And some, coeval with the earliest blush Their pearly lustre, coming but to go; And some break forth when others' sorrows crush 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 (Proud triumph is it for a sullen Queen!) Runs through blind channels of an unknown tongue. XXXIV. LATIMER AND RIDLEY. How fast the Marian death-list is unrolled! The other gains a confidence as bold; 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 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, By dauntless Luther freed, could they forget 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 Defiance breathes with more malignant aim; By sleepless prudence ruled, glides slowly on ; XXXIX. EMINENT REFORMERS. METHINKS that I could trip o'er heaviest soil, * See Note. |