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 | The magic fountain |  |
At length it came, the hour retributive,
When, goaded by th' accumulated wrongs
Of centuries, the long-sunk Greek resumed
His ancient spirit, and in battle-field
Met his Oppressor! Who among the first
Flew to his aid, and cheered his heart from fight
Of dubious or disastrous issue? Who
But Thou! the warm and ceaseless advocate
Of Greeks and their good cause? And what a field
There opened to thy genius! 'Twas our hope
That thou wouldst win their battles, free their clime
Of beauty from the ruthless Turk, and then
Bid thine unrivalled Lyre resound the strain
Of Greece's Independence—
When, goaded by th' accumulated wrongs
Of centuries, the long-sunk Greek resumed
His ancient spirit, and in battle-field
Met his Oppressor! Who among the first
Flew to his aid, and cheered his heart from fight
Of dubious or disastrous issue? Who
But Thou! the warm and ceaseless advocate
Of Greeks and their good cause? And what a field
68
That thou wouldst win their battles, free their clime
Of beauty from the ruthless Turk, and then
Bid thine unrivalled Lyre resound the strain
Of Greece's Independence—
All is o'er!
That Lyre is shivered, and the hand that waked
Its harmony, is nerveless!
That Lyre is shivered, and the hand that waked
Its harmony, is nerveless!
Loftier harps—
Aye, loftier far than mine—shall ring thy dirge;
And I may blush to see my poor attempt
Look poorer still in the comparison;
Yet hath it soothed me, and thy vital name
May save it when less honoured lays shall perish!
Aye, loftier far than mine—shall ring thy dirge;
And I may blush to see my poor attempt
Look poorer still in the comparison;
Yet hath it soothed me, and thy vital name
May save it when less honoured lays shall perish!
| The magic fountain | |