How vast the guilt that thus could doom a world So beautiful as ours was ere man sinned,-- The waters sweeping, like a mighty wind, To whelm the earth, from its foundations hurled; All nature stood aghast, its course was changed-- A comet threw afar its lurid gleam, Up-broke the fountains of the ocean stream, While a fierce earthquake thro' the centre ranged, Shattering the mountains in its might.--How vain Was then the strength of man, as poor his pride, To stem the onsweep of that ceaseless tide, Which desolation spread o'er mount and plain! Anguish and terror, madness and despair, Took hold on all, before they perished there!
A towering rock, whose shadow in past days Was hailed by weary ones a place of rest, Affords brief shelter on its shelving breast To struggling sufferers crowding from all ways, Trampling their fellows down for life, sweet life! Alas! the JUDGMENT'S on them, they as well Might build their hopes on sand, as stay the swell Of the full flood and elemental strife. Yet has not God forgotten all his love To sinful men, the ARM they madly brave "Though strong to smite is also strong to save"-- The ark floats high a buried world above! While o'er a lifeless pair, to Heaven still dear, A kneeling Angel drops a pitying tear! (7)
LIKE one who on a mountain stands, When morning into day expands, And, as a glory, views from Heaven The plenteousness of brightness given; Even so is he, who marks remote The early cheering dawn of thought Advancing o'er th' awakened mind, Till truth, within the soul defined, Spreads light and knowledge in the breast, And sets all doubts and fears at rest.
WRITTEN ON THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE QUEEN.
FAIR as the summer in its joyous prime, Free from all thoughts of guile, all dread of ill, Unconscious that a traitor could exist Within her wide dominions, forth she came, Young, happy, unattended, save by him, The husband she had chosen from the world; All hearts her own--no other guard she wished-- When ambushed treason aimed its coward blow, Which Heaven ordained should harmless pass her by, In mercy to the realms that own her sway.
Ah! had the public foe, in hostile league, Come openly against her life and crown, The chivalry of England, not yet dead, Had promptly flown to arms, and formed Around her then a shield impenetrable, Her sacred person to defend, or die. From out of England's millions, only one Was found, so void of all the feelings of a man, As point a deadly weapon at the breast Of England's pride--a woman and a Queen! Then the high bravery of her race was shown; She blenched not, quivered not, but sat erect; While, with the lion courage of the Saxon, Which both their hearts inspired, her consort threw Himself at once between her and the danger, To shield the life so dear to him and us.