"Whilst thou, perhaps, for some few years, Shalt rule this fickle land, To let them know how wide the rule "Thy power unjust, thou traitor slave! King Edward's soul rushed to his face, And to his brother Gloucester "To him that so-much-dreaded death No ghastly terrors bring; Behold the man! he spake the truth; "So let him die!" Duke Richard said; And now the horses gently drew Sir Charles did up the scaffold go, As up a gilded car Of victory, by valorous chiefs. Gained in the bloody war. And to the people he did say : "As long as Edward rules this land, Your sons and husbands shall be slain, And brooks with blood shall flow. "You leave your good and lawful king, When in adversity; Like me, unto the true cause stick, Then he, with priests, upon his knees, Then, kneeling down, he laid his head And out the blood began to flow, The bloody axe his body fair Into four partis cut; And every part, and eke his head, Upon a pole was put. One part did rot on Kinwulph-hill, The other on Saint Paul's good gate, His head was placed on the high cross, Thus was the end of Bawdin's fate: God prosper long our king, William Cowper. VERSES SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN BY ALEXANDER SELKIRK, DURING HIS SOLITARY ABODE IN THE ISLAND OF JUAN FERNANDEZ. I AM monarch of all I survey— My right there is none to dispute; That sages have seen in thy face? I am out of humanity's reach; Never hear the sweet music of speech- Society, friendship, and love, Divinely bestowed upon man! In the ways of religion and truth— Religion! What treasure untold Or smiled when a sabbath appeared. Ye winds that have made me your sport, Convey to this desolate shore Some cordial endearing report Of a land I shall visit no more! My friends-do they now and then send A wish or a thought after me? O tell me I yet have a friend, Though a friend I am never to see How fleet is a glance of the mind! And the swift-winged arrows of light. Soon hurries me back to despair. But the sea-fowl is gone to her nest, And I to my cabin repair. There's mercy in every place, And mercy-encouraging thought!— Gives even affliction a grace, And reconciles man to his lot. THE PULPIT. THE pulpit, therefore (and I name it filled With solemn awe, that bids me well beware I say the pulpit (in the sober use Of its legitimate, peculiar powers) Must stand acknowledged, while the world shall stand, The most important and effectual guard, Support, and ornament of Virtue's cause, |