 | Poems |  |
CANTICLE.
The Monarch Minstrel swept along his glory-breathing lyre,
And mute were peopled walks; above hung the celestial choir;
He mourned the apostate renegade, and Nature o'er his urn,
Amid the cypress grove, leaned musingly, a father's love to learn.
And mute were peopled walks; above hung the celestial choir;
He mourned the apostate renegade, and Nature o'er his urn,
Amid the cypress grove, leaned musingly, a father's love to learn.
Zion and Hermon smiled with love, and beauty linger'd o'er—
Carmel hung list'ning—Sharon bloomed, and Siloe's pearly shore
Heard echo tread, with tinkling feet, the flowery dale of Palestine,
While the cherub throned Shechinah gleamed with dazzling rays divine.
Carmel hung list'ning—Sharon bloomed, and Siloe's pearly shore
Heard echo tread, with tinkling feet, the flowery dale of Palestine,
While the cherub throned Shechinah gleamed with dazzling rays divine.
But myrtle, cassia, willow-groves sigh to those strains no more,
For lone, and sad sounds pilgrim tread on Jordan's desert shore,
And started coils the aspic lord, as human shadows flit
Across the pathless plain, where wrath the fires of Justice lit.
For lone, and sad sounds pilgrim tread on Jordan's desert shore,
19
Across the pathless plain, where wrath the fires of Justice lit.
Vengeance bared the gory arm, and prostrate lay the battlement,
The sovereign drove his burning car—hushed was revel's merriment—
Crackling roof and pillar fell, and ocean-flames were curled
Around Moriah's godlike fane, and glory thence was hurled.
The sovereign drove his burning car—hushed was revel's merriment—
Crackling roof and pillar fell, and ocean-flames were curled
Around Moriah's godlike fane, and glory thence was hurled.
The vollied blast in havoc raged—wide rolled the dark red flood—
Wild Famine stalked in frantic wrath, with all her maddened brood;
The quailing, shuddering yell arose loud o'er the tombless dead,
And, with his red neck clothed in thunder, shook the courser's tread.
Wild Famine stalked in frantic wrath, with all her maddened brood;
The quailing, shuddering yell arose loud o'er the tombless dead,
And, with his red neck clothed in thunder, shook the courser's tread.
Ages have fled in time's career, but Mockery's held her reign
O'er moss-grown walls, and sunken gate, o'er palace, and bright fane,
Where bitterns shriek mid ruins, and the fierce hyenas howl,
Where satyrs dance, and vultures teem, and hoots the solemn owl.
O'er moss-grown walls, and sunken gate, o'er palace, and bright fane,
Where bitterns shriek mid ruins, and the fierce hyenas howl,
Where satyrs dance, and vultures teem, and hoots the solemn owl.
20
But hark! o'er Salem's broken shrines, o'er Judea's olive grove,
The slumbering lyre of ages breathes mellifluous notes of love;
And, O Columbia! thou art blest, who first awoke the strain
Thy zealous Angel will prolong o'er many a blooming plain.
The slumbering lyre of ages breathes mellifluous notes of love;
And, O Columbia! thou art blest, who first awoke the strain
Thy zealous Angel will prolong o'er many a blooming plain.
Lord of bright mercy and of love! thy Chosen will return,
And from the mosque the minaret no more shall flaming burn;
Sinai's thunders will be hushed—the Iris of Salvation
Blend its hues with Judah's star, and Nature bow in adoration.
And from the mosque the minaret no more shall flaming burn;
Sinai's thunders will be hushed—the Iris of Salvation
Blend its hues with Judah's star, and Nature bow in adoration.
| Poems | |