Upon the battle field, or under ocean's waves; 85 Where their sons' sons, and all posterity, Unheard by them, their deeds shall celebrate! IV. Nor will the God of peace and love Such martial service disapprove. He guides the Pestilence-the cloud Of locusts travels on his breath; The region that in hope was ploughed His drought consumes, his mildew taints with death; 90 He springs the hushed Volcano's mine, The fierce Tornado sleeps within Thy courts- 100 For these, and mourning for our errors, And sins, that point their terrors, We bow our heads before Thee, and we laud And magnify Thy name, Almighty God! 105 But Man is Thy most awful instrument, Thou cloth'st the wicked in their dazzling mail, III V. Forbear:-to Thee— Father and Judge of all, with fervent tongue Of contemplation, by no sense of wrong, Just God of christianised Humanity, 116 120 Shall praises be poured forth, and thanks ascend, That Thou hast brought our warfare to an end, And that we need no second victory! Blest, above measure blest, 125 If on Thy love our Land her hopes shall rest, And all the Nations labour to fulfil Thy law, and live henceforth in peace, in pure good will. 1816. XLVI. THE MORNING OF THE DAY APPOINTED FOR A GENERAL THANKSGIVING. JANUARY 18, 1816. I. HAIL, orient Conqueror of gloomy Night! 10 Dazzling the vision that presumes to gaze. -Well does thine aspect usher in this Day; As aptly suits therewith that modest pace Submitted to the chains 15 That bind thee to the path which God ordains That thou shalt trace, 20 Till, with the heavens and earth, thou pass away! Nor less, the stillness of these frosty plains, Their utter stillness, and the silent grace Of yon ethereal summits white with snow, (Whose tranquil pomp and spotless purity Report of storms gone by To us who tread below), Do with the service of this Day accord. Of mortal man is suffered to behold; 25 Thou, who upon those snow-clad Heights has poured Meek lustre, nor forget'st the humble Vale; 30 Thou who dost warm Earth's universal mould And for thy bounty wert not unadored By pious men of old; Once more, heart-cheering Sun, I bid thee hail Bright be thy course to-day, let not this promise fail! II. 35 'Mid the deep quiet of this morning hour, All nature seems to hear me while I speak, By feelings urged that do not vainly seek Apt language, ready as the tuneful notes That stream in blithe succession from the throats Of birds, in leafy bower, Warbling a farewell to a vernal shower, 40 -There is a radiant though a short-lived flame, That burns for Poets in the dawning east; 45 And oft my soul hath kindled at the same, The towers of righteousness; He knows that from a holier altar came 50 The quickening spark of this day's sacrifice; Knows that the source is nobler whence doth rise The current of this matin song; That deeper far it lies Than aught dependent on the fickle skies. III. 55 Have we not conquered?—by the vengeful sword? Ah no, by dint of Magnanimity; 60 That curbed the baser passions, and left free Whose memory, spotless as the crystal beads He with enraptured voice will tell Of One whose spirit no reverse could quell; 70 Shall show her clothed with strength and skill Firm as a rock in stationary fight; 76 In motion rapid as the lightning's gleam; IV. And thus is missed the sole true glory 81 85 Who through the abyss of weakness dive. The very humblest are too proud of heart; And one brief day is rightly set apart For Him who lifteth up and layeth low; For that Almighty God to whom we owe, Say not that we have vanquished—but that we survive. V. 90 How dreadful the dominion of the impure! Why should the Song be tardy to proclaim That less than power unbounded could not tame That soul of Evil-which, from Hell let loose, 95 Had filled the astonished world with such abuse As boundless patience only could endure? -Wide-wasted regions-cities wrapt in flameWho sees, may lift a streaming eye ΙΟΙ To Heaven;-who never saw, may heave a sigh; Are but the avowed attire Of warfare waged with desperate mind The citadels of truth; While the fair gardens of civility, 105 |