By ignorance defaced,

By violence laid waste,

Perish without reprieve for flower or tree.

VI.

110

115

A crouching purpose-a distracted willOpposed to hopes that battened upon scorn, And to desires whose ever-waxing horn Not all the light of earthly power could fill; Opposed to dark, deep plots of patient skill, And to celerities of lawless force; Which, spurning God, had flung away remorseWhat could they gain but shadows of redress? -So bad proceeded propagating worse; And discipline was passion's dire excess. Widens the fatal web, its lines extend, And deadlier poisons in the chalice blend. When will your trials teach you to be wise? 125 -O prostrate Lands, consult your agonies!

121

VII.

No more-the guilt is banished,

And, with the guilt, the shame is fled;

And, with the guilt and shame, the Woe hath

vanished,

Shaking the dust and ashes from her head!
-No more-these lingerings of distress
Sully the limpid stream of thankfulness.
What robe can Gratitude employ

130

135

So seemly as the radiant vest of Joy?
What steps so suitable as those that move
In prompt obedience to spontaneous measures
Of glory, and felicity, and love,

Surrendering the whole heart to sacred pleasures?

VIII.

O Britain! dearer far than life is dear,

If one there be

Of all thy progeny

Who can forget thy prowess, never more
Be that ungrateful Son allowed to hear
Thy green leaves rustle or thy torrents roar.
As springs the lion from his den,

As from a forest-brake
Upstarts a glistering snake,

The bold Arch-despot re-appeared;-again
Wide Europe heaves, impatient to be cast,
With all her armèd Powers,

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150

On that offensive soil, like waves upon a thousand shores.

The trumpet blew a universal blast!

But Thou art foremost in the field:-there stand:
Receive the triumph destined to thy hand!
All States have glorified themselves;-their

claims

155

Are weighed by Providence, in balance even; And now, in preference to the mightiest names, To Thee the exterminating sword is given. Dread mark of approbation, justly gained! Exalted office, worthily sustained!

160

IX.

Preserve, O Lord! within our hearts
The memory of Thy favour,

That else insensibly departs,

And loses its sweet savour!

Lodge it within us!-as the power of light 165
Lives inexhaustibly in precious gems,

Fixed on the front of Eastern diadems,
So shine our thankfulness for ever bright!
What offering, what transcendent monument

170

Shall our sincerity to Thee present?
-Not work of hands; but trophies that may

reach

175

To highest Heaven--the labour of the Soul;
That builds, as thy unerring precepts teach,
Upon the internal conquests made by each,
Her hope of lasting glory for the whole.
Yet will not heaven disown nor earth gainsay
The outward service of this day;
Whether the worshippers entreat
Forgiveness from God's mercy-seat;

Or thanks and praises to His throne ascend 180
That He has brought our warfare to an end,
And that we need no second victory!-

Ha! what a ghastly sight for man to see;
And to the heavenly saints in peace who dwell,
For a brief moment, terrible;

185

But, to Thy sovereign penetration, fair,
Before whom all things are, that were,
All judgments that have been, or e'er shall be;
Links in the chain of Thy tranquillity!
Along the bosom of this favoured Nation, 190
Breathe Thou, this day, a vital undulation!
Let all who do this land inherit
Be conscious of Thy moving spirit!
Oh, 'tis a goodly Ordinance, the sight,
Though sprung from bleeding war, is one of
pure delight;

195

Bless Thou the hour, or ere the hour arrive, When a whole people shall kneel down in prayer, And, at one moment, in one rapture, strive With lip and heart to tell their gratitude

For Thy protecting care,

200

Their solemn joy-praising the Eternal Lord For tyranny subdued,

And for the sway of equity renewed,

For liberty confirmed, and peace restored!

X.

But hark-the summons!-down the placid

lake

205

Floats the soft cadence of the church-tower bells, Bright shines the Sun, as if his beams would wake

The tender insects sleeping in their cells; Bright shines the Sun-and not a breeze to shake The drops that tip the melting icicles.

210

O, enter now his Temple gate! Inviting words-perchance already flung (As the crowd press devoutly down the aisle Of some old Minster's venerable pile) From voices into zealous passion stung, While the tubed engine feels the inspiring blast, And has begun-its clouds of sound to cast Forth towards empyreal Heaven,

As if the fretted roof were riven.

Us humbler ceremonies now await;
But in the bosom, with devout respect
The banner of our joy we will erect,
And strength of love our souls shall elevate:
For to a few collected in his name,
Their heavenly Father will incline an ear
Gracious to service hallowed by its aim ;-
Awake! the majesty of God revere !

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220

225

Go-and with foreheads meekly bowed Present your prayers-go-and rejoice aloudThe Holy One will hear!

230

And what, 'mid silence deep, with faith sincere,
Ye, in your low and undisturbed estate,
Shall simply feel and purely meditate—-
Of warnings-from the unprecedented might,
Which, in our time, the impious have disclosed;
And of more arduous duties thence imposed 236
Upon the future advocates of right;

Of mysteries revealed,

And judgments unrepealed,
Of earthly revolution,

And final retribution,

To his omniscience will appear

An offering not unworthy to find place,

240

On this high DAY of THANKS, before the Throne of Grace!