"Now gliding remote, on the verge of the sky, The moon half extinguished her crescent displays : But lately I marked, when majestic on high
She shone, and the planets were lost in her blaze. Roll on, thou fair orb, and with gladness pursue The path that conducts thee to splendour again : But man's faded glory what change shall renew; Ah fool! to exult in a glory so vain !"
""Tis night, and the landscape is lovely no more:
I mourn; but, ye woodlands, I mourn not for you; For morn is approaching, your charms to restore, Perfumed with fresh fragrance, and glittering with dew.
Nor, yet for the ravage of winter 1 mourn;
Kind nature the embryo blossom will save: But when shall spring visit the mouldering urn: Oh! when shall day dawn on the night of the grave!
""Twas thus by the glare of false science betrayed,
That leads, to bewilder; and dazzles, to blind;
My thoughts wont to roam, from shade onward to shade,
Destruction before me, and sorrow behind.
Oh! pity, great Father of light, then I cried,
Thy creature who fain would not wander from Thee! Lo, humbled in dust, I relinquish my pride:
From doubt and from darkness Thou only canst free.
"And darkness and doubt are now flying away;
No longer I roam in conjecture forlorn :
So breaks on the traveller, faint and astray,
The bright and the balmy effulgence of morn.
See truth, love, and mercy, in triumph descending,
And nature all glowing in Eden's first bloom!
On the cold cheek of death smiles and roses are blend
And beauty immortal awakes from the tomb,"
ODE TO ELOQUENCE.
Heard ye those loud contending waves,
That shook Cecropia's pillared state?.
Saw ye the mighty from their graves
Look up, and tremble at her fate?
Who shall calm the angry storm?
Who the mighty task perform,
And bid the raging tumult cease?
See the son of Hermes rise;
With syren tongue and speaking eyes,
Hush the noise, and soothe to peace!
See the olive branches waving
O'er Ilissus' winding stream;
Their lovely limbs the Naiads laving,
The Muses smiling by supreme!
See the nymphs and swains advancing,
To harmonious measures dancing:
Grateful Io Peans rise
To thee, O Power! who canst inspire
Soothing words or words of fire,
And shook thy plumes in Attic skies!
Lo! from the regions of the North,
The reddening storm of battle pours;
Rolls along the trembling earth,
Fastens on the Olynthian towers.
"Where rests the sword ?-where sleep the brave? Awake! Cecropia's ally save
From the fury of the blast;
Burst the storm on Phocis' walls;
Rise! or Greece for ever falls,
Up! or Freedom breathes her last!"
The jarring States, obsequious now,
View the Patriot's hand on high;
Thunder gathering on his-brow,
Lightning flashing from his eye!
Borne by the tide of words along, One voice, one mind, inspire the throng:"To arms! to arms! to arms!" they cry, "Grasp the shield, and draw the sword, Lead us to Philippi's lord,
Let us conquer him-or die !"
Ah Eloquence! thou wast undone ;
Wast from thy native country driven,
When Tyranny eclipsed the sun,
And blotted out the stars of heaven.
When Liberty from Greece withdrew,
And o'er the Adriatic flew,
To where the Tiber pours his urn,
She struck the rude Tarpeian rock;
Sparks were kindled by the shock-
Again thy fires began to burn!
Now, shining forth, thou madest compliant
The Conscript Fathers to thy charms;
Roused the world bestriding giant,
Sinking fast in Slavery's arms!
I see thee stand by Freedom's fane,
Pouring the persuasive strain,
Giving vast conceptions birth:
Hark! I hear thy thunder's sound,
Shake the Forum round and round-
Shake the pillars of the earth!
First-born of Liberty divine!
Put on Religion's bright array;
Speak! and the starless grave shall shine
The portal of eternal day!
Rise, kindling with the orient beam;
Let Calvary's hill inspire the theme!
Unfold the garments rolled in blood!
O touch the soul, touch all her chords,
With all the omnipotence of words,
And point the way to Heaven-to God!
DISSOLUTION OF NATURE.
AND lo! a cloud just opening on the view,
Illumed with dazzling light the ethereal blue:
On its broad breast a mighty Angel came,
His eyes were lightning, and his robes of flame,
O'er all his form the circling glories run,
And his face lightened as the blazing sun;
His limbs with heaven's aerial vesture glow,
And o'er his head was hung the sweepy bow.
As shines the brightening steel's refulgent gleam
When the smooth blade reflects the spangling beam,
Its light, with quickened glance the eye surveys
Green, gold, and vermeil trembling as it plays;
So flamed his wings along the etherial road,
And Earth's long shores resounded as he trod.
Sublime he towered, keen terror armed his eyes,
And grasped the reddening bolt that rends the skies;
One foot stood firmly on the extended plain
Secure--and one repelled the bounding main-
He shook his arm-the lightning burst away
Through Heaven's dark concave gleamed the paly ray,
Roared the loud bolt tremendous through the gloom,
And peals on peals prepare the impending doom.
Then to his lips a mighty trump applied,
(The flames were ceased-the muttering thunders died) While all the involving firmaments rebound,
He raised his voice and laboured in the sound :
These dreadful words he spoke-
"Be dark thou Sun-in one eternal night!
And cease thou Moon-to rule with paler light!
Ye planets-drop from these dissolving skies!
Rend all ye Tombs-and all ye Dead arise!
Ye Winds be still-ye Tempests rave no more!
And roll thou Deep thy millions to the shore!
Earth be dissolved, with all these worlds on high!
And Time-be lost in vast Eternity!
Now by Creation's dread tremendous Sire,
Who sweeps the Stars as atoms in his ire;
By Heaven's omnipotent-unconquered King,
By him who rides the rapid Whirlwind's wing,
Who reigns supreme in his august abode,
Forms or confounds with one commanding nod,
Who wraps in blackening clouds his awful brow,
Whose glance, like lightning, looks all nature
through-
By Him I swear!" (He paused and bowed the head,
Then raised aloft his flaming hand and said,)
"Attend ye Saints, who in seraphic lays,
Exalt his name, but tremble while you praise!
Ye Hosts that vow to your Almighty Lord,
Hear all his works-the irrevocable word!
Thy reign, O Man-and Earth, thy days are o'er !
I swear by Him-that-Time shall be no more!"
He spake all Nature groaned a loud reply-
Then shook the Sun, and tore him from the sky!
THE CONQUEROR.
THERE was a temple, a glorious one,
Of the noble in death the dwelling;
Its gilded dome was bright in the sun,
And its organ tones were swelling.
A varied light through its window strayed,
All painted in antique story;
And over its marble pavement played,
Like a gem diffusing glory.
I saw the lamb on its altar stone,
The banner of love displaying;
And heard in a deep unearthly tone,
Who their hallowed rites were paying.
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