University of Virginia Library

SONNETS TO DR. W--- ON HIS PROJECTED NEW TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE.

[Proclaim the proud Truth to the Hills and Wolds]

Proclaim the proud Truth to the Hills and Wolds,
Where'er great Nature smiles, and wheresoe'er
Philosophy, high-throned on Sovereign chair,
Her sphery-sessioned arbitration holds—
Then shall Man's lofty thoughts in worthier moulds
Be well recast—and with her serpent hair
That dark Medusa Prejudice from her lair
Shall be ejected—with that fierce hair's folds
Dishevelled—with those cold eyes reft of power,
So shall she be exorcized from the Earth—
While Truth shall revel in his Victory's hour!—
Proclaim it thou! whilst stead of this dim dearth
Of Hopes to some held forth, who nobly shower
Their Thoughts' wealth round—all tongues shall sound their worth!

TO THE SAME.

[Leap thou i'the Gulph!—Oh! let it be thy pride]

Leap thou i'the Gulph!—Oh! let it be thy pride
To make thyself the Victim!—let the rage
Of criticism's ravenous wolves assuage
Itself on thee, and although unallied,
Unaided, stand thou firm—mailed in the tried
Celestial-tempered panoply o'the sage
Philosopher and zealot—Truth!—they wage
Their wordy war.—So let them, far and wide!
Still meet them with the high repulse and calm
Of wisdom, Faith, and Virtue.—Days may come
When thy much honoured name may bear the palm
'Midst Benefactors of Mankind—the gloom
Of Ignorance may melt—the querulous qualm
Of Prejudice pass o'er—with all, as now with some!

TO THE SAME.

[Seek'st thou—proud aim!—to wholly reconcile]

Seek'st thou—proud aim!—to wholly reconcile
Religion with the orbed Philosophy
Severed on Earth, but single in the Sky?
Good Angels guide thee in thy task the while!
All Heaven upon thy hallowed labours smile!
High is thine object—be thine office high,
Thus marrying Majesty to Majesty!
Antagonizing Faction—dull and vile!—
Shall men not date their Peace of Mind—oft wrecked—
From thine hour's triumph!—the old dim desperate feud,
'Twixt Science and palm'd Revelation checked!
(While each through each shall be more clearly viewed—)
Go forth—give way not to the stubborn-necked!
Crown thy great Work!—and God pronounce it good!

TO THE SAME.

[Utter thy tidings forth—nor let the world]

Utter thy tidings forth—nor let the world
I'the serpent Error's folds lie longer now—
Oh! utter forth those glorious tidings—thou!
Who at that serpent, Truth's keen bolt hast hurled,
Be the starred scroll, triumphantly unfurled—
Let all Mankind their strong belief avow!
Let Ignorance hide close her withered brow,
With Superstition's slippery beads empearled—
Let Prejudice forego her poisonous hold,
On sacred things—which she doth desecrate!
Be those bright tidings full and loudly told—
Oh! holiest task, to give more strength—more weight
To Justice—Mercy—Wisdom—Love—to unfold
Deep truths, which shall exalt Man's present State!

TO THE SAME.

[I say not, do not fear:—Fear were afraid]

I say not, do not fear:—Fear were afraid
To come near thee in such a crisis hour
Of Man's high destiny!—a mighty power
Surely upholds thee through the impending shade
Of difficulties now, and not betrayed
Art thou to listen unto aught, nor cower
To aught that might at all disturb or lower
Thy mind from its great purpose, or degrade
Thy thoughts from their high aim—tho' round thee shower
Rash Envy's bolts and shafts—and brand and blade
Uplifted be to obstruct? Fruition's dower
Shall surely crown thy Hope!—still undelayed
By doubt or dread—climb thou the steep, and tower
On high, and ask from Heaven—and Heaven alone—just aid!

TO THE SAME.

[Pass on and persevere!—pass calmly on—]

Pass on and persevere!—pass calmly on—
Addressed to thy high task; nor hope nor fear
Man's frown or smile!—Oh! nobly persevere,
And lay thy labour's fruit at the dread Throne
Of that Omnipotence to whom alone
They're dedicate in deep devotion—here
High, high o'er ethered space—o'er systemed sphere—
Thy Heaven-ward Hope, the Seraph-plumed, hath flown,
Yet with humility and lowly trust,
(Source of all strength—true spring of all success!)
Thou'rt surely girt to atchieve thy task august;
For it may prosper but as Heaven shall bless!—
Our deeds and darings, tend like us to dust,
And need most help when most, upreared in loftiness!

TO THE SAME.

[If thou atchievest what thou dost now essay]

If thou atchievest what thou dost now essay,
As surely thou wilt do—who shall not look
On thee with unblamed envy—which to brook
Smilingly, shall be thine—i' the glorious day
Of thy consummate victory!—those grown grey
Beneath the rain of honours—those who shook
The nations with their conquering arms, and took
Cities i' the pale hour of their first dismay;
Even those who lift a new-anointed brow,
Pressed by the recent ancestorial crown!—
And those whom Heaven's rich grace doth will to endow
With gifts, with powers, from living founts poured down,
Shall haste to celebrate, and joy to avow
Their homage and thy triumph's palmed renown!

TO THE SAME.

[May more than all of Honour, Power, or Fame]

May more than all of Honour, Power, or Fame,
Be now thy portion—if with tempered zeal
And Heart taxed to its pulses' height to feel
The importance of the object—thou the flame
Of high Truth kindlest—and thy righteous aim,
With hope unblenched, dost compass—Man's true weal
It may be thine to stablish and to seal!
What may'st not thou of good and guerdon claim?
Oh! who that in such sacred enterprize
E'er caught one glorious glimpse of Heavenly things,
And with high-thoughted hope soared up the skies,
Could stoop to thirst for Earth's low troubled springs,—
All grandeur in their Mind's proud circle lies—
Empire is in their Soul's unshackled wings!

TO THE SAME.

[Religion's union with the great—the deep]

Religion's union with the great—the deep
Philosophy, shall be high good for man;
And well for thee 'twill be to tower i' the van
Of such fair blest atchievement: thou shalt reap,
For thy sublime exploit, that which shall steep
Thy Soul in lofty joy—the mighty clan
Of Philosophic Spirits—from the ban
Of Heterodoxy freed—shall then to the heap
Of their rich treasures, add the richest far,
And as in Knowledge, in Devotion thine,
The Astronomer shall consecrate each Star
To its Creator's glory, and the mine
Of wealth that the laborious chemists dare
To explore, shall prompt and raise, true thoughts of Power Divine!

ON THE SAME.

[Thy path, thy purpose, are as noonday clear]