The poetical works of Robert Stephen Hawker Edited from the original manuscripts and annotated copies together with a prefatory notice and bibliography by Alfred Wallis |
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ICHABOD. |
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 | The poetical works of Robert Stephen Hawker |  |
ICHABOD.
Hush! for a star is swallowed up in night!
A noble name hath set along the sea!
An eye that flashed with heaven no more is bright!
The brow that ruled the islands—where is he?
A noble name hath set along the sea!
An eye that flashed with heaven no more is bright!
The brow that ruled the islands—where is he?
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He trod the earth, a man!—a stately mould,
Cast in the goodliest metal of his kind:
The semblance of a soul in breathing gold,
A visible image of God's glorious mind.
Cast in the goodliest metal of his kind:
The semblance of a soul in breathing gold,
A visible image of God's glorious mind.
Well he became his throne: even from his birth
On him the balsam of a prince was shed;
Myriads of lowlier men, the sons of earth,
Bent with prone neck to greet his conquering tread.
On him the balsam of a prince was shed;
Myriads of lowlier men, the sons of earth,
Bent with prone neck to greet his conquering tread.
He, when the sage's soul with doubt was riven,
Smote the dull dreamers with his prophet-rod;
He called on earth and sea to chant of heaven,
And made the stars rehearse the truth of God!
Smote the dull dreamers with his prophet-rod;
He called on earth and sea to chant of heaven,
And made the stars rehearse the truth of God!
Yea! when the demons quelled the bold and brave,
And roused the nations with their fiendish mock,
Unmoved he met the Gadarenes, and gave
A lordly echo from the Eternal Rock!
And roused the nations with their fiendish mock,
Unmoved he met the Gadarenes, and gave
A lordly echo from the Eternal Rock!
Where reigns he now? What throne is set for him
Amid the nine-fold armies of the sky?
Waves he the burning sword of Seraphim?
Or dwells a calm Archangel, crowned on high?
Amid the nine-fold armies of the sky?
Waves he the burning sword of Seraphim?
Or dwells a calm Archangel, crowned on high?
We cannot tell. We only understand
He bears an English heart before God's throne;
In heaven he yearns o'er this his chosen land;
His zeal—his vows—his prayers—are yet our own!
He bears an English heart before God's throne;
In heaven he yearns o'er this his chosen land;
His zeal—his vows—his prayers—are yet our own!
Die Cinerum, 1865.
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