweet than odors caught by him who sails
Near spicy shores of Araby the blest,
A thousand times more exquisitely sweet,
The freight of holy feeling which we meet,
In thoughtful moments, wafted by the gales
From fields where good men walk, or bowers
wherein they rest.

* See Note.