"I bring thee back the standard, from as rude and rough a fray As e'er was proof of soldier's thews, or theme for minstrel's lay. Bid Hubert fetch the silver bowl, and liquor quantum suff.; I'll make a shift to drain it, ere I part with boot and buff; Though Guy through many a gaping wound is breathing out his life, And I come to thee a landless man, my fond and faithful wife! "Sweet, we will fill our money-bags, and freight a ship for France, And mourn in merry Paris for this poor realm's mischance; Or, if the worst betide me, why, better axe or rope, Than life with Lenthal for a king, and Peters for a pope! Alas, alas, my gallant Guy!-out on the crop-eared boor, That sent me with my standard on foot from Marston Moor!" (1830.) THE COVENANTER'S LAMENT FOR BOTH WELL BRIGG. THE men of sin prevail ! Once more the prince of this world lifts his horn : Before the stormy gale. Where are our brethren? where The good and true, the terrible and fleet? They whom we loved, with whom we sat at meat, Mangled and marred they lie, Upon the bloody pillow of their rest: Stern Dalzell smiles, and Clavers with a jest Spurs his fierce charger by. So let our foes rejoice ; We to the Lord, who hears their impious boasts, We will lift up our voice. Give ear unto our song; For we are wandering o'er our native land, As sheep that have no shepherd; and the hand Only to thee we bow. Our lips have drained the fury of thy cup; And the deep murmurs of our hearts go up Avenge,-oh, not our years Of pain and wrong; the blood of martyrs shed; The maiden's silent tears; The babe's bread torn away; The harvest blasted by the war-steed's hoof; Is not thine own dread rod Mocked by the proud, thy holy book disdained, Thy name blasphemed, thy temple courts profaned? Avenge thyself, O God! Break Pharaoh's iron crown; Bind with new chains their nobles and their kings; Wash from thine house the blood of unclean things; And hurl their Dagon down! Come in thine own good time! We will abide: we have not turned from thee; Though in a world of grief our portion be, Of bitter grief, and crime. Be thou our guard and guide! Forth from the spoiler's synagogue we go, That we may worship where the torrents flow, And where the whirlwinds ride. From lonely rocks and caves We will pour forth our sacrifice of prayer.— (1830.) STANZAS, WRITTEN UNDER A PICTURE OF KING'S COLLEGE CHAPEL, CAMBRIDGE. EXTRACTED FROM AN ALBUM IN DEVONSHIRE. Most beautiful!-1 gaze and gaze The ground were still divine. Some awe the good and wise have felt, By sacred spring, or haunted well, Beside the feeble hermit's cell, Or the false prophet's tomb. |