Would elevate my dreams. A beechen bowl, Crisp, yellow leaves my bed; the hooting owl XXIII. REPROOF. BUT what if one, through grove or flowery mead The saint, the scholar, from a circle freed Of learning, where thou heard'st the billows beat The recreant soul, that dares to shun the debt Of a long life; and, in the hour of death, The last dear service of thy passing breath! * *He expired dictating the last words of a translation of St. John's Gospel. XXIV. SAXON MONASTERIES, AND LIGHTS AND SHADES OF By such examples moved to unbought pains, Where Piety, as they believe, obtains From Heaven a general blessing; timely rains Or needful sunshine; prosperous enterprise, Justice and peace:· If penance be redeemable, thence alms Flow to the poor, and freedom to the slave; And if full oft the Sanctuary save Lives black with guilt, ferocity it calms. XXV. MISSIONS AND TRAVELS. NOT sedentary all: there are who roam That, like the Red-cross Knight, they urge their way, To lead in memorable triumph home Truth, their immortal Una? Babylon, Nor leaves her Speech one word to aid the sigh XXVI. ALFRED. BEHOLD a pupil of the monkish gown, No moment steals; pain narrows not his cares.* And Christian India, through her wide-spread clime, In sacred converse gifts with Alfred shares. *See Note. The chaste affections tremble to fulfil Their purposes. Behold, pre-signified, The Might of spiritual sway! his thoughts, his dreams, Do in the supernatural world abide : So vaunt a throng of Followers, filled with pride In what they see of virtues pushed to extremes, And sorceries of talent misapplied. XXIX. DANISH CONQUESTS. * WOE to the Crown that doth the Cowl obey! Thus, often, when thick gloom the east o'ershrouds, How no one can resolve; but every eye Around her sees, while air is hushed, a clear And widening circuit of ethereal sky. * See Note. |