OCCASIONED BY THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO (The last six lines intended for an Inscription.) INTREPID Sons of Albion! not by you Ye slight not life-to God and Nature true; When duty bids you bleed in open war: Hence hath your prowess quelled that impious crew. Heroes!—for instant sacrifice prepared; Yet filled with ardour and on triumph bent To you who fell, and you whom slaughter spared Which ministered, erewhile, to a sacrifice Of gratitude, beneath Italian skies, In words like these: Up, Voice of song! proclaim 'Thy saintly rapture with celestial aim: For lo! the Imperial City stands released 'From bondage threatened by the embattled East, And Christendom respires; from guilt and shame 'Redeemed, from miserable fear set free 'By one day's feat, one mighty victory. '-Chant the Deliverer's praise in every tongue! 'The cross shall spread, the crescent hath waxed dim; He conquering, as in joyful Heaven is sung, · HE CONQUERING THROUGH God, and God BY HIM * See Filicaia's Ode. XLII. OCCASIONED BY THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. FEBRUARY, 1816. THE Bard—whose soul is meek as dawning day, The aspiring heads of future things appear, Like mountain-tops whose mists have rolled away— He only, if such breathe, in strains devout Shall worthily rehearse the hideous rout, The triumph hail, which from their peaceful clime *From all this world's encumbrance did himself assoil.'-Spenser. XLIII. EMPERORS and Kings, how oft have temples rung sprung; Your thrones, ye Powers! from duty fear to swerve ; Be just, be grateful; nor, the oppressor's creed Reviving, heavier chastisement deserve Than ever forced unpitied hearts to bleed. WHEN the soft hand of sleep had closed the latch |