XII. But soon he knew himself the most unfit His thoughts to others, though his soul was quell'd XIII. Where rose the mountains, there to him were friends; Where roll'd the Ocean, thereon was his home; XIV. Like the Chaldean, he could watch the stars, As their own beams; and earth, an earth-born jars, That keeps us from yon heaven which woos us to its brink. XXI. There was a sound of revelry by night, Soft eyes look'd love to eyes which spake again, But hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell ! XXII. Did ye not hear it?-No; 'twas but the wind, On with the dance! let joy be unconfined; No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before! XXIII. Within a windowed niche of that high hall Sate Brunswick's fated chieftain; he did hear That sound the first amidst the festival, And caught its tone with Death's prophetic ear; And when they smiled because he deem'd it near, His heart more truly knew that peal too well Which stretch'd his father on a bloody bier, And roused the vengeance blood alone could quell: He rush'd into the field, and, foremost fighting, fell. XXIV. Ah! then and there was hurrying to and fro, And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress, And cheeks all pale, which but an hour ago Blush'd at the praise of their own loveliness; And there were sudden partings, such as press The life from out young hearts, and choking sighs Which ne'er might be repeated; who could guess If ever more should meet those mutual eyes, Since upon nights so sweet such awful morn could rise? XXV. : And there was mounting in hot haste the steed, The mustering squadron, and the clattering car, Went pouring forward with impetuous speed, And swiftly forming in the ranks of war; And the deep thunder peal on peal afar; And near, the beat of the alarming drum -Roused up the soldier ere the morning star; While throng'd the citizens with terror dumb, Or whispering, with white lips-« The foe! They come ! they come! >> XXVI. And wild and high the « Cameron's gathering » rose! And Evan's3, Donald's fame rings in each clansman's ears! XXVII. And Ardennes waves above them her green leaves, grow And burning with high hope, shall moulder cold and low. XXVIII. Last noon beheld them full of lusty life, The midnight brought the signal-sound of strife, Battle's magnificently-stern array ! The thunder-clouds close o'er it, which when rent Which her own clay shall cover, heaped and pent, Rider and horse,-friend, foe,-in one red burial blent! XXIX. Their praise is hymn'd by loftier harps than mine; Yet one I would select from that proud throng, Partly because they blend me with his line, Aud partly that I did his sire some wrong, And partly that bright names will hallow song; And his was of the bravest, and when shower'd The death-bolts deadliest the thinn'd üles along, Even where the thickest of war's tempest lower'd, They reach'd no nobler breast than thine, young, gallant Howard! XXX. There have been tears and breaking hearts for thee, And mine were nothing, had I such to give ; But when I stood beneath the fresh green tree, Which living waves where thou didst cease to live, And saw around me the wild field revive With fruits and fertile promise, and the Spring Come forth her work of gladness to contrive, With all her reckless birds upon the wing, I turn'd from all she brought to those she could not bring. XXXI. I turn'd to thee, to thousands, of whom each The Archangel's trump, not Glory's, must awake The fever of vain longing, and the name So honoured but assumes a stronger, bitterer claim. XXXII. They, mourn, but smile at length; and smiling, mourn: The hull drives on, though mast and sail be torn ; Stands when its wind-worn battlements are gone; The day drags through though storms keep out the sun; And thus the heart will break, yet brokenly live on: |