THE AGES. The twinkling maize-field rustled on the shore; The warrior lit the pile, and bound his captive there: XXXI. Not unavenged-the foeman, from the wood, XXXII. Look now abroad-another race has filled New colonies forth, that toward the western seas 25 Here the free spirit of mankind, at length, Or curb his swiftness in the forward race: XXXIV. Europe is given a prey to sterner fates, And writhes in shackles; strong the arms that chain To earth her struggling multitude of states; She too is strong, and might not chafe in vain Against them, but shake off the vampyre train That batten on her blood, and break their net. Yes, she shall look on brighter days, and gain The meed of worthier deeds; the moment set To rescue and raise up, draws near-but is not yet. XXXV. But thou, my country, thou shalt never fall, THE AGES. Are the wide barrier of thy borders, where, Thou laugh'st at enemies: who shall then declare B 2 27 TO THE PAST. THOU unrelenting Past! Strong are the barriers round thy dark domain, Hold all that enter thy unbreathing reign. Far in thy realm withdrawn Old empires sit in sullenness and gloom, And glorious ages gone Lie deep within the shadow of thy womb. Childhood, with all its mirth, Youth, Manhood, Age, that draws us to the ground, And last, Man's Life on earth, Glide to thy dim dominions, and are bound. Thou hast my better years, Thou hast my earlier friends--the good-the kind, Yielded to thee with tears The venerable form-the exalted mind. My spirit yearns to bring The lost ones back-yearns with desire intense, Thy bolts apart, and pluck thy captives thence. All TO THE PAST. In vain-thy gates deny passage save to those who hence depart; Thou giv'st them back-nor to the broken heart. In thy abysses hide Beauty and excellence unknown-to thee Are gathered, as the waters to the sea; Labours of good to man, Unpublished charity, unbroken faith,Love, that midst grief began, And grew with years, and faltered not in death. Full many a mighty name Thine for a space are they— Yet shalt thou yield thy treasures up at last; Thy bolts shall fall, inexorable Past! Has All that of good and fair gone into thy womb from earliest time, The glory and the beauty of its prime. 29 |