XXIII

REPROOF

1821 1822

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!
The saint, the scholar, from a circle freed
Of toil stupendous, in a hallowed seat

Of learning, where thou heard'st the billows beat
On a wild coast, rough monitors to feed

Perpetual industry. Sublime Recluse!

The recreant soul, that dares to shun the debt
Imposed on human kind, must first forget

Thy diligence, thy unrelaxing use

Of a long life; and, in the hour of death,

The last dear service of thy passing breath! 51

XXIV

SAXON MONASTERIES, AND LIGHTS

AND SHADES OF THE RELIGION

1821 1822

By such examples moved to unbought pains,
The people work like congregated bees; 52
Eager to build the quiet Fortresses

Where Piety, as they believe, obtains

From Heaven a general blessing; timely rains
Or needful sunshine; prosperous enterprise,

Justice and peace:

bold faith! yet also rise

The sacred Structures for less doubtful gains.

The Sensual think with reverence of the palms

Which the chaste Votaries seek, beyond the grave

If penance be redeemable, thence alms

Flow to the poor, and freedom to the slave;

And if full oft the Sanctuary save

Lives black with guilt, ferocity it calms.

XXV

MISSIONS AND TRAVELS

1821 1822

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;
Whence they, like richly-laden merchants, come
To their beloved cells: —
or shall we say

That, like the Red-cross Knight, they urge their

way,

To lead in memorable triumph home

Truth, their immortal Una? Babylon,
Learned and wise, hath perished utterly,

Nor leaves her Speech one word to aid the sigh
That would lament her; - Memphis, Tyre, are

gone

With all their Arts, but classic lore glides on By these Religious saved for all posterity.

XXVI

ALFRED

1821 1822

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
Equal to his deserts, who, like the year,
Pours forth his bounty, like the day doth cheer,
And awes like night with mercy-tempered frown.
Ease from this noble miser of his time

No moment steals; pain narrows not his cares.
Though small his kingdom as a spark or gem,
Of Alfred boasts remote Jerusalem,

53

And Christian India, through her widespread clime, In sacred converse gifts with Alfred shares.

XXVII

HIS DESCENDANTS

1821 1822

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.
The Race of Alfred covet glorious pains
When dangers threaten, dangers ever new!
Black tempests bursting, blacker still in view!
But manly sovereignty its hold retains;

The root sincere, the branches bold to strive
With the fierce tempest, while, within the round
Of their protection, gentle virtues thrive;
As oft, 'mid some green plot of open ground,
Wide as the oak extends its dewy gloom,

The fostered hyacinths spread their purple bloom.