Poems, on sacred and other subjects and songs, humorous and sentimental: By the late William Watt. Third edition of the songs only--with additional songs |
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The Rose of Sharon.
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 | Poems, on sacred and other subjects |  |
17
The Rose of Sharon.
Awake, my harp, scarce heard ere now to ring,
Save by the genius of the mountain stream,
The sighing wood, or thyme-surrounded spring,
While brooding over fancy's fairy dream!
Awake! to swell by far a nobler theme
Than honours won upon the field of war—
Than Waterloo, where furbish'd steel did gleam,
When Wellington did gain the ducal star,—
Rich Sharon's thornless Rose now blooms on wild Sennar.
Save by the genius of the mountain stream,
The sighing wood, or thyme-surrounded spring,
While brooding over fancy's fairy dream!
Awake! to swell by far a nobler theme
Than honours won upon the field of war—
Than Waterloo, where furbish'd steel did gleam,
When Wellington did gain the ducal star,—
Rich Sharon's thornless Rose now blooms on wild Sennar.
Rise, Africa, thou greatly injured land,
Wipe from thy aching eye the burning tear!
No more the rude marauder's ruthless hand
His predatory bark shall round thee steer;
No more his cruel threat thy sons shall fear,
Or, 'neath his scorpion-scourge, convulsive weep;
Grim Ferity smooths up his brow severe,
And Love triumphant rules both land and deep,
While Bondage shuts his eyes in everlasting sleep.
Wipe from thy aching eye the burning tear!
No more the rude marauder's ruthless hand
His predatory bark shall round thee steer;
No more his cruel threat thy sons shall fear,
Or, 'neath his scorpion-scourge, convulsive weep;
Grim Ferity smooths up his brow severe,
And Love triumphant rules both land and deep,
While Bondage shuts his eyes in everlasting sleep.
Faith hails the bless'd millennium's coming day
With all her ardent ecstacy of soul,
While Praise responsive joins the glowing lay
In strains that echo wide from pole to pole;
And, Afric, though the scorching heat of Sol
The rose and lily from thy sons hath driven,
Yet Freedom, deep engraved on Mercy's roll,
Shall open wide to them the gates of heaven,
And Slavery's hell-forged chains asunder shall be riven.
With all her ardent ecstacy of soul,
While Praise responsive joins the glowing lay
In strains that echo wide from pole to pole;
And, Afric, though the scorching heat of Sol
The rose and lily from thy sons hath driven,
Yet Freedom, deep engraved on Mercy's roll,
Shall open wide to them the gates of heaven,
And Slavery's hell-forged chains asunder shall be riven.
18
No change of clime knows Sharon's peerless Rose,
Its amaranthine bloom shall never fade;
Alike, with beauteous hue, it lustrous blows
On Atlas' top or in drear Greenland's shade;
Whether by Chalmers be its worth display'd,
Where learning scans each phrase with logic eye,
Or lone sequester'd missionary stray'd
'Mong nations rude, beneath another sky,
Where rang through ages gone the cannibal's war cry.
Its amaranthine bloom shall never fade;
Alike, with beauteous hue, it lustrous blows
On Atlas' top or in drear Greenland's shade;
Whether by Chalmers be its worth display'd,
Where learning scans each phrase with logic eye,
Or lone sequester'd missionary stray'd
'Mong nations rude, beneath another sky,
Where rang through ages gone the cannibal's war cry.
Hail, sons of light! whose unrestricted love
Hath borne you far from Britain's classic shore;
Your pilot be th' Immortal King above,
Who dare those gloomy regions wild explore,
Disseminating wide that heavenly lore
Which drives Delusion from his ebon throne;
Bursts the strange spell, which, passion's wand before
Destructive waved, throughout the burning zone,
And leaves angelic love within the soul alone.
Hath borne you far from Britain's classic shore;
Your pilot be th' Immortal King above,
Who dare those gloomy regions wild explore,
Disseminating wide that heavenly lore
Which drives Delusion from his ebon throne;
Bursts the strange spell, which, passion's wand before
Destructive waved, throughout the burning zone,
And leaves angelic love within the soul alone.
Sweet, after stormy night, comes smiling morn,
To cheer the fields with warm prolific beam;
Sweet, to the sun-scorch'd Indian, faint, forlorn,
At sultry noon, is Ganges' cooling stream;
Sweet, to the fetter'd captive, is the dream
Of freedom, and release from want and woe;
But sweeter far the light which now doth gleam
On savage lands, and freely doth bestow
The unction that sole soothes sin's heart-convulsing throe.
To cheer the fields with warm prolific beam;
Sweet, to the sun-scorch'd Indian, faint, forlorn,
At sultry noon, is Ganges' cooling stream;
Sweet, to the fetter'd captive, is the dream
Of freedom, and release from want and woe;
But sweeter far the light which now doth gleam
On savage lands, and freely doth bestow
The unction that sole soothes sin's heart-convulsing throe.
Of this prophetic was that vision fair
Which Amram's augur, tranced on Peor high,
Beheld—ev'n Jacob's Star, whose radiant glare
Illumed the gloom of black futurity:
The wide-expanded kingdom he could 'spy
O'er which Messiah would in glory reign,
When all, 'neath torrid, mild, or frigid sky,
Should join in anthems, through the bless'd domain,
To Him whose cleansing blood once Calvary's cross did stain.
Which Amram's augur, tranced on Peor high,
Beheld—ev'n Jacob's Star, whose radiant glare
Illumed the gloom of black futurity:
The wide-expanded kingdom he could 'spy
O'er which Messiah would in glory reign,
When all, 'neath torrid, mild, or frigid sky,
Should join in anthems, through the bless'd domain,
To Him whose cleansing blood once Calvary's cross did stain.
More awfully astounding was that sight
Which to the favour'd son of Amas shone,
Transcendent as high-noon surpasses night,—
Christ, drench'd in blood for sins, though not his own!
When o'er red Edom's fields he march'd alone,
Dyed in the wine-press of the wrath of God,
For sins of deepest tincture to atone,
Messiah the unequall'd vintage trode,
To waft the wanderers wild back to his own abode.
Which to the favour'd son of Amas shone,
Transcendent as high-noon surpasses night,—
Christ, drench'd in blood for sins, though not his own!
When o'er red Edom's fields he march'd alone,
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For sins of deepest tincture to atone,
Messiah the unequall'd vintage trode,
To waft the wanderers wild back to his own abode.
But rise, O Muse! in bolder climax still,
Take not a future but a past survey;
A sight appears, which makes the bosom thrill,
In the lone garden of Gethsemane:
The grand fulfilment of the prophecy,
That “death should have his death's-wound,” now draws near,
When, prostrate on the ground, the Saviour lay
In blood bedew'd from agony severe,
Drinking the sin-gall'd cup for man he loved so dear.
Take not a future but a past survey;
A sight appears, which makes the bosom thrill,
In the lone garden of Gethsemane:
The grand fulfilment of the prophecy,
That “death should have his death's-wound,” now draws near,
When, prostrate on the ground, the Saviour lay
In blood bedew'd from agony severe,
Drinking the sin-gall'd cup for man he loved so dear.
Trembling and sad, upon the great emprise,
Among his friends no watchful eye He found;
For, 'neath the weepings of the roral skies
They sank in death-like slumbers on the ground.
Then waved hell's black emblazon'd banners round,
As if, for man, the field of war were lost;
Again, the demon-troops their leader crown'd
With wreaths of fame; but short-lived was their boast,
For, quick, their vaunting vain was by destruction cross'd.
Among his friends no watchful eye He found;
For, 'neath the weepings of the roral skies
They sank in death-like slumbers on the ground.
Then waved hell's black emblazon'd banners round,
As if, for man, the field of war were lost;
Again, the demon-troops their leader crown'd
With wreaths of fame; but short-lived was their boast,
For, quick, their vaunting vain was by destruction cross'd.
All, through the sable veil of frowning night,
At once the traitor-guided band appears,
And grim assassination's torches' light
Gleams direly clear on scimitars and spears.
Judas, the van of this base rabble, steers,
With heart perfidious, drench'd in bloody guile;
And, as His follow'rs stand absorb'd in fears,
He hails his Master, kissing him the while;
Yet hate Satanic beams through the dissembled smile.
At once the traitor-guided band appears,
And grim assassination's torches' light
Gleams direly clear on scimitars and spears.
Judas, the van of this base rabble, steers,
With heart perfidious, drench'd in bloody guile;
And, as His follow'rs stand absorb'd in fears,
He hails his Master, kissing him the while;
Yet hate Satanic beams through the dissembled smile.
A willing captive, see Him led away
By his own creatures,—who the theme can scan?
The Deity, enshrined in human clay,
To fall a victim 'neath the hand of man?
'Twas Thine, Omniscience, to devise this plan
Which prostrates reason to its matchless light;
Best emanation of that trine divan
By Godhead held, ere shone creation bright,
When, throughout bonndless space, reign'd dark chaotic night.
By his own creatures,—who the theme can scan?
The Deity, enshrined in human clay,
To fall a victim 'neath the hand of man?
'Twas Thine, Omniscience, to devise this plan
Which prostrates reason to its matchless light;
Best emanation of that trine divan
By Godhead held, ere shone creation bright,
When, throughout bonndless space, reign'd dark chaotic night.
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Expand thy wing, O Muse, the theme pursue!
The scatter'd flock behold, without their guide,
All timid fly from persecution's view,
Forsake their leader, and for safety hide.
But He—the mob's maltreatment must abide—
Is headlong borne into the judgment hall,
Where Pilate, who in council doth preside,
Condemns Him 'neath their brutal rage to fall,
That tumult's tongue may cease through envy's answer'd call.
The scatter'd flock behold, without their guide,
All timid fly from persecution's view,
Forsake their leader, and for safety hide.
But He—the mob's maltreatment must abide—
Is headlong borne into the judgment hall,
Where Pilate, who in council doth preside,
Condemns Him 'neath their brutal rage to fall,
That tumult's tongue may cease through envy's answer'd call.
The morning shines; but, oh! what tumult wild
Fills Salem's streets! what execrations ring!
Where praise erst flow'd, where beam'd devotion mild,
Where suff'ring touch'd compassion's keenest string!
While through the crowd heav'n's sin-destroying King
Bears his own cross to bloody Calvary,
That He, by death, may their salvation bring,
Who should, through faith, from their destruction fly;
Ev'n those who 'gainst his life in frantic rage now cry.
Fills Salem's streets! what execrations ring!
Where praise erst flow'd, where beam'd devotion mild,
Where suff'ring touch'd compassion's keenest string!
While through the crowd heav'n's sin-destroying King
Bears his own cross to bloody Calvary,
That He, by death, may their salvation bring,
Who should, through faith, from their destruction fly;
Ev'n those who 'gainst his life in frantic rage now cry.
Suspended on the cross, He bleeds—He cries—
“My God, my God, why hast thou me forsaken?”
Hell's gloomy troops, aroused, as by surprise,
Feel in their souls hope's dim-seen form half 'waken.
But oft is guile by snares unlikely taken,
And grim despair fills hope's prolific womb,
And wisdom's deepest schemes to nought are shaken,
Or on their owners' heads destructive boom—
This demon-spirits felt when Jesus fill'd the tomb.
“My God, my God, why hast thou me forsaken?”
Hell's gloomy troops, aroused, as by surprise,
Feel in their souls hope's dim-seen form half 'waken.
But oft is guile by snares unlikely taken,
And grim despair fills hope's prolific womb,
And wisdom's deepest schemes to nought are shaken,
Or on their owners' heads destructive boom—
This demon-spirits felt when Jesus fill'd the tomb.
“'Tis finish'd!” hark! with this He yields his breath,
(Between two malefactors suff'ring, just);
Now in short triumph o'er his frame reigns death,
The sable tyrant with voracious lust.
But soon shall he receive his deadly thrust,
Have his dart broken, fatal-edged so long;
And all, who in redemption's virtue trust,
Shall swell with ecstacy the glorious song
To Him who vanquish'd death, that erst seem'd matchless strong.
(Between two malefactors suff'ring, just);
Now in short triumph o'er his frame reigns death,
The sable tyrant with voracious lust.
But soon shall he receive his deadly thrust,
Have his dart broken, fatal-edged so long;
And all, who in redemption's virtue trust,
Shall swell with ecstacy the glorious song
To Him who vanquish'd death, that erst seem'd matchless strong.
O sight astounding! Impious and ingrate
Are their base hearts who throng the cross around,
Who now reward His love with murd'rous hate,
Who cured their sick—freed those by devils bound—
Who made the deaf's ears know the joy of sound—
The sightless eyes creation's beauties see—
Who call'd the dead from death's dark gulf profound—
And souls immured in sin from guilt set free;—
At recompense so base, light from his throne doth flee!
Are their base hearts who throng the cross around,
Who now reward His love with murd'rous hate,
Who cured their sick—freed those by devils bound—
Who made the deaf's ears know the joy of sound—
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Who call'd the dead from death's dark gulf profound—
And souls immured in sin from guilt set free;—
At recompense so base, light from his throne doth flee!
The sun, high vaulting on the arch of noon,
Sinks instantaneous in the gloom of night,
Without eclipse from intervening moon,
And earth's black orb rolls quite debarr'd from light;
Convulsed, she quakes; and pale terrific fright
The nations seizes, wond'ring at the view;
The vested high priest, swooning at the sight,
Beholds the temple's vail quick rent in two,
Emblem of access free to all believers true.
Sinks instantaneous in the gloom of night,
Without eclipse from intervening moon,
And earth's black orb rolls quite debarr'd from light;
Convulsed, she quakes; and pale terrific fright
The nations seizes, wond'ring at the view;
The vested high priest, swooning at the sight,
Beholds the temple's vail quick rent in two,
Emblem of access free to all believers true.
Three days within the gelid tomb He lay,
Then rose, victorious, conq'ring death and hell,
And with Him brought saints to the light of day
Who long lay fetter'd in death's dreary cell.
Thereafter He with men on earth did dwell,
Confirming thus His doctrine by His power,
Ere yet the Sacred Spirit on them fell;
Them to support, unto the latest hour,
'Gainst men and demon's rage, though leagued them to devour.
Then rose, victorious, conq'ring death and hell,
And with Him brought saints to the light of day
Who long lay fetter'd in death's dreary cell.
Thereafter He with men on earth did dwell,
Confirming thus His doctrine by His power,
Ere yet the Sacred Spirit on them fell;
Them to support, unto the latest hour,
'Gainst men and demon's rage, though leagued them to devour.
Behold His servants wand'ring far and wide,
His gospel preaching throughout ev'ry land;
None but the King of heav'n their aid and guide,
Who steers their course with secret-working hand.
Of Afric and Arabia's burning sand,
The pain, the toil, most patiently they bore;
With countless perils, from the sea and strand,
They warr'd, that distant lands might hear their lore,
And with the precious seed profuse be scatter'd o'er.
His gospel preaching throughout ev'ry land;
None but the King of heav'n their aid and guide,
Who steers their course with secret-working hand.
Of Afric and Arabia's burning sand,
The pain, the toil, most patiently they bore;
With countless perils, from the sea and strand,
They warr'd, that distant lands might hear their lore,
And with the precious seed profuse be scatter'd o'er.
It grew, it blossom'd—shoot succeeding shoot:
Wide o'er the world did Sharon's Rose extend;
Till Rome's black venom, poisoning its root,
Its verdure blighted, and its boughs did rend.
Then, from the north dire, barb'rous tribes descend,
Huns, Goths, and Vandals, with victorious sweep;
Her learning and religion to defend
In vain Europa strove; for, like the deep,
They whelm'd all, round and round, in ruin's blasted heap.
Wide o'er the world did Sharon's Rose extend;
Till Rome's black venom, poisoning its root,
Its verdure blighted, and its boughs did rend.
Then, from the north dire, barb'rous tribes descend,
Huns, Goths, and Vandals, with victorious sweep;
Her learning and religion to defend
In vain Europa strove; for, like the deep,
They whelm'd all, round and round, in ruin's blasted heap.
22
Though darkness frown'd o'er Europe's deluged plains,
And all their once fresh-tinted bloom was fled;
Though brutal rage drove with triumphant reins,
While 'neath his car unnumber'd thousands bled;
Though Sharon's Rose seem'd rooted out and dead;
Yet heaven's protecting hand it kept the while:
One shoot He planted, and upon it shed
His choicest blessing—in Iona's isle—
There did it bud and bloom, 'neath his benignant smile.
And all their once fresh-tinted bloom was fled;
Though brutal rage drove with triumphant reins,
While 'neath his car unnumber'd thousands bled;
Though Sharon's Rose seem'd rooted out and dead;
Yet heaven's protecting hand it kept the while:
One shoot He planted, and upon it shed
His choicest blessing—in Iona's isle—
There did it bud and bloom, 'neath his benignant smile.
And now o'er Britain it refulgent shines,
And sheds its glory hence through ev'ry clime;
Grim Paganism 'neath its blaze declines,
And fast approaches the millenial time.
Through savage lands is heard the dulcet chime
Of holy song, where murder's voice erst swell'd;
And Christian love, of union's bonds the prime,
Erects her throne where tortured captives yell'd;
And Zion's flag now floats, by ev'ry land beheld.
And sheds its glory hence through ev'ry clime;
Grim Paganism 'neath its blaze declines,
And fast approaches the millenial time.
Through savage lands is heard the dulcet chime
Of holy song, where murder's voice erst swell'd;
And Christian love, of union's bonds the prime,
Erects her throne where tortured captives yell'd;
And Zion's flag now floats, by ev'ry land beheld.
Caffraria yields; and India's sable sons
Refrain from owning Brumma for their god;
Through China's realms the glorious message runs
To light those who in Tien's pagod trode;
Dark Java, that inhospitable abode,
Now joins, of praise, the soul-elating tone:
And superstition's galling pond'rous load
Falls from your sons, Sumatra and Ceylon,
And countless other realms beneath the scorching zone.
Refrain from owning Brumma for their god;
Through China's realms the glorious message runs
To light those who in Tien's pagod trode;
Dark Java, that inhospitable abode,
Now joins, of praise, the soul-elating tone:
And superstition's galling pond'rous load
Falls from your sons, Sumatra and Ceylon,
And countless other realms beneath the scorching zone.
Dim wane the lights of Mecca's radiant dome,
Sudden to set in everlasting night;
No sun-scorch'd pilgrim thitherward shall roam,
Nor mufti mutter o'er the impious rite;
The astonish'd Gaour sees Zoroaster's light
Drown'd by the splendour of the gospel-sun;
The roving Arab's sabre, glancing bright,
No more sheds terror o'er the desert dun
On peaceful caravans, who joy'd its sight to shun.
Sudden to set in everlasting night;
No sun-scorch'd pilgrim thitherward shall roam,
Nor mufti mutter o'er the impious rite;
The astonish'd Gaour sees Zoroaster's light
Drown'd by the splendour of the gospel-sun;
The roving Arab's sabre, glancing bright,
No more sheds terror o'er the desert dun
On peaceful caravans, who joy'd its sight to shun.
Through that drear land—the seat of exiles vile,
The outcasts of Britannia's lovely bow'rs—
Australia, yet shall moral feeling smile,
And sin-bound souls recruit their blasted pow'rs;
America, where mental stupor lours
With horrid gloom, with brutalising sway,
Shall bloom, refresh'd by Zion's genial show'rs,
From Patagonia north to Baffin's Bay,
And to rich harvest rise, beneath heaven's fostering ray.
The outcasts of Britannia's lovely bow'rs—
Australia, yet shall moral feeling smile,
And sin-bound souls recruit their blasted pow'rs;
America, where mental stupor lours
23
Shall bloom, refresh'd by Zion's genial show'rs,
From Patagonia north to Baffin's Bay,
And to rich harvest rise, beneath heaven's fostering ray.
Bless'd time, when every tongue, in every land,
Shall joyous join to swell Immanuel's praise,
Punctual as birds, when rosy morn's at hand,
When verdant spring the fields in green arrays.
Then Rage no more in flame his arm shall raise
Against his brother, threat'ning blood and death;
But glowing heart-felt love each act displays,
And pure devotion flows from every breath,
Nursed by that cordial balm, unfading Christian Faith.
Shall joyous join to swell Immanuel's praise,
Punctual as birds, when rosy morn's at hand,
When verdant spring the fields in green arrays.
Then Rage no more in flame his arm shall raise
Against his brother, threat'ning blood and death;
But glowing heart-felt love each act displays,
And pure devotion flows from every breath,
Nursed by that cordial balm, unfading Christian Faith.
| Poems, on sacred and other subjects | |