The ocean queen, the free Britannia, bears The last poor plunder from a bleeding land : Yes, she, whose gen'rous aid her name endears, Tore down those remnants with a harpy's hand, Which envious Eld forbore, and tyrants left to stand. 1 XIV. Where was thine Ægis, Pallas! that appall'd Where Peleus' son? whom Hell in vain enthrall'd, What! could not Pluto spare the chief once more, Nor now preserv'd the walls he loved to shield before. 1 [After stanza xiii. the original MS. has the following: "Come, then, ye classic Thanes of each degree, Than ye should bear one stone from wrong'd Athena's site. "Or will the gentle Dilettanti crew Now delegate the task to digging Gell, His pencil, pen, and shade, alike without a flaw."] 2 According to Zosimus, Minerva and Achilles frightened Alaric from the Acropolis; but others relate that the Gothic king was nearly as mischievous as the Scottish peer. - See Chandler. xv. Cold is the heart, fair Greece! that looks on thee, Thy walls defaced, thy mouldering shrines removed Curst be the hour when from their isle they roved, And snatch'd thy shrinking Gods to northern climes abhorr'd! XVI. But where is Harold? shall I then forget And left without a sigh the land of war and crimes. XVII. He that has sail'd upon the dark blue sea So gaily curl the waves before each dashing prow. XVIII. And oh, the little warlike world within! And well the docile crew that skilful urchin guides. XIX. White is the glassy deck, without a stain, Where on the watch the staid Lieutenant walks : Look on that part which sacred doth remain For the lone chieftain, who majestic stalks, Silent and fear'd by all-not oft he talks With aught beneath him, if he would preserve That strict restraint, which broken, ever balks Conquest and Fame: but Britons rarely swerve From law, however stern, which tends their strength to nerve. 2 xx. Blow! swiftly blow, thou keel-compelling gale! The flapping sail haul'd down to halt for logs like these! 1 To prevent blocks or splinters from falling on deck during action. 2 [" From Discipline's stern law," &c. - MS.] XXI. The moon is up; by Heaven, a lovely eve! Long streams of light o'er dancing waves expand; Now lads on shore may sigh, and maids believe : Such be our fate when we return to land! Meantime some rude Arion's restless hand Wakes the brisk harmony that sailors love; 1 A circle there of merry listeners stand, Or to some well-known measure featly move, Thoughtless, as if on shore they still were free to rove. XXII. Through Calpe's straits survey the steepy shore; From mountain-cliff to coast descending sombre down. XXIII. 'Tis night, when Meditation bids us feel Ah! happy years! once more who would not be a boy? 1["Plies the brisk instrument that sailors love." - MS.] 2 [" Bleeds the lone heart, once boundless in its zeal, And friendless now, yet dreams it had a friend," - MS.] XXIV. Thus bending o'er the vessel's laving side, Dearer than self, possesses or possess'd A thought, and claims the homage of a tear ; A flashing pang! of which the weary breast Would still, albeit in vain, the heavy heart divest. XXV. To sit on rocks, to muse o'er flood and fell, Converse with Nature's charms, and view her stores unroll'd. XXVI. But midst the crowd, the hum, the shock of men, To hear, to see, to feel, and to possess, And roam along, the world's tired denizen, With none who bless us, none whom we can bless; Minions of splendour shrinking from distress! None that, with kindred consciousness endued, If we were not, would seem to smile the less, Of all that flatter'd, follow'd, sought, and sued; This is to be alone; this, this is solitude! |