When duty bids you bleed in open war: crew. Heroes! for instant sacrifice prepared; Yet filled with ardour and on triumph bent 10 'Mid direst shocks of mortal accident To you who fell, and you whom slaughter spared To guard the fallen, and consummate the event, Your Country rears this sacred Monument! XLII. SIEGE OF VIENNA RAISED BY JOHN SOBIESKI. FEBRUARY, 1816. O, FOR A kindling touch from that pure flame In words like these: "Up, Voice of song! proclaim 5 Thy saintly rapture with celestial aim : East, And Christendom respires; from guilt and shame Redeemed, from miserable fear set free By one day's feat, one mighty victory. Chant the Deliverer's praise in every tongue! The Cross shall spread, the Crescent hath waxed dim; He conquering, as in joyful Heaven is sung, XLIII. OCCASIONED BY THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. FEBRUARY, 1816. THE Bard-whose soul is meek as dawning day, away 6 10 Assoiled from all encumbrance of our time,1 Angels might welcome with a choral shout! XLIV. EMPERORS and Kings, how oft have temples rung With impious thanksgiving, the Almighty's scorn! How oft above their altars have been hung sprung; In this firm hour Salvation lifts her horn. 5 1 "From all this world's encumbrance did himself assoil."-SPENSER. Glory to arms! But, conscious that the nerve Be just, be grateful; nor, the oppressor's creed Than ever forced unpitied hearts to bleed. 1816. (?) But aye ascending, restless in her pride 5 With every help that ye from earth and heaven may claim! Bear through the world these tidings of delight! ΙΟ -Hours, Days, and Months, have borne them in the sight Of mortals, hurrying like a sudden shower The morning's splendours to devour; power. 15 -The shock is given the Adversaries bleed— Joyful annunciation!—it went forth It pierced the caverns of the sluggish North- 20 For this refreshing incense from the West!- 25 Where towns and cities thick as stars appear, Wherever fruits are gathered, and where'er 30 The upturned soil receives the hopeful seedWhile the Sun rules, and cross the shades of night 35 The unwearied arrow hath pursued its flight! Even the proud Realm, from whose distracted borders This messenger of good was launched in air, 40 France, humbled France, amid her wild dis orders, Feels, and hereafter shall the truth declare, II. O genuine glory, pure renown! And well might it beseem that mighty Town Into whose bosom earth's best treasures flow, To whom all persecuted men retreat ; 45 If a new Temple lift her votive brow Fresh risen, and beautiful within!-there meet A Pile that Grace approves, and Time can trust With his most sacred wealth, heroic dust. III. But if the valiant of this land In reverential modesty demand, 55 60 That all observance, due to them, be paid sages, England's illustrious sons of long, long ages; By visual pomp, and by the tie 65 70 And escaping from that sadness Into elevated gladness; 75 While the white-robed choir attendant, Provoke all potent symphonies to raise Songs of victory and praise, For them who bravely stood unhurt, or bled 80 With medicable wounds, or found their graves |