XXXII RURAL CEREMONY 68 1821 1822 CLOSING the Sacred Book which long has fed Of annual joy one tributary lay; This day, when, forth by rustic music led, With evening lights, advance in long array The innocent procession softly moves: The spirit of Laud is pleased in Heaven's pure clime, And Hooker's voice the spectacle approves! XXXIII REGRETS 1821 1822 WOULD that our scrupulous Sires had dared to leave Less scanty measure of those graceful rites And usages, whose due return invites A stir of mind too natural to deceive; Giving to Memory help when she would weave Killing the bud o'er which in vain we grieve. XXXIV MUTABILITY 1821 1822 FROM low to high doth dissolution climb, Of awful notes, whose concord shall not fail; Which they can hear who meddle not with crime, Nor avarice, nor over-anxious care. Truth fails not; but her outward forms that bear His crown of weeds, but could not even sustain XXXV OLD ABBEYS 1821 1822 MONASTIC Domes! following my downward way, XXXVI EMIGRANT FRENCH CLERGY 1821 1827 EVEN while I speak, the sacred roofs of France From altars threatened, levelled, or defiled, Of faith invites. More welcome to no land Of catholic humanity: - distrest They came, and, while the moral tempest roars Throughout the Country they have left, our shores Give to their Faith a fearless resting-place. |