But thou serenely silent art! By Heaven and Love was taught to lend A milder solace to the heart, The sacred image of a friend. All is not lost! if, yet possess'd, To me that sweet memorial shine : Or, gazing through luxurious tears, Yes, Genius, yes! thy mimic aid A treasure to my soul has given, No spectre forms of pleasure fled, Then bless'd be Nature's guardian muse, The mirror of creation seems. From Love began thy high descent; And call thee brightest of the Nine! DIRGE OF WALLACE. THEY lighted a taper at the dead of night, But her brow and her bosom were damp with affright, And the Lady of Elderslie wept for her lord, "Now sing you the death-song, and loudly pray For nightmares ride on my strangled sleep: Yet knew not his country that ominous hour, That a trumpet of death on an English tower On the highborn blood of a martyr slain, Oh, it was not thus when his oaken spear And the hosts of a thousand were scatter'd like deer When he strode on the wreck of each well-fought field With the yellow-hair'd chiefs of his native land; For his lance was not shiver'd on helmet or shield; And the sword that seem'd fit for archangel to wield, Was light in his terrible hand! Yet bleeding and bound, though her Wallace wight The bugle ne'er sung to a braver knight But the day of his glory shall never depart, His head unentomb'd shall with glory be balm'd, From its blood-streaming altar his spirit shall start: Though the raven has fed on his mouldering heart, A nobler was never embalm'd! HALLOWED GROUND. WHAT'S hallow'd ground? Has earth a clod By man, the image of his God, Unscourged by Superstition's rod To bow the knee? That's hallow'd ground-where, mourn'd and miss'd, Yon churchyard's bowers? No! in ourselves their souls exist, A part of ours. A kiss can consecrate the ground Where mated hearts are mutual bound: Is hallow'd down to earth's profound, And up to heaven! For time makes all but true love old; The burning thoughts that then were told Run molten still in memory's mould; And will not cool, In Lethe's pool. What hallows ground where heroes sleep? Or Genii twine beneath the deep But strew his ashes to the wind Whose sword or voice has served mankind; To live in hearts we leave behind Is't death to fall for Freedom's right? What can alone ennoble fight? A noble cause! Give that! and welcome War to brace Her drums! and rend Heaven's reeking space! The colours planted face to face, The charging cheer, Though Death's pale horse lead on, the chase And place our trophies where men kneel Transfer it from the sword's appeal Peace, Love! the cherubim, that join The heart alone can make divine Religion's spot. To incantations dost thou trust, That man can bless one pile of dust The ticking wood-worm mocks thee, man! A temple given Thy faith, that bigots dare not ban- Its roof star-pictured Nature's ceiling, Make music, though unheard their pealing Fair stars! are not your beings pure? Ye must be Heavens that make us sure And in your harmony sublime I read the doom of distant time; Shall yet be drawn, And reason on his mortal clime Immortal dawn. What's hallow'd ground? 'Tis what gives birth Earth's compass'd round; And your high-priesthood shall make earth THE END. |