 | Hours at Naples, and Other Poems |  |
130
THE OLDEN TIMES.
The olden Times—the olden Times,
When lofty thoughts were not deemed crimes
Nor follies—glorious deeds!
When Valour and when Honour strove
To glorify Romance and love,
And sow Fame's splendid seeds!
When lofty thoughts were not deemed crimes
Nor follies—glorious deeds!
When Valour and when Honour strove
To glorify Romance and love,
And sow Fame's splendid seeds!
The days of old—the days of old,
When triumph decked the true and bold,
And Earth pealed out their name,
When haughty feats of proud Emprize
Were done for Beauty's sovereign eyes,
And brought not scoff nor blame.
When triumph decked the true and bold,
And Earth pealed out their name,
When haughty feats of proud Emprize
Were done for Beauty's sovereign eyes,
And brought not scoff nor blame.
131
When Crowned Enthusiasm upreared
Her Altars, and sublimely steered
Her blazing way through Earth!
While with the wild-fire speed of Thought
The Nations the Inspiration caught,
And mighty Dreams had birth!
Her Altars, and sublimely steered
Her blazing way through Earth!
While with the wild-fire speed of Thought
The Nations the Inspiration caught,
And mighty Dreams had birth!
When the fair fee—the appointed meed
Was little thought of near the deed
Which could itself reward!
When one brave impulse nobly fired,
One glorious instinct—keen-inspired,
The Warrior—Lover—Bard.
Was little thought of near the deed
Which could itself reward!
When one brave impulse nobly fired,
One glorious instinct—keen-inspired,
The Warrior—Lover—Bard.
The days of old—the days of old,
Like dust dispersed—like embers cold,
They shall revive no more!
But oh! could they one token send—
One splendid Inspiration lend,
To ours those Days of Yore!
Like dust dispersed—like embers cold,
They shall revive no more!
But oh! could they one token send—
One splendid Inspiration lend,
To ours those Days of Yore!
132
How would each weak and worldly aim,
Each senseless cause, each selfish claim,
In their true light appear;
And every poor and paltry Dream,
Each narrow strife, each nameless scheme,
Their own dark colours wear!
Each senseless cause, each selfish claim,
In their true light appear;
And every poor and paltry Dream,
Each narrow strife, each nameless scheme,
Their own dark colours wear!
The olden Times—the olden Times,
When, through all regions and all climes
A glorious Spirit moved!
And men with generous dealing dealt,
And proudly thought, and strongly felt—
Atchieved—believed—and loved!
When, through all regions and all climes
A glorious Spirit moved!
And men with generous dealing dealt,
And proudly thought, and strongly felt—
Atchieved—believed—and loved!
| Hours at Naples, and Other Poems | |