Turn from his dying words, that smite with steel 165 The shuddering thoughts, or wind them on the wheelTurn to the gentler melodies that suit Thalia's harp, or Pan's Arcadian lute; Or, down the stream of Truth's historic page, From clime to clime descend from age to age! 170 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! 4 Or learn the fate that bleeding thousands bore," March'd by their Charles to Dneiper's swampy shore; 175 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! 180 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, The dying man to Sweden turn'd his eye, 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! 185 190 In yonder pensile orb, and every sphere That gems the starry girdle of the year; In those unmeasur'd worlds, she bids thee tell, 195 Whose names and natures, unreveal'd below, We yet shall learn, and wonder as we know; 6 Thron'd on her tow'rs, conversing with the storm, 200 (When o'er each runic altar, weed-entwin'd, The vesper clock tolls mournful to the wind), Counts every wave-worn isle, and mountain hoar, From Kilda to the green Ierne's shore; So, when thy pure and renovated mind 205 This perishable dust hath left behind, Thy seraph eye shall count the starry train, Rapt to the shrine where motion first began, And light and life in mingling torrent ran, From whence each bright rotundity was hurl'd, Oh! vainly wise, the moral Muse hath sung True; she may sport with life's untutor❜d day, But yet, methinks, when Wisdom shall assuage The griefs and passions of our greener age, Though dull the close of life, and far away Each flow'r that hail'd the dawning of the day; 210 215 220 Yet o'er her lovely hopes that once were dear, The time-taught spirit, pensive, not severe, With milder griefs her aged eye shall fill, And weep their falsehood, though she love them still! 225 Thus, with forgiving tears, and reconcil'd, Unfading Hope! when life's last embers burn, When soul to soul, and dust to dust return! 230 235 |