II. 3 70 Woods, that wave o'er Delphi's steep,o Isles, that crown the Ægeano deep, Fields, that cool Ilissus laves, Or where Mæander's amber waveso In lingering labyrinths creep, How do your tuneful echoes languish,o Mute, but to the voice of anguish ! Where each old poetic mountain Inspiration breathed around: Every shade and hallowed fountain 75 Murmured deep a solemn sound: Till the sad Nine, in Greece's evil hour, Left their Parnassuso for the Latian plains. Alike they scorn the pomp of tyrant Power, And coward Vice, that revels in her chains. When Latium had her lofty spirit lost, They sought, oh Albiono! next thy sea-encircled coast. 80 III. 1 85 Far from the sun and summer-gale, To him the mighty mother did unveil 90 Thine too these golden keys, immortal Boy! III. 2 95 100 Nor second He, that rode sublime Upon the seraph-wings of Ecstasy, The secrets of the abyss to spy. He passed the flaming bounds of place and time: The living throne, the sapphire blaze,o Where angels tremble while they gaze, He saw; but, blasted with excess of light, Closed his eyes in endless night. Behold, where Dryden's less presumptuous car, Wide o'er the fields of glory bear Two coursers of ethereal race, o With necks in thunder clothed, and long-resounding 105 Hark, his hands the lyre explore ! Oh ! lyre divine, what daring spirit 110 Nor the pride, nor ample pinion, 115 Sailing with supreme dominion Through the azure deep of air: Such forms as glitter in the Muse's ray, Yet shall he mount, and keep his distant wayo Beyond the limits of a vulgaro fate, Beneath the Good how far— but far above the Great. 120 a THE BARDO I. 1 “RUIN seize thee, ruthless King! Confusiono on thy banners wait; They mock the air with idle state.° To save thy secret soul from nightly fears, From Cambria's curse," from Cambria's tears !” Such were the sounds that o'er the crested prideo Of the first Edward scattered wild dismay, As down the steep of Snowdon's shaggy sideo He wound with toilsome march his long array. Stout Glo'stero stood aghast in speechless trance: “ To arms!” cried Mortimer,' and couched his 10 : 15 I. 2 Robed in the sable garb of woe, With haggard eyes the poet stood; (Loose his beard, and hoary hair Streamed, like a meteor, to the troubled air,)o 20 And with a master's hand, and prophet's fire, Struck the deep sorrows of his lyre. “Hark, how each giant-oak, and desert cave, Sighs to the torrent's awful voice beneath! O'er thee, oh King ! their hundred arms they wave. Revenge on thee in hoarser murmurs breathe; Vocal no more, since Cambria's fatal day, To high-born Hoel's harp, or soft Llewellyn's lay.° 24 1. 3 " Cold is Cadwallo's tongue, That hushed the stormy main: 30 Brave Urieno sleeps upon his craggy bed: Mountains, ye mourn in vain Modred," whose magic song Made huge Plinlimmono bow his cloud-topt head. On dreary Arvon's shore they lie, o Smeared with gore, and ghastly pale: Far, far aloof the affrighted ravens sail; The famished eagle screams, and passes by. Dear lost companions of my tuneful art, Dear as the light that visits these sad eyes, 35 40 Dear as the ruddy drops that warm my heart, Ye died amidst your dying country's cries No more I weep. They do not sleep. On yonder cliffs, a griesly band, I see them sit, they linger yet, Avengers of their native land: With me in dreadful harmony they join, And weave with bloody hands the tissue of thy line. 45 II. 1 50 Weave the warp, and weave the woof,o The winding-sheet of Edward's race. Give ample room, and verge enough The characters of hell to trace. Mark the year, and mark the night, When Severn shall reëcho with affright The shrieks of death, through Berkley's roof that ring, 55 Shrieks of an agonizing kingo! She-wolf of France, with unrelenting fangs, That tearest the bowels of thy mangled mate, From thee be born, who o'er thy country hangs The scourge of heaven. What terrors round him waito! 60 Amazemento in his van, with flight combined, And sorrow's faded form, and solitude behind. II. 2 “Mighty victor, mighty lord ! Low on his funeral couch he liero |
