 | Rhymes of travel, ballads and poems |  |
15
THE POET'S AMBITION
A THOUGHT IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.
No thirst for power, whose fierce and stern desire
Leads on to guilt and wrong,
Moves the pale monarch of the deathless Lyre—
The laureled lord of Song!
Leads on to guilt and wrong,
Moves the pale monarch of the deathless Lyre—
The laureled lord of Song!
Not his the joy, when the trump's braying tells
Of armies overthrown;
When pæans thunder from cathedral bells,
Drowning the captive's groan.
Of armies overthrown;
When pæans thunder from cathedral bells,
Drowning the captive's groan.
No plaudits from the crowding myriads rise
Along his glorious march;—
For him no blazoned banners flaunt the skies—
Stands no triumphal arch!
Along his glorious march;—
For him no blazoned banners flaunt the skies—
Stands no triumphal arch!
But purer, holier, loftier is the aim
Born of his gift divine;
His spirit longs to grasp that crown of fame,
Whose stars forever shine.
Born of his gift divine;
16
Whose stars forever shine.
The love of man—the blessing of the heart
To which his bright words stole,
And breathed the solace of his godlike art,
As to a brother-soul!
To which his bright words stole,
And breathed the solace of his godlike art,
As to a brother-soul!
The prayers of spirits, to whose silent wo
He gives a voice sublime—
And prophet-thoughts, whose lightning pinions go
Beyond the shores of Time!
He gives a voice sublime—
And prophet-thoughts, whose lightning pinions go
Beyond the shores of Time!
In the broad realm of human hearts alone,
He holds eternal sway;
What king sate ever on a prouder throne,
With vassals such as they?
He holds eternal sway;
What king sate ever on a prouder throne,
With vassals such as they?
London, 1844.
| Rhymes of travel, ballads and poems | |