The white-rose garland at her feet, The crown of laurel at her head, Her noble life on earth complete, Lay her in the last low bed For the slumber calm and deep:...
How easily He turns the tides! Just now the yellow beach was dry, Just now the gaunt rocks all were bare, The sun beat hot, and thirstily Each sea-weed waved its long brown hair,...
Long reaches of wet grasses sway Where ran the sea but yesterday, And white-winged boats at sunset drew To anchor in the crimsoning blue. The boats lie on the grassy plain,...
There is one sin: to call a green leaf grey, Whereat the sun in heaven shuddereth. There is one blasphemy: for death to pray, For God alone knoweth the praise of death. ...
If there be prophets on whose spirits rest Past things, revealed like future, they can tell What Powers, presiding o'er the sacred well Of Christian Faith, this savage Island blessed...
From false assumption rose, and, fondly hailed By superstition, spread the Papal power; Yet do not deem the Autocracy prevailed Thus only, even in error's darkest hour....
"Here Man more purely lives, less oft doth fall, "More promptly rises, walks with stricter heed, "More safely rests, dies happier, is freed "Earlier from cleansing fires, and gains withal...
Who comes with rapture greeted, and caressed With frantic love, his kingdom to regain? Him Virtue's Nurse, Adversity, in vain Received, and fostered in her iron breast:...
Last night, without a voice, that Vision spake Fear to my Soul, and sadness which might seem Wholly dissevered from our present theme; Yet, my beloved Country! I partake Of kindred agitations for thy sake;...
Screams round the Arch-druid's brow the seamew white As Menai's foam; and toward the mystic ring Where Augurs stand, the Future questioning, Slowly the cormorant aims her heavy flight,...
Yet Truth is keenly sought for, and the wind Charged with rich words poured out in thought's defense; Whether the Church inspire that eloquence, Or a Platonic Piety confined...
Calm as an under-current, strong to draw Millions of waves into itself, and run, From sea to sea, impervious to the sun And ploughing storm, the spirit of Nassau Swerves not, (how blest if by religious awe...
Deplorable his lot who tills the ground, His whole life long tills it, with heartless toil Of villain-service, passing with the soil To each new Master, like a steer or hound,...
Nor shall the eternal roll of praise reject Those Unconforming; whom one rigorous day Drives from their Cures, a voluntary prey To poverty, and grief, and disrespect....