'The oppression of the tumult, wrath and scorn The tribulation and the gleaming blades' Such is the impetuous spirit that pervades The song of Taliesin; Ours shall mourn...
Nor wants the cause the panic-striking aid Of hallelujahs tost from hill to hill For instant victory. But Heaven's high will Permits a second and a darker shade Of Pagan night. Afflicted and dismayed,...
For ever hallowed be this morning fair, Blest be the unconscious shore on which ye tread, And blest the silver Cross, which ye, instead Of martial banner, in procession bear;...
How beautiful your presence, how benign, Servants of God! who not a thought will share With the vain world; who, outwardly as bare As winter trees, yield no fallacious sign...
Rise! they 'have' risen: of brave Aneurin ask How they have scourged old foes, perfidious friends: The Spirit of Caractacus descends Upon the Patriots, animates their task;...
Prompt transformation works the novel Lore; The Council closed, the Priest in full career Rides forth, an armed man, and hurls a spear To desecrate the Fane which heretofore...
Nor scorn the aid which Fancy oft doth lend The Soul's eternal interests to promote: Death, darkness, danger, are our natural lot; And evil Spirits 'may' our walk attend...
"Man's life is like a Sparrow, mighty King! "That, while at banquet with your Chiefs you sit "Housed near a blazing fire, is seen to flit "Safe from the wintry tempest. Fluttering,...
But, to remote Northumbria's royal Hall, Where thoughtful Edwin, tutored in the school Of sorrow, still maintains a heathen rule, 'Who' comes with functions apostolical?...
Methinks that to some vacant hermitage 'My' feet would rather turn to some dry nook Scooped out of living rock, and near a brook Hurled down a mountain-cove from stage to stage,...
But what if One, through grove or flowery mead, Indulging thus at will the creeping feet Of a voluptuous indolence, should meet Thy hovering Shade, O venerable Bede!...
Lance, shield, and sword relinquished, at his side A bead-roll, in his hand a clasped book, Or staff more harmless than a shepherd's crook, The war-worn Chieftain quits the world to hide...
By such examples moved to unbought pains, The people work like congregated bees; Eager to build the quiet Fortresses Where Piety, as they believe, obtains From Heaven a 'general' blessing; timely rains...
Woe to the Crown that doth the Cowl obey! Dissension, checking arms that would restrain The incessant Rovers of the northern main, Helps to restore and spread a Pagan sway:...
Ah, when the Body, round which in love we clung, Is chilled by death, does mutual service fail? Is tender pity then of no avail? Are intercessions of the fervent tongue...
Behold a pupil of the monkish gown, The pious Alfred, King to Justice dear! Lord of the harp and liberating spear; Mirror of Princes! Indigent Renown Might range the starry ether for a crown...
When thy great soul was freed from mortal chains, Darling of England! many a bitter shower Fell on thy tomb; but emulative power Flowed in thy line through undegenerate veins....
Urged by Ambition, who with subtlest skill Changes her means, the Enthusiast as a dupe Shall soar, and as a hypocrite can stoop, And turn the instruments of good to ill,...
Not sedentary all: there are who roam To scatter seeds of life on barbarous shores; Or quit with zealous step their knee-worn floors To seek the general mart of Christendom;...
A pleasant music floats along the Mere, From Monks in Ely chanting service high, While-as Canute the King is rowing by: "My Oarsmen," quoth the mighty King, "draw near,...