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....
A voice, from long-expecting thousands sent, Shatters the air, and troubles tower and spire; For Justice hath absolved the innocent, And Tyranny is balked of her desire:...
When Alpine Vales threw forth a suppliant cry, The Majesty of England interposed And the sword stopped; the bleeding wounds were closed; And Faith preserved her ancient purity....
There are no colours in the fairest sky So fair as these. The feather, whence the pen Was shaped that traced the lives of these good men, Dropped from an Angel's wing. With moistened eye...
As faith thus sanctified the warrior's crest While from the Papal Unity there came, What feebler means had failed to give, one aim Diffused thro' all the regions of the West;...
Down a swift Stream, thus far, a bold design Have we pursued, with livelier stir of heart Than his who sees, borne forward by the Rhine, The living landscapes greet him, and depart;...
A sudden conflict rises from the swell Of a proud slavery met by tenets strained In Liberty's behalf. Fears, true or feigned, Spread through all ranks; and lo! the Sentinel...
From Rite and Ordinance abused they fled To Wilds where both were utterly unknown; But not to them had Providence foreshown What benefits are missed, what evils bred,...
Yes, if the intensities of hope and fear Attract us still, and passionate exercise Of lofty thoughts, the way before us lies Distinct with signs, through which in set career,...
Mine ear has rung, my spirit sunk subdued, Sharing the strong emotion of the crowd, When each pale brow to dread hosannas bowed While clouds of incense mounting veiled the rood,...
Open your gates, ye everlasting Piles! Types of the spiritual Church which God hath reared; Not loth we quit the newly-hallowed sward And humble altar, 'mid your sumptuous aisles...
Tax not the royal Saint with vain expense, With ill-matched aims the Architect who planned Albeit labouring for a scanty band Of white robed Scholars only this immense And glorious Work of fine intelligence!...
The encircling ground, in native turf arrayed, Is now by solemn consecration given To social interests, and to favouring Heaven; And where the rugged colts their gambols played,...
What awful perspective! while from our sight With gradual stealth the lateral windows hide Their Portraitures, their stone-work glimmers, dyed In the soft chequerings of a sleepy light....