Finds entrance through yon arch, where way Lies open on the sabbath-day; Here walks amid the mournful waste Of prostrate altars, shrines defaced, And floors encumbered with rich show Of fret-work imagery laid low; Paces softly, or makes halt,
By fractured cell, or tomb, or vault; By plate of monumental brass Dim-gleaming among weeds and grass, And sculptured Forms of Warriors brave : But chiefly by that single grave,
That one sequestered hillock green, The pensive visitant is seen. There doth the gentle Creature lie With those adversities unmoved; Calm spectacle, by earth and sky In their benignity approved! And aye, methinks, this hoary Pile, Subdued by outrage and decay, Looks down upon her with a smile, A gracious smile, that seems to say- "Thou, thou art not a Child of Time, But Daughter of the Eternal Prime ! "
FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY INTO BRITAIN, TO THE CONSUMMATION OF THE PAPAL DOMINION.
'A verse may catch a wandering Soul, that flies Profounder Tracts, and by a blest surprise Convert delight into a Sacrifice.'
I, WHO accompanied with faithful pace Cerulean Duddon from his cloud-fed spring, And loved with spirit ruled by his to sing Of mountain-quiet and boon nature's grace; I, who essayed the nobler Stream to trace Of Liberty, and smote the plausive string Till the checked torrent, proudly triumphing, Won for herself a lasting resting-place; Now seek upon the heights of Time the source Of a HOLY RIVER, on whose banks are found Sweet pastoral flowers, and laurels that have crowned Full oft the unworthy brow of lawless force; And, for delight of him who tracks its course, Immortal amaranth and palms abound.
If there be prophets on whose spirits rest Past things, revealed like future, they can tell What Powers, presiding o'er the sacred well Of Christian Faith, this savage Island blessed With its first bounty. Wandering through the west, Did holy Paul * a while in Britain dwell, And call the Fountain forth by miracle, And with dread signs the nascent Stream invest? Or He, whose bonds dropped off, whose prison doors Flew open, by an Angel's voice unbarred? Or some of humbler name, to these wild shores Storm-driven; who, having seen the cup of woe Pass from their Master, sojourned here to guard The precious Current they had taught to flow?
TREPIDATION OF THE DRUIDS.
SCREAMS round the Arch-druid's brow the seamew*
As Menai's foam; and toward the mystic ring Where Augurs stand, the Future questioning, Slowly the cormorant aims her heavy flight, Portending ruin to each baleful rite,
That, in the lapse of ages, hath crept o'er Diluvian truths, and patriarchal lore. Haughty the Bard: can these meek doctrines blight His transports? wither his heroic strains? But all shall be fulfilled;-the Julian spear A way first opened; and, with Roman chains, The tidings come of Jesus crucified; They come they spread-the weak, the suffering, Receive the faith, and in the hope abide.
LAMENT! for Diocletian's fiery sword Works busy as the lightning; but instinct With malice ne'er to deadliest weapon linked, Which God's ethereal store-houses afford: Against the Followers of the incarnate Lord It rages;—some are smitten in the field [shield Some pierced to the heart through the ineffectual Of sacred home;-with pomp are others gored And dreadful respite. Thus was Alban tried, England's first Martyr, whom no threats could shake; Self-offered victim, for his friend he died, And for the faith; nor shall his name forsake That Hill, whose flowery platform seems to rise By Nature decked for holiest sacrifice .
DRUIDICAL EXCOMMUNICATION.
MERCY and Love have met thee on thy road, Thou wretched Outcast, from the gift of fire And food cut off by sacerdotal ire, From every sympathy that Man bestowed! Yet shall it claim our reverence, that to God, Ancient of days! that to the eternal Sire, These jealous Ministers of law aspire, As to the one sole fount whence wisdom flowed, Justice, and order. Tremblingly escaped, As if with prescience of the coming storm, That intimation when the stars were shaped; And still, 'mid yon thick woods, the primal truth Glimmers through many a superstitious form That fills the Soul with unavailing ruth.
DARKNESS surrounds us; seeking, we are lost On Snowdon's wilds, amid Brigantian coves, Or where the solitary shepherd roves Along the plain of Sarum, by the ghost Of Time and shadows of Tradition, crost ; And where the boatman of the Western Isles Slackens his course-to mark those holy piles Which yet survive on bleak Iona's coast. Nor these, nor monuments of eldest name, Nor Taliesin's unforgotten lays,
Nor characters of Greek or Roman fame, To an unquestionable Source have led ; Enough-if eyes, that sought the fountain-head In vain, upon the growing Rill may gaze.
* This water-fowl was, among the Druids, an emblem of those traditions connected with the deluge that made an
As, when a storm hath ceased, the birds regain Their cheerfulness, and busily retrim Their nests, or chant a gratulating hymn To the blue ether and bespangled plain; Even so, in many a re-constructed fane, Have the survivors of this Storm renewed Their holy rites with vocal gratitude: And solemn ceremonials they ordain To celebrate their great deliverance; Most feelingly instructed 'mid their fear- That persecution, blind with rage extreme, [nance, May not the less, through Heaven's mild counte- Even in her own despite, both feed and cheer; For all things are less dreadful than they seem.
TEMPTATIONS FROM ROMAN REFINEMENTS.
WATCH, and be firm! for, soul-subduing vice, Heart-killing luxury, on your steps await. Fair houses, baths, and banquets delicate, And temples flashing, bright as polar ice,
Their radiance through the woods-may yet suffice To sap your hardy virtue, and abate
Your love of Him upon whose forehead sate The crown of thorns; whose life-blood flowed, the
Of your redemption. Shun the insidious arts That Rome provides, less dreading from her frown Than from her wily praise, her peaceful gown, Language, and letters ;-these, though fondly viewed As humanising graces, are but parts And instruments of deadliest servitude!
important part of their mysteries. The Cormorant was a bird of bad omen. * Sce Note.
THAT heresies should strike (if truth be scanned Presumptuously) their roots both wide and deep, Is natural as dreams to feverish sleep. Lo! Discord at the altar dares to stand Uplifting toward high Heaven her fiery brand, A cherished Priestess of the new-baptized! But chastisement shall follow peace despised. The Pictish cloud darkens the enervate land By Rome abandoned; vain are suppliant cries, And prayers that would undo her forced farewell; For she returns not.-Awed by her own knell, She casts the Britons upon strange Allies, Soon to become more dreaded enemies Than heartless misery called them to repel.
STRUGGLE OF THE BRITONS AGAINST THE BARBARIANS.
RISE!-they have risen: of brave Aneurin ask How they have scourged old foes, perfidious friends: The Spirit of Caractacus descends Upon the Patriots, animates their task;— Amazement runs before the towering casque Of Arthur, bearing through the stormy field The virgin sculptured on his Christian shield:- Stretched in the sunny light of victory bask The Host that followed Urien as he strode O'er heaps of slain;-from Cambrian wood and Druids descend, auxiliars of the Cross; [moss Bards, nursed on blue Plinlimmon's still abode, Rush on the fight, to harps preferring swords, And everlasting deeds to burning words!
A BRIGHT-HAIRED company of youthful slaves, Beautiful strangers, stand within the pale Of a sad market, ranged for public sale, Where Tiber's stream the immortal City laves : ANGLI by name; and not an ANGEL waves His wing who could seem lovelier to man's eye Than they appear to holy Gregory;
Who, having learnt that name, salvation craves For Them, and for their Land. The earnest Sire, His questions urging, feels, in slender ties Of chiming sound, commanding sympathies ; DE-IRIANS he would save them from God's IRE; Subjects of Saxon ELLA-they shall sing Glad HALLE-lujahs to the eternal King!
NOR wants the cause the panic-striking aid Of hallelujahs tost from hill to hill-
For instant victory. But Heaven's high will Permits a second and a darker shade
Of Pagan night. Afflicted and dismayed, The Relics of the sword flee to the mountains: O wretched Land! whose tears have flowed like fountains;
Whose arts and honours in the dust are laid By men yet scarcely conscious of a care For other monuments than those of Earth; Who, as the fields and woods have given them birth, Will build their savage fortunes only there; Content, if foss, and barrow, and the girth Of long-drawn rampart, witness what they were.
FOR ever hallowed be this morning fair,
Blest be the unconscious shore on which ye tread, And blest the silver Cross, which ye, instead
Of martial banner, in procession bear; The Cross preceding Him who floats in air, The pictured Saviour !-By Augustin led, They come and onward travel without dread, Chanting in barbarous ears a tuneful prayer- Sung for themselves, and those whom they would free!
Rich conquest waits them :-the tempestuous sea Of Ignorance, that ran so rough and high And heeded not the voice of clashing swords, These good men humble by a few bare words, And calm with fear of God's divinity.
T, to remote Northumbria's royal Hall, here thoughtful Edwin, tutored in the school -sorrow, still maintains a heathen rule, ho comes with functions apostolical ! ark him, of shoulders curved, and stature tall, ack hair, and vivid eye, and meagre cheek, s prominent feature like an eagle's beak ; Man whose aspect doth at once appal
d strike with reverence. The Monarch leans ward the pure truths this Delegate propounds, peatedly his own deep mind he sounds th careful hesitation, then convenes ynod of his Councillors :—give ear,
d what a pensive Sage doth utter, hear!
NOR Scorn the aid which Fancy oft doth lend The Soul's eternal interests to promote: Death, darkness, danger, are our natural lot; And evil Spirits may our walk attend For aught the wisest know or comprehend; Then be good Spirits free to breathe a note Of elevation; let their odours float Around these Converts; and their glories blend, The midnight stars outshining, or the blaze Of the noon-day. Nor doubt that golden cords Of good works, mingling with the visions, raise The Soul to purer worlds: and who the line Shall draw, the limits of the power define, That even imperfect faith to man affords?
LAN's life is like a Sparrow, mighty King !
PRIMITIVE SAXON CLERGY
How beautiful your presence, how benign,
hat-while at banquet with your Chiefs you sit | Servants of God! who not a thought will share
oused near a blazing fire-is seen to flit afe from the wintry tempest. Fluttering, ere did it enter; there, on hasty wing, lies out, and passes on from cold to cold; ut whence it came we know not, nor behold hither it goes. Even such, that transient Thing, he human Soul; not utterly unknown
hile in the Body lodged, her warın abode ; ut from what world She came, what woe or weal n her departure waits, no tongue hath shown; his mystery if the Stranger can reveal, is be a welcome cordially bestowed +!"
With the vain world; who, outwardly as bare As winter trees, yield no fallacious sign That the firm soul is clothed with fruit divine! Such Priest, when service worthy of his care Has called him forth to breathe the common air, Might seem a saintly Image from its shrine Descended:-happy are the eyes that meet The Apparition; evil thoughts are stayed At his approach, and low-bowed necks entreat A benediction from his voice or hand; Whence grace, through which the heart can understand,
And vows, that bind the will, in silence made.
>MPT transformation works the novel Lore; › Council closed, the Priest in full career es forth, an armèd man, and hurls a spear desecrate the Fane which heretofore served in folly. Woden falls, and Thor verturned; the mace, in battle heaved might they dream) till victory was achieved, ›ps, and the God himself is seen no more. nple and Altar sink, to hide their shame id oblivious weeds. O come to me,
́heavy laden !” such the inviting voice
Aн, when the Body, round which in love we clung, Is chilled by death, does mutual service fail? Is tender pity then of no avail?
Are intercessions of the fervent tongue A waste of hope-From this sad source have Rites that console the Spirit, under grief [sprung Which ill can brook more rational relief: Hence, prayers are shaped amiss, and dirges sung For Souls whose doom is fixed! The way is smooth For Power that travels with the human heart:
ard near fresh streams; and thousands, who Confession ministers the pang to soothe rejoice
In him who at the ghost of guilt doth start.
Ye holy Men, so earnest in your care, Of your own mighty instruments beware!
LANCE, shield, and sword relinquished-at his side A bead-roll, in his hand a clasped book,
Or staff more harmless than a shepherd's crook, The war-worn Chieftain quits the world-to hide His thin autumnal locks where Monks abide In cloistered privacy. But not to dwell In soft repose he comes. Within his cell, Round the decaying trunk of human pride, At morn, and eve, and midnight's silent hour, Do penitential cogitations cling;
Like ivy, round some ancient elm, they twine In grisly folds and strictures serpentine ; Yet, while they strangle, a fair growth they bring, For recompence—their own perennial bower.
SAXON MONASTERIES, AND LIGHTS AND SHADES OF THE RELIGION.
By such examples moved to unbought pains, The people work like congregated bees; Eager to build the quiet Fortresses Where Piety, as they believe, obtains From Heaven a general blessing; timely rains Or needful sunshine; prosperous enterprise, Justice and peace :-bold faith! yet also rise The sacred Structures for less doubtful gains. The Sensual think with reverence of the palms Which the chaste Votaries seek, beyond the grave; If penance be redeemable, thence alms Flow to the poor, and freedom to the slave; And if full oft the Sanctuary save
Lives black with guilt, ferocity it calms.
METHINKS that to some vacant hermitage My feet would rather turn-to some dry nook Scooped out of living rock, and near a brook Hurled down a mountain-cove from stage to stage, Yet tempering, for my sight, its bustling rage In the soft heaven of a translucent pool; Thence creeping under sylvan arches cool, Fit haunt of shapes whose glorious equipage Would elevate my dreams. A beechen bowl, A maple dish, my furniture should be ; Crisp, yellow leaves my bed; the hooting owl My night-watch: nor should e'er the crested fowl From thorp or vill his matins sound for me, Tired of the world and all its industry.
Nor sedentary all: there are who roam To scatter seeds of life on barbarous shores; Or quit with zealous step their knee-worn floors To seek the general mart of Christendom; Whence they, like richly-laden merchants, come To their beloved cells :-or shall we say That, like the Red-cross Knight, they urge their way, To lead in memorable triumph home Truth, their immortal Una? Babylon, Learned and wise, hath perished utterly, Nor leaves her Speech one word to aid the sigh That would lament her;-Memphis, Tyre, are gone With all their Arts,-but classic lore glides on By these Religious saved for all posterity.
BUT what if One, through grove or flowery mead, Indulging thus at will the creeping feet Of a voluptuous indolence, should meet Thy hovering Shade, O venerable Bede!
The saint, the scholar, from a circle freed Of toil stupendous, in a hallowed seat
Of learning, where thou heard'st the billows beat On a wild coast, rough monitors to feed Perpetual industry. Sublime Recluse!
The recreant soul, that dares to shun the debt Imposed on human kind, must first forget Thy diligence, thy unrelaxing use Of a long life; and, in the hour of death, The last dear service of thy passing breath*!
He expired dictating the last words of a translation of St. John's Gospel.
BEHOLD a pupil of the monkish gown, The pious ALFRED, King to Justice dear! Lord of the harp and liberating spear; Mirror of Princes! Indigent Renown Might range the starry ether for a crown Equal to his deserts, who, like the year, Pours forth his bounty, like the day doth cheer, And awes like night with mercy-tempered frown. Ease from this noble miser of his time No moment steals; pain narrows not his cares. Though small his kingdom as a spark or gem, Of Alfred boasts remote Jerusalem, And Christian India, through her wide-spread clime, In sacred converse gifts with Alfred shares.
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