What tho' with War the madding Nations rung, 'Peace,' when He spoke, was ever on his tongue! Amidst the frowns of Power, the tricks of State, Fearless, resolved, and negligently great! In vain malignant vapours gathered round; When in retreat He laid his thunder by, There shone his lamp on Homer's hallowed page. There, listening, sate the hero and the sage; And they, by virtue and by blood allied, Whom most He loved, and in whose arms He died. |