Lewesdon Hill, with other poems By the Rev. William Crowe ... a corrected and much enlarged edition, with notes |
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VERSES
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 | Lewesdon Hill, with other poems |  |
193
VERSES
SPOKEN IN THE THEATRE, OXFORD, AT THE INSTALLATION OF THE CHANCELLOR, LORD GRENVILLE, JULY 10, 1810, BY HENRY CROWE, A COMMONER OF WADHAM COLLEGE.
Still through the realms of Europe far around
Echoes the martial trump, the Battle's sound:
There many a nation, now subdued and broke,
In sullen silence wears the Tyrant's yoke:
There the fierce Victor waves his sword, and there
Stalks amid ruin, and the waste of war:
And, where he bids the din of arms to cease,
He calls the silent desolation—peace.
Echoes the martial trump, the Battle's sound:
There many a nation, now subdued and broke,
In sullen silence wears the Tyrant's yoke:
There the fierce Victor waves his sword, and there
Stalks amid ruin, and the waste of war:
194
He calls the silent desolation—peace.
Yet what his prize of glory? What the gain
Of his wide conquest, of his thousands slain?—
His guilty seat on thrones subverted stands;
His trophies are the spoil of injured lands:
For his dark brow no comely wreath is twined,
But iron crowns and blood-stain'd laurels bind.
Of his wide conquest, of his thousands slain?—
His guilty seat on thrones subverted stands;
His trophies are the spoil of injured lands:
For his dark brow no comely wreath is twined,
But iron crowns and blood-stain'd laurels bind.
Far other objects here around us rise,
The monuments of nobler victories.
This splendid dome, yon goodly piles behold,
This favour'd ground adorning, which of old
Our first great Chief, a patriot Hero, chose
“For Learning's triumph o'er her barbarous foes :”
These are her honourable trophies; here
No spoils of plunder'd provinces appear.
Our hallow'd fanes, our lofty spires, were built
By pure and bounteous hands unsoil'd with guilt.
Pure also was the source: the bounty springs
From holy Prelates, from religious Kings;
Who in the peaceful walks of life pursued
Their godlike occupation, doing good;
And taught us, careless of a transient fame,
Like them to seek a worthier meed, and claim
Th' immortal recompense that Heaven decrees
For charitable toils, and generous works of peace.
The monuments of nobler victories.
This splendid dome, yon goodly piles behold,
This favour'd ground adorning, which of old
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“For Learning's triumph o'er her barbarous foes :”
These are her honourable trophies; here
No spoils of plunder'd provinces appear.
Our hallow'd fanes, our lofty spires, were built
By pure and bounteous hands unsoil'd with guilt.
Pure also was the source: the bounty springs
From holy Prelates, from religious Kings;
Who in the peaceful walks of life pursued
Their godlike occupation, doing good;
196
Like them to seek a worthier meed, and claim
Th' immortal recompense that Heaven decrees
For charitable toils, and generous works of peace.
Is there, who nurtured in this happy seat,
Still loves the Mansion, Learning's choice retreat?—
Who yet these groves will honour, where his youth
Was early train'd to Virtue and to Truth;—
Who liberal arts and useful Science wooes,
And by the Muse beloved, protects the Muse;
Whose patient labour and unabated zeal
Pursues that nobles tend, his Country's Weal;—
Watchful, and resolute in her defence
With counsel sage, and manly eloquence?—
For Him fair Fame her clearest voice shall raise
Till her high trumpet labours in his praise.
He 'bove the Conqueror's name shall be renown'd,
Him Glory still shall follow, and around
Laurels unstain'd, unfading palms, shall spread,
Such as are now prepared for Grenville's honour'd head.
Still loves the Mansion, Learning's choice retreat?—
Who yet these groves will honour, where his youth
Was early train'd to Virtue and to Truth;—
Who liberal arts and useful Science wooes,
And by the Muse beloved, protects the Muse;
Whose patient labour and unabated zeal
Pursues that nobles tend, his Country's Weal;—
197
With counsel sage, and manly eloquence?—
For Him fair Fame her clearest voice shall raise
Till her high trumpet labours in his praise.
He 'bove the Conqueror's name shall be renown'd,
Him Glory still shall follow, and around
Laurels unstain'd, unfading palms, shall spread,
Such as are now prepared for Grenville's honour'd head.
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