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520
WARWICK-CASTLE.
AN IMITATION.
IMPERIAL structure! whose protracted shade
First tells the Sun is rising in the glade:
And as at eve he sinks from mortal sight,
Thy towers sublime more awful make the night:
All hail! long mayest thou sacred hold thy name
For blest Philanthropy, as erst for Fame!
First tells the Sun is rising in the glade:
And as at eve he sinks from mortal sight,
Thy towers sublime more awful make the night:
All hail! long mayest thou sacred hold thy name
For blest Philanthropy, as erst for Fame!
Time was, when savage ardour, bold emprize—
And victors bleeding, rent the offended skies,—
When emblems rude, emboss'd the seven-fold shield,
With deeds heroic in the embattled field:—
When Warwick's Hall, with captur'd arms was hung,
And barb'rous songs in dissonance were sung:
And whilst prophetic bards, to foes adverse,
Their Gods invok'd, in many a runic verse,
—When dauntless Guy, with strength and virtue fraught,
Brought the proud Giant of the Danes to nought.
And victors bleeding, rent the offended skies,—
When emblems rude, emboss'd the seven-fold shield,
With deeds heroic in the embattled field:—
When Warwick's Hall, with captur'd arms was hung,
And barb'rous songs in dissonance were sung:
And whilst prophetic bards, to foes adverse,
Their Gods invok'd, in many a runic verse,
—When dauntless Guy, with strength and virtue fraught,
Brought the proud Giant of the Danes to nought.
Days so terrific happily are o'er—
Alecto rears her snaky crest no more!
No morning parole, nor eve's counter sign
Now steals in confidence along the line;
Nor watchful sentries grateful tidings tell,
In slow, though solemn sounds that—“All is well.”
Alecto rears her snaky crest no more!
No morning parole, nor eve's counter sign
Now steals in confidence along the line;
Nor watchful sentries grateful tidings tell,
In slow, though solemn sounds that—“All is well.”
These walls, that long the rage of war have stood,
And witness'd thousands lavish of their blood,
Shall stand, so Heaven approve, for ages hence,
Th'unrivall'd fortress of Benevolence.
And witness'd thousands lavish of their blood,
Shall stand, so Heaven approve, for ages hence,
Th'unrivall'd fortress of Benevolence.
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