No Spirit was she; that my heart betrayed, But while I gazed in tender reverie, (Or was it sleep that with my Fancy played?) The bright corporeal presence,-form and face,Remaining still distinct, grew thin and rare, Like sunny mist; at length the golden hair, Shape, limbs, and heavenly features, keeping pace II. PATRIOTIC SYMPATHIES. LAST night, without a voice, that Vision spake Thou, too, dost visit oft my midnight dream; If thou hast fallen, and righteous Heaven restore WHO comes, III. CHARLES THE SECOND. with rapture greeted, and caress'd With frantic love, his kingdom to regain? Him Virtue's Nurse, Adversity, in vain Received, and fostered in her iron breast: For all she taught of hardiest and of best, Or would have taught, by discipline of pain And long privation, now dissolves amain, Or is remembered only to give zest To wantonness. Away, Circean revels! That bigotry may swallow the good name, And, with that draught, the life-blood: misery, shame, By Poets loathed; from which Historians shrink! IV. LATITUDINARIANISM. Yet Truth is keenly sought for, and the wind Charged with rich words poured out in thought's defence; Whether the Church inspire that eloquence, Or a Platonic Piety confined To the sole temple of the inward mind; And one there is who builds immortal lays, Though doomed to tread in solitary ways, Sad thoughts; for from above the starry sphere Come secrets, whispered nightly to his ear; And the pure spirit of celestial light Shines through his soul,-"that he may see and tell Of things invisible to mortal sight." V. WALTON'S BOOK OF LIVES. THERE are no colors in the fairest sky So fair as these. The feather, whence the pen Was shaped that traced the lives of these good men, Dropped from an Angel's wing. With moistened eye We read of faith and purest charity In Statesman, Priest, and humble Citizen: Apart, like glowworms on a summer night; Or lonely tapers when from far they fling Around meek Walton's heavenly memory. VI. CLERICAL INTEGRITY. NOR shall the eternal roll of praise reject Those Unconforming; whom one rigorous day Drives from their Cures, a voluntary prey To poverty, and grief, and disrespect, And some to want, As men the dictates of whose inward sense VII. PERSECUTION OF THE SCOTTISH COVENANTERS. 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. For England's shame, O Sister Realm! from wood, Mountain, and moor, and crowded street, where lie The headless martyrs of the Covenant, Slain by compatriot Protestants that draw From councils senseless as intolerant Their warrant. Bodies fall by wild sword-law; But who would force the Soul, tilts with a straw Against a Champion cased in adamant. VIII. ACQUITTAL OF THE BISHOPS. A VOICE, from long-expecting thousands sent, With outstretched hands and earnest speech,-in vain! Yea, many, haply wont to entertain Small reverence for the mitre's offices, |