Thy clouds, thy quiet dales, thy rocks and seas, May my fears, My filial fears, be vain! and may the vaunts Pass like the gust, that roared and died away But now the gentle dew-fall sends abroad The fruit-like perfume of the golden fürze : The light has left the summit of the hill, Though still a sunny gleam lies beautiful, Aslant the ivied beacon. Now farewell, Farewell, awhile, O soft and silent spot! On the green sheep-track, up the heathy hill, Homeward I wind my way; and lo! recalled From bodings that have well nigh wearied me, I find myself upon the brow, and In such a quiet and surrounded nook, Of that huge amphitheatre of rich Thy church-tower, and, methinks, the four huge elms Is softened, and made worthy to indulge Love, and the thoughts that yearn for human kind. Nether Stowey, FIRE, FAMINE, and slauGHTER. A WAR ECLOGUE. WITH AN APOLOGETIC PREFACE.' The Scene a desolated Tract in la Vendée. FAMINE is discovered lying on the ground; to her enter FIRE and SLAUGHTER. Fam. SISTERS! sisters! who sent you here? Spirits hear what spirits tell: 'Twill make a holiday in hell. Myself, I named him once below, Clapped their hands and danced for glee. They no longer heeded me; But laughed to hear hell's burning rafters No! no! no! Spirits hear what spirits tell! Fam. Whisper it, sister! so and so! In a dark hint, soft and slow. 1 See Appendix. Slau. Letters four do form his name And who sent you? Both. The same! the same! Slau. He came by stealth, and unlocked my den, And I have drunk the blood since then Of thrice three hundred thousand men Slau. The same! the same! Letters four do form his name. He let me loose, and cried halloo ! To him alone the praise is due. Fam. Thanks, sister, thanks! the men have bled, To frighten the wolf and carrion-crow Both. Whisper it, sister! in our ear. Fam. A baby beat its dying mother: I had starved the one and was starving the other! Both. Who bade you do't? Fam. The same! the same! Letters four do form his name. He let me loose, and cried, halloo ! To him alone the praise is due. Fire. Sisters! I from Ireland came! To see the sweltered cattle run With uncouth gallop through the night, The house-stream met the flame and hissed, The same! the same! Letters four do form his name. All. He let us loose, and cried halloo! I'll gnaw, I'll gnaw the multitude, Till the cup of rage o'erbrim: They shall seize him and his brood- Slau. They shall tear him limb from limb! Fire. O thankless beldames and untrue! |