With Edward's acts1 adorn the shining page, Then, from her roofs when Verrio's colours fall, Still in thy song should vanquish'd France appear, 301 310 Let softer strains ill-fated Henry mourn,2 And palms eternal flourish round his urn. Here o'er the martyr-king the marble weeps, And, fast beside him, once-fear'd Edward sleeps.3 Whom not the extended Albion could contain, From old Belerium to the northern main, The grave unites; where ev'n the great find rest, And blended lie the oppressor and the oppress'd! Make sacred Charles' tomb for ever known, (Obscure the place, and uninscribed the stone) Oh fact accursed! what tears has Albion shed, Heavens, what new wounds! and how her old have bled! She saw her sons with purple deaths expire, Her sacred domes involved in rolling fire, A dreadful series of intestine wars, Inglorious triumphs and dishonest scars. At length great Anna said-- Let discord cease!' She said, the world obey'd, and all was peace! 321 'Edward's acts:' Edward III., born here.-2 Henry mourn:' Henry VI.— Once-fear'd Edward sleeps: ' Edward IV. VARIATIONS. VER. 305, 306. Originally thus in the MS.When brass decays, when trophies lie o'erthrown, And mouldering into dust drops the proud stone. VER. 319-322. Originally thus in the MS.Oh fact accurst! oh sacrilegious brood, Sworn to rebellion, principled in blood! Since that dire morn what tears has Albion shed, Gods! what new wounds, &c. VER. 325, 326. Thus in the MS.Till Anna rose and bade the Furies cease; 'Let there be peace'-she said, and all was peace. In that blest moment, from his oozy bed ''Augusta :' old name for London. 327 340 350 VARIATIONS. Between VER. 328 and 329, originally stood From shore to shore exulting shouts he heard, shone, Fictitious stars, and glories not her own. The tributes of the distant East and West. Hail, sacred Peace! hail, long-expected days, Of war or blood, but in the sylvan chase; Their ample bow, a new White hall ascend! And temples rise: the fifty new churches. 352 360 370 380 VARIATIONS. Here not a town, but spacious realm shall have VER. 361-364. Originally thus in the MS.Let Venice boast her towers amidst the main, Where the rough Adrian swells and roars in vain; | A sure foundation on the rolling wave. There kings shall sue, and suppliant states be seen 381 Once more to bend before a British queen. 390 Thy trees, fair Windsor! now shall leave their woods, And half thy forests rush into the floods, Bear Britain's thunder, and her cross display, To the bright regions of the rising day; Tempt icy seas, where scarce the waters roll, Where clearer flames glow round the frozen pole; Or under southern skies exalt their sails, Led by new stars, and borne by spicy gales! For me the balm shall bleed, and amber flow, The coral redden, and the ruby glow, The pearly shell its lucid globe infold, And Phoebus warm the ripening ore to gold. The time shall come when, free as seas or wind, Unbounded Thames shall flow for all mankind, Whole nations enter with each swelling tide, And seas but join the regions they divide ; Earth's distant ends our glory shall behold, And the new world launch forth to seek the old. Then ships of uncouth form shall stem the tide, And feather'd people crowd my wealthy side, And naked youths and painted chiefs admire Our speech, our colour, and our strange attire! O stretch thy reign, fair Peace! from shore to shore, Till conquest cease, and slavery be no more; Till the freed Indians in their native groves Reap their own fruits, and woo their sable loves, Peru once more a race of kings behold, And other Mexicos be roof'd with gold. VARIATIONS. VER. 383-387 were originally thusNow shall our fleets the bloody cross display To the rich regions of the rising day, 400 410 Or those green isles, where headlong Titan steeps Exiled by thee from earth to deepest hell, In brazen bonds, shall barbarous Discord dwell; Here cease thy flight, nor with unhallow'd lays 411 420 430 ODE ON ST CECILIA'S DAY, MDCCVIII. 1 DESCEND, ye Nine! descend and sing; |