Does yet the unheard-of Vessel ride the wave? Redeemed to baftle that imperial Slave, What hope, what joy can sunshine bring to thee, NDIGNATION OF A HIGH-MINDED SPANIARD. Ix due observance of an ancient rite, 1810. FEELINGS OF A NOBLE BISCAYAN Avaunt all specious pliancy of mind In men of low degree, all smooth pretence! I better like a blunt indifference And self-respecting slowness, disinclined With firmer soul, yet labour to regain To win me at first sight: and be there joined Our ancient freedom; else 't were worse than vain Patience and temperance with this high reserve, To gather round the Bier these festal shows. Honour that knows the path and will not swerve; A garland fashioned of the pure white rose Affections, which, if put to proof, are kind; Becomes not one whose Father is a Slave : And piety tow'rds God. Such Meu of old Oh, bear the Infant covered to his Grave! Were England's native growth; and, throughout Spain, These vencrable mountains now enclose Forests of such do at this day remain; A People suok in apathy and fear. Then for that Country let our hopes be bold; If this endure, farewell, for us, all good! For matched with these shall policy prove vain, Her arts, her strength, her iron, and her gold. 1810. On fleets and armies, and external wealth: But from within proceeds a Nation's bealth; Which shall not fail, though poor men cleave with pride The ancient oak of Guernica, says Laborde io his account of Biscay. To the paternal floor; or turn aside, in a test venerable natural monument. Ferdinand and Isabella, lo che thronged City, from the walks of gain, A Soul by contemplation sanctified. Spaniards of every rank, by whom the good of such high course was felt and understood; Who to their Country's cause have bound a life, Ook of Guernica! Tree of holier power Erewhile by solemn consecration given Than that which in Dodopa did enshrine To labour, and to prayer, to pature, and to heaven.' (So faith too fondly dcemned) a voice divine, Heard from the depths of its aerial bower, "See Laborde's Character of the Spanish People: from him the How canst thou flourish at this blighting hour? sentiment of these last two lines is taken. THE FRENCH AND THE SPANISH GUERILLAS. Nor, louched with due abhorrence of their guilt For whose dire ends tears flow, and blood is spilt, Hunger, and sultry heat, and nipping blast And justice labours in extremity, THE FRENCH ARMY IN RUSSIA. 1812-13. Humanity, delighting to behold With combinations of long-practised art A fond reflection of her own decay, And newly-kindled hope; but they are fled, Hath painted Winter like a Traveller-old, Gone are they, viewless as the buried dead; Propped on a staff--and, through the sullen day, Where now? — Their sword is at the Foeman's heart! In hooded mantle, limping o'er the Plain, And thus from year to year his walk they thwart, As though his weakness were disturbed by pain: And hang like dreams around his guilty bed. Or, if a juster fancy should allow The chosen sceptre is a witbered bough, Infirmly grasped within a palsied hand. These emblems suit the helpless and forlorn, But mighty Winter the device shall scorn. For he it was-dread Winter! who beset, Flinging round van and rear his ghastly pet, Are Captains such as erst their Country bred That lost, —when from the regions of the Pole Or fostered, self-supported Chiefs, - like those They shrunk, insane ambition's barren goal, Whom hardy Rome was fearful to oppose, That lost, as huge and strong as e'er defied Whose desperate shock the Carthaginian tled. Their God, and placed their trust in human pride! Ja one who lived unknown a Shepherd's life As fathers persecule rebellious sons, Redoubted Viriatus breathes again; He smote the blossoms of their warrior youth; He called on Frost's inexorable tooth Nor spared the reverend blood that feebly runs; For why, unless for liberty enrolled 1811. power, that spirit, whether on the wing Fleet the Tartar's reinless steed, And to the battle ride. 1811. Here pause: the Poet claims at least this praise, ON THE SAME OCCASION. 1 Sertorius. On the remorseless hearts of men grown old By Moscow self-devoted to a blaze In a blind worship; men perversely bold Of dreadful sacrifice; by Russian blood Even to this hour; yet at this bour they quake; Lavished in fight with desperate hardihood; And some their monstrous Idol shall forsake, 'The unfeeling Elements no claim shall raise jf, to the living, Truth was ever told To rob our Human-nature of just praise For what she did and suffered. Pledges sure By aught surrendered from the hollow grave : O murdered Prince! meek, loyal, pious, brave! Of a deliverance absolute and pure The power of retribution once was given; She fave, if Faith might tread the beaten ways But 't is a rueful thought that willow-bands Of Providence. But now did the Most High So often tie the thunder-wielding hands Of Justice, sent to earth from highest Heaven! OCCASIONED BY THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. Finish the strife by deadliest Victory! (The last six lines intended for an Inscription.) FEBRUARY, 1816. INTREPID sons of Albion! not by you Is life despised; ah no, the spacious earth ASRUPTLY paused the Strife ;—the field throughout Ne'er saw a race who held, by right of birılı, Resting upon his arins each Warrior stood, So many objects to which love is due. 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. Cleaves its glad way, a cry of harvest-bome Heroes! for instant sacrifice prepared, l'uered to Heaven in ecstasy devout! Yet filled with ardour, and on triumph bent, To you who fell, and you whom slaughter spared, As if all Germany had felt the shock! To guard the fallen, and consummate the event, FEBRUARY, 1816. 0, FOR For a kindling touch of that pure flame Which taught the offering of song to rise Now that all hearts are glad, all faces bright, From thy lone bower, beneath Italian skies, Our aged Sovereigo sits; to the ebb and flow Great FilicaTA! With celestial aim Of seates and kingdoms, to their joy or woe, It rose- thy saintly rapture to proclaim, losensible; he sils deprived of sight, Then, when the imperial Cily stood released And lamentably wrapt in twofold night, From bondage threatened by the embattled East, Whom no weak bopes deceived; whose mind ensuci, And Christendom respired; from guilt and share Through perilous war, with regal fortitude, Redeemed, from miserable fear set free Peace that should claim respect from lawless Might. By one day's feat, one mighty victory. Dread King of Kings, vouchsafe a ray divine --Chant the Deliverer's praise in every tongue! To his forlorn condition! let thy grace The cross shall spread, the crescent hath waxed dim, l'pon his inner soul in mercy shine; He conquering, as in Earth and Heaven was sung, Permit his heart to kindle, and embrace HE CONQUERING THROUGH GOD, AND GOD BY HIM." (Though were it only for a moment's space) The triumphs of this hour; for they are Tuine! OCCASIONED BY THE SAME BATTLE. ON THE DISINTERMENT OF THE REMAINS OF FEBRUARY, 1816. The Bard, whose soul is meek as dawning day, Yet trained to judgments righteously severe; Fervid, yet conversant with boly fear, As recognizing one Almighty sway: And so intlict sbame's salutary stings Ond' è ch' lo grido e griderò: giugnesti, ! The event is thus recorded in the journals of the day: When the Austrians took Hochheim, in one part of the engagement they Guerregiasti, e vincesti; Si, si, viocesti, o Campion forte e pio, poi to ibe brow of the bill, whence they bad their first view of the Per Dio vincesti, e per te vinse Iddio. Bhinn, They instantly balted-ot a gun was fired---not a voice board: they stood gazing on the river, with those feelings which See Filicaia's Canzone, addressed to John Sobieski, king of Poland, ibe events of the last ofteen years at once called up. Prioca upon his raising the siege of Vieppa. This, and his other poems on Schwartzenberg rodo up to know the cause of this sudden stop: the some occasion, are superior, perhaps, to any lyrical pieces that tbay ibru gave three cheers, rushed after the enemy, and drove contemporary events have ever given birth to, those of the Hebrew tlax m into the water.. Scriptures only excepted. my He whose experienced eye can pierce the array Saint George himself this Visitant may be; And, ere a thought could ask on what intent He sought the regions of humanity, Like mountain-tops whose mists have rolled away: A thrilling voice was heard, that vivified Assoiled from all incumbrance of our time,' City and field and flood, -aloud it cried, Though from my celestial home, Like a Champion, armed I come; Which the blest Angels, from their peaceful clime On helm the dragon crest, Beholding, welcomed with a choral shout. And the red cross on my breast; Speak not now of toilsome duty- Well obeyed was that command, With impious thanksgiving, the Almighty's scorn! Ilence bright days of festive beauty; How oft above their altars have been hung Haste, Virgins, haste!- the flowers which summer gave Trophies that led the Good and Wise to mourn Have perished in the field; Triumphant wrong, battle of battle born, But the green thickets plenteously shall yield Fit garlands for the Brave, llaste, Virgins, haste;-avd you, ye Matrons grave, Glory to arms! but, conscious that the nerve Go forth with rival youthfulness of mind, find Of hardy laurel and wild holly boughs, Such simple gifts prepare, Though they have gained a worthier meed; And in due time shall share Unto their martyred Countrymen decreed, io realms wliere everlasting freshness breathes!» And lo! with crimson banners proudly streaming, And upright weapons innocently gleaming, Along the surface of a spacious plain Advance in order the redoubted bands, lod there receive green chaplets from the hands Of a fair female train, Maids and Matrons-dight In robes of dazzling while,- While from the crowd bursts forth a rapturous poise By the cloud-capt bills retorted, When the soft hand of sleep had closed the latch And a throng of rosy boys On the tired household of corporeal sense, In loose fashion tell their joys,And Fancy, keeping upreluctant watch, And grey-haired Sires, on staffs supported, Was free her choicest favours to dispense; Look round-and by their smiling seem to say, I saw, in wondrous perspective displayed, Thus strives a grateful Country to display The mighly debt which nothing can repay! Anon before my sight a Palace rose, Built of all precious substances, --so pure And stately forest where the wild deer rove; And exquisite, that sleep alone bestows Nor wanted lurking hamlet, dusky towns, Ability like splendour to endure : And scattered rural farms of aspect bright, Entered, with streaming thousands, through the gate, Avd, here and there, between the pastoral downs, I saw the banquet spread beneath a Dome of state, The azure sea upswelled upon the sight. A lofty Dome, that dared to emulate Fair prospect, such as Britain only shows! The leaven of sable night With starry lustre; and had power to throw Upon a princely Company below, While the Vault rang with choral harmony, Through portal clear as loop-bole in a storm Like some Nymph-haunted Grot beneath the roariug sea. Opening before the Sun's triumphant eye, - No sooner ceased that peal, than on the verge Issued, to sudden view, a radiant Form! Of exultation hung a dirge, Earthward it glided with a swift descent: Breathed from a soft and lonely instrument, That kindled recollections SPESTEN. Of agonized affections; 1 And, though some tears the strain attended, The mournful passion ended lo peace of spirit, and sublime content! THANKSGIVING ODE. JANUARY 18, 1816. ADVERTISEMENT. -Bat garlands wither,-festal slows depart, Like dreams themselves; and sweetest sound, Albeit of effect profound, It was-and it is gone! Upon Athenian walls: And be the guardian spaces Of consecrated places, As changeful ages tlow, And ye, Pierian Sisters, sprung from Jove And sage Mnemosyne, full long debarred From your first mansions,-exiled all too long From many a hallowed stream and grove, Dear native regions where ye wont to rove, Chanting for patriot beroes the reward Of never-dying song! Now (for, though Truth descending from above The Olympian summit bath destroyed for aye Your kindred Deities, ye live and move, And exercise unblamed a generous sway) Now, on the margin of some spotless fountain, Or top serene of unmolested mountain, Strike audibly the noblest of your lyres, And for a moinent meet my soul's desires! That I, or some more favoured Bard, may hear What ye, celestial Maids! have often sung And to the like aspiring, Woolly unworthy of touching upon the momentous subject here treated would that Poet be, before whose eyes the present distresses under which this kingdom labours could juterpose a veil sufficiently thick to hide, or even to obscure, the splendour of this great moral triumph. If the author has given way to exultation, unchecked by these distresses, it might be sufficient to protect him from a charge of insensibility, should he state his own belief that the sufferings will be transitory. On the wisdom of a very large majority of the British nation rested that generosity which poured out the treasures of this country for the deliverance of Europe: and in the same national wisdom, presiding in time of peace over an energy not inferior to that which has beca displayed in war, they confide, who encourage a firm bope, that the cup of our wealth will be gradually replenished. There will, doubtless, be no few ready to indulge in regrets and repinings; and to feed a morbid satisfaction, by aggravating these burthens in imagination, in order that calamily so coofidently prophesied, as it has not taken the shape which their sagacity allotted to it, may appear as grievous as possible under another. But the body of the nation will not quarrel with the gain, because it might have been purchased at a less price: and, acknowledging in these sufferings, which they feel to have been in a great degree unavoidable, a consecration of their noble efforts, they will vigorously apply themselves to remedy the evil. Nor is it at the expense of rational patriotism, or in disregard of sound philosophy, that the author bath given vent to feelings tending to encourage a martial spirit in the bosoms of his countrymen, at a time when there is a general outcry against the prevalence of these dispositions. The British army, both by its skill and valour in the field, and by the discipline which has reodered it much less formidable than the armies of other powers to the inhabitants of the several countries wlicre its operations were carrried on, has performed services ihat will not allow the language of gratitude and admiration to be suppressed or restrained (whatever be the temper of the public mind) through a scrupulous dread lest the tribute due to the past should prove an injurious incentive for the future. Every man deserving the name of Briton adds his voice to the chorus which extols the exploits of his countrymen, with a consciousness, at times overpowering the effort, that they transcend all praise.—But this particular sentiment, thus irresistibly excited, is not sufficient. The nation would crr grievously, if she suffered the abuse which other states have made of military power, to prevent her from perceiving that no people ever was, or can be, independent, free, or secure, much less great, in any sane application of the word, without martial propensities and an assiduous cultivation of military virtues. Nor let it be overlooked, that the benefits derivable from these sources are placed within the reach of Great Britain, under coo. ditions peculiarly favourable. The same insular position |