Or cons his murmuring task beneath her care, Where is the troubled heart, consigned to share The dim-eyed tenant of the dungeon gloom, Chide not his peace, proud Reason! nor destroy Hark! the wild maniac sings, to chide the gale Watched the rude surge his shroudless corse that bore, Ideal peace, that truth could ne'er bestow; Warm on her heart the joys of Fancy beam, Oft when yon moon has climbed the midnight sky, And the lone seabird wakes its wildest cry, Piled on the steep, her blazing faggots burn To hail the bark that never can return; And still she waits, but scarce forbears to weep, That constant love can linger on the deep. And, mark the wretch, whose wanderings never knew The world's regard, that soothes, though half untrue, Whose erring heart the lash of sorrow bore, But found not pity when it erred no more. Yon friendless man, at whose dejected eye Th' unfeeling proud one looks—and passes by; Condemned on Penury's barren path to roam, Scorned by the world, and left without a homeEv'n he, at evening, should he chance to stray Down by the hamlet's hawthorn-scented way, Where, round the cot's romantic glade are seen The blossomed bean-field, and the sloping green, Leans o'er its humble gate, and thinks the whiteOh! that for me some home like this would smile, Some hamlet shade, to yield my sickly form, Health in the breeze, and shelter in the storm! There should my hand no stinted boon assign To wretched hearts with sorrow such as mine! That generous wish can soothe unpitied care, And Hope half mingles with the poor man's prayer. Hope when I mourn, with sympathizing mind, I watch the wheels of Nature's mazy plan, Come, bright Improvement! on the car of Time, Shall start to view the glittering haunts of men; In Libyan groves, where damned rites are done, Where barb'rous hoards on Scythian mountains roam, Truth, Mercy, Freedom, yet shall find a home; Where'er degraded Nature bleeds. and pines, From Guinea's coast to Sibir's dreary mines, (g) Truth shall pervade th' unfathomed darkness there, And light the dreadful features of despair.Hark! the stern captive spurns his heavy load, And asks the image back that Heaven bestowed: Fierce in his eyes the fire of valour burns, And, as the slave departs, the man returns! Oh! sacred Truth! thy triumph ceased awhile, And Hope, thy sister, ceased with thee to smile, When leagued Oppression poured to northern wars Her whiskered pandoors and her fierce hussars, Waved her dread standard to the breeze of morn, Pealed her loud drum, and twanged her trumpet horn; Tumultuous horror brooded o'er her van, Presaging wrath to Poland-and to man! (h) Warsaw's last champion, from her height surveyed, Wide o'er the fields, a waste of ruin laid,— Oh! Heaven! he cried, my bleeding country save; Is there no hand on high to shield the brave. Yet, though destruction sweep these lovely plains, Rise, fellow-men! our country yet remains! By that dread name, we wave the sword on high, And swear for her to live '—with her to die! He said, and on the rampart-neights arrayed In vain, alas. in vain, ye gallant few! Dropt from her nerveless grasp the shattered spear, The sun went down, nor ceased the carnage there, Tumultuous murder shook the midnight air— On Prague's proud arch the fires of ruin glow, His blood-dyed waters murm'ring far below; The storm prevails, the ramparts yield away, Bursts the wild cry of horror and dismay; Hark! as the smouldering piles with thunder fall, A thousand shrieks for hopeless mercy call! Earth shook-red meteors flashed along the sky, And conscious Nature shuddered at the cry! Oh! Righteous Heaven! ere Freedom found a grave That crushed proud Ammon, when his iron car Departed spirits of the mighty dead! Ye that at Marathon and Leuctra bled! Friends of the world! restore your swords to man, Yes! thy proud lords, unpitying land! shall see |