How bright the faggots in his little hall Blaze on the hearth, and warm the pictur'd wall! How blest he names, in Love's familiar tone, The kind fair friend, by Nature mark’d his own; And, in the waveless mirror of his mind, Views the fleet years of pleasure left behind, Since first he call'd her his before the holy man! Trim the gay taper in his rustic dome, And light the wint'ry paradise of home; And let the half-uncurtain'd window hail Some way-worn man benighted in the vale! Now, while the moaning night-wind rages high, As sweep the shot-stars down the troubled sky, While fiery hosts in Heav'n's wide circle play, Safe from the storm, the meteor, and the shower, O'er all the heart shall triumph and prevail! Charm'd as they read the verse too sadly true, Heav'd all their guns, their foundering bark to save, Yes, at the dead of night, by Lonna's steep, The seaman's cry was heard along the deep; There, on his funeral waters, dark and wild, The dying father blest his darling child! Or will they learn how generous worth sublimes His hand blood-stain'd, but ever ever dear! And burst the ties that bound him to the world! Turn from his dying words, that smite with steel, The shuddering thoughts, or wind them on the wheel Turn to the gentler melodies that suit Thalia's harp, or Pan's Arcadian lute; Or, down the stream of Truth's historic page, Yet there, perhaps, may darker scenes obtrude Than Fancy fashions in her wildest mood; There shall he pause, with horrent brow, to rate What millions died-that Cæsar might be great! Or learn the fate that bleeding thousands bore, March'd by their Charles to Dneiper's swampy shore; Faint in his wounds, and shivering in the blast, The Swedish soldier sunk-and groan'd his last! File after file, the stormy showers benumb, Freeze every standard-sheet, and hush the drum! Horsemen and horse confess'd the bitter pang, And arms and warriors fell with hollow clang! Ere life's warm torrent to the fountain froze, Thought of his home, and clos'd it with a sigh! And Charles beheld-nor shudder'd at the sight! Above, below, in Ocean, Earth, and Sky, Thy fairy worlds, Imagination, lie, And Hope attends, companion of the way, Thy dream by night, thy visions of the day! |