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The battle of Niagara

second edition - enlarged : with other poems

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181

UPON a tranquil—glorious night,
When all the western heaven was bright;
When, thronging down the far blue dome,
The sun in rolling clouds went home;—
There wandered to a goatherd's cot,
A youth—who sought to be forgot:
Who many a long and weary year
Had breathed his prayer and shed his tear.
Beneath his look of cloud was seen,
Somewhat, that told where fire had been;
For yet, a sorrowing beam was there:
A beam—in mockery of despair:
A beam that gave enough of light
To show his soul had set in night.
His step was slow—his form was bowed:
But yet his minstrel-air was proud:
Upon the mountain height he stood,
And looked abroad o'er wave and wood
Yet glowing with the blush of even,

182

And answering to the hues of heaven,
With such a melancholy grace,
He seemed as thus he stood alone,
Like some young prince upon his throne—
The genius of the lofty place!