POETRY.

HEBER'S PALESTINE,

A PRIZE POEM.

(Continued from page 57.)

For thee his ivory load Behemoth bore,
And far Sofala teem'd with golden ore;
Thine all the arts that wait on wealth's increase,
Or bask and wanton in the beam of peace.
When Tyber slept beneath the cypress gloom,
And Silence held the lonely woods of Rome;'
Or ere to Greece the builder's skill was known,
Or the light chisel brush'd the Parian stone;
Yet here fair Science nurs'd her infant fire,
Fann'd by the artist aid of friendly Tyre.
Then tower'd the palace, then in awful state
The Temple rear'd its everlasting gate.
No workman steel, no pond'rous axes rung,
Like some tall palm the noiseless fabric sprung.
Majestic silence!---then the harp awoke,

The cymbal clang'd, the deep-voic'd trumpet spoke;
And Salem spread her suppliant arms abroad,

Ey'd the descending flame, and bless'd the present God.
Nor shrunk she then, when raging deep and loud,
Beat o'er her soul the billows of the proud.

Ev'n they who, dragg'd to Shinar's fiery sand,
Till'd with reluctant strength the stranger's land;
Who sadly told the slow-revolving years,
And steep'd the captive's bitter bread with tears ;—
Yet oft their hearts with kindling hopes would burn,
Their destin'd triumphs and their glad return;
And their sad lyres, which, silent and unstrung,
In mournful ranks on Babel's willows hung,
Would oft awake to chaunt their future fame,
And from the skies their ling'ring Saviour claim.

His promis'd aid cou'd every fear controul;

This nerv'd the warrior's arm, this steel'd the martyr's soul!
Nor vain their hope;---bright beaming thro' the sky,
Burst in full blaze the Day-spring from on high;
Earth's utmost isles exulted at the sight,
And crouding nations drank the orient light.
Lo star-led chiefs Assyrian odours bring,
And bending Magi seek their infant King!
Mark'd ye, where, hov'ring o'er his radiant head,
The dove's white wings celestial glories shed?
Daughter of Sion! virgin Queen! rejoice!
Clap the glad hand, and lift the exulting voice!
He comes,---but not in regal splendour drest,
The haughty diadem, the Tyrian vest;
Not arm'd in flame, all glorious from afar,
Of hosts the chieftain, and the lord of war;
Messiah comes :---let furious discord cease,
Be peace on earth before the Prince of Peace!
Disease and anguish feel his blest controul,
And howling fiends release the tortur'd soul;
The beams of gladness hell's dark caves illume,

And Mercy broods above the distant gloom.

Thou palsied earth, with noonday night o'erspread!
Thou sick'ning sun, so dark, so deep, so red!
Ye hov'ring ghosts, that throng the starless air,
Why shakes the earth? why fades the light? declare!
Are those his limbs, with ruthless scourges torn?

His brows, all bleeding with the twisted thorn?
Ilis the pale form, the meek forgiving eye
Rais'd from the cross in patient agony ?

-Be dark thou sun,---thou noonday night arise,
And hide, oh hide the dreadful sacrifice!

Ye faithful few, by bold affection led,

Who round the Saviour's cross your sorrows shed,
Not for his sake your tearful vigils keep ;---
Weep for your country, for your children weep!---

Vengeance!

-Vengeance! thy fiery wing their race pursu'd;
Thy thirsty poniard blush'd with infant blood.
Rous'd at thy call, and panting still for game
The bird of war, the Latian eagle came.
Then Judah rag'd, belov'd of Heav'n no more,
With steamy carnage drunk and social gore :
He saw his sons by dubious slaughter fall,
And war without, and death within the wall.
Wide wasting Plague, gaunt Famine, mad Despair,
And dire Debate, and clam'rous Strife was there:
Love, strong as death, retain'd his might no more,
And the pale parent drank her children's gore.
Yet they, who wont to roam th' ensanguin'd plain,
And
spurn with fell delight their kindred slain;
E'en they, when high above the dusty fight,
Their burning temple rose in lurid light,
To their lov'd altars paid a parting groan
And in their country's woes forgot their own.
As mid the cedar courts, and gates of gold,
The trampled ranks in miry carnage roll'd;
To save their temple ev'ry hand essay'd,
And with cold fingers grasp'd the feeble blade:
Thro' their torn veins reviving fury ran,
And life's last anger warm'd the dying man.
But heavier far the fetter'd captive's doom!
To glut with sigh's the iron ear of Rome:
To swell, slow pacing by the car's tall side,
The stoic tyrant's philosophic pride;
To flesh the lion's rav'nous jaws, or feel
The sportive fury of the fencer's steel;

Or

pant, deep plung'd beneath the sultry mine, For the light gales of balmy Palestine.

Ah! fruitful now no more,---an empty coast,
She mourn'd her sons enslav'd, her glories lost;
In her wide streets the lonely raven bred,
There bark'd the wolf, and dire hyenas fed.

Yet

Yet midst her tow'ry fanes, in ruin laid,
The pilgrim saint his murmʼring vespers paid;
"Twas his to climb the tufted rocks, and rove
The checquer'd twilight of the olive grove.
"Twas his to bend beneath the sacred gloom,
And wear with many a kiss Messiah's tomb;

While forms celestial fill'd his tranced eye,
The day-light dreams of pensive piety,
O'er his still breast a tearful fervour stole,
And softer sorrows charm'd the mourner's soul.

Oh! lives there one, who mocks his artless zeal?
Too proud to worship, and too proud to feel?
Be his the soul with wintry reason blest,
The dull, lethargic sov'reign of the breast!
Be his the life that creeps in dead repose,
No joy that sparkles, and no tear that flows!
(To be concluded in our Next.)

The following is the Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving to Almighty God, upon the prospect of his Majesty the King's Recovery from his dangerous Sickness, which is now ordered to be used in all Churches and Chapels throughout the United Kingdom.

Almighty God, we render unto thee our unfeigned Thanks and Praise, that thou hast vouchsased to be merciful and gracious to this Kingdom, in granting to Thy Servant, our Sovereign, the Hope and Prospect of a speedy Recovery from his dangerous Sickness. Confirm and establish, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the Work which Thou hast begun. Make the Light of Thy Countenance to shine upon Him, and renew in Him his perfect Strength. Grant that He may long continue a nursing Father to Thy Church, and Thy Minister for Good to all his Subjects; and that, in the present Crisis, He may be Thy blessed Intrument of restoring Peace to the distracted World. And when

Thou

Thou hast lengthened his Days on Earth, in the Enjoyment both of Domestic Happiness, and of Public Peace and Prosperity, crown Him, O Lord, with everlasting Glory in the Life to come, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

We understand the TRUSTEES of the BRITISH MUSEUM have lately purchased DR. COMBE's invaluable collection of early printed ENGLISH BIBLES, the only complete collection known among them are two or three unique.

It is intended to publish "a Clerical Kalendar, or Annual Regis ter of the Ecclesiastical Establishment of England and Wales:" containing, 1. The Bishops, and their respective appointments. 2. The Deans, Archdeacons, Canons, and Prebendaries of each Diocese with their several benefices. 3. The beneficed Clergy in each diocese, (for the convenience of reference) alphabetically arranged; with the names of the Patrons and Value of their Livings in the King's books. 4. The spiritual Jurisdiction of each Diocese, to which will be added a List of the Members of the Lower House of Convocation representing the Chapters of beneficed Clergy and annual Notices of the Promotions and Appointments of the preceding year.

CAMBRIDGE..-The subjects appointed by the Vice Chancellor, for Sir William Browne's prizes for the present year, are for the

Greek Ode: Græcia hodierna.

Latin Ode: Εις οιωνός άριςος, αμυνεσθαι περί πάτρης.

Greek Epigram: Simulacrum Cereris Eleusine deportatum.
Latin Epigram: Veteres avia.

LIST OF BOOKS IN THEOLOGY.

LETTERS OF CONSOLATION AND ADVICE, from a Father to his Daughter on the Death of her Sister, 12mo. Ss. 6d.

SER