 | The Forest Minstrel, and Other Poems |  |
83
THE CONQUEROR.
There was a temple, a glorious one,
Of the noble in death the dwelling;
Its gilded dome was bright in the sun,
And its organ's tones were swelling.
Of the noble in death the dwelling;
Its gilded dome was bright in the sun,
And its organ's tones were swelling.
A varied light through its windows stray'd,
All painted in antique story;
And over its marble pavement play'd,
Like a gem diffusing glory.
All painted in antique story;
And over its marble pavement play'd,
Like a gem diffusing glory.
I saw the lamb on its altar stone,
The banner of love displaying;
And heard, in a deep unearthly tone,
Who their hallow'd rites were paying.
The banner of love displaying;
And heard, in a deep unearthly tone,
Who their hallow'd rites were paying.
84
There was a city, the home of the free,
Where wisdom and wit were abiding;
The boast of the land, the queen of the sea,
Where her fleets were gallantly riding.
Where wisdom and wit were abiding;
The boast of the land, the queen of the sea,
Where her fleets were gallantly riding.
The great and the good, the fair and the brave,
All, all in that city abounded;
She never had stoop'd to bow as the slave,
Nor by tyrants had been confounded.
All, all in that city abounded;
She never had stoop'd to bow as the slave,
Nor by tyrants had been confounded.
Oh, she was a city to liberty dear!
And never had dream'd of danger;
Her wealth was the boast of the far and near,
And none to her name was a stranger.
And never had dream'd of danger;
Her wealth was the boast of the far and near,
And none to her name was a stranger.
There was a home like one above,
A home of many the dearest;
Where the mother clasp'd, in tenderest love,
All that to her heart was nearest.
A home of many the dearest;
Where the mother clasp'd, in tenderest love,
All that to her heart was nearest.
The sire, and the son, and the daughter fair,
And the youth to whom she was plighted,
In a bower of bliss and of beauty, where
A seraph had been delighted.
And the youth to whom she was plighted,
In a bower of bliss and of beauty, where
A seraph had been delighted.
85
They were bound in the dearest of earthly ties;
They loved, and in love requited
Had learn'd the bliss of their lot to prize,
Ere the bud of hope was blighted.
They loved, and in love requited
Had learn'd the bliss of their lot to prize,
Ere the bud of hope was blighted.
There rose on the earth a mighty one,
On a blood-dyed charger mounted;
His arms were bright in the morning sun,
And fame his deeds recounted.
On a blood-dyed charger mounted;
His arms were bright in the morning sun,
And fame his deeds recounted.
With a great and valorous host he came,
In whirlwind fury speeding;
With him rode might, but want and flame,
And ruin and death succeeding.
In whirlwind fury speeding;
With him rode might, but want and flame,
And ruin and death succeeding.
And he hath polluted that altar's fane,
Like the demon of wrath descending;
And they who worshipp'd shall never again
In its marble courts be bending.
Like the demon of wrath descending;
And they who worshipp'd shall never again
In its marble courts be bending.
For low they are sleeping the sleep of the slain;
They are laid in death's long slumbers;
And that altar's stone hath a crimson stain,
From the best heart's blood of numbers.
They are laid in death's long slumbers;
And that altar's stone hath a crimson stain,
From the best heart's blood of numbers.
86
And none now regard those windows high,
Nor gaze on that antique story;
And its beautiful, chequering lustres lie
On a pavement soil'd and gory.
Nor gaze on that antique story;
And its beautiful, chequering lustres lie
On a pavement soil'd and gory.
That mighty one hath forged a chain
For that city so wise and glorious;
Her children of freedom no more remain;
Her wealth hath lured the victorious.
For that city so wise and glorious;
Her children of freedom no more remain;
Her wealth hath lured the victorious.
And her boasted name is a boast no more;
And past is her pride of bravery;
And they who never were bound before
Are wearing the bonds of slavery.
And past is her pride of bravery;
And they who never were bound before
Are wearing the bonds of slavery.
Her walls, and her domes, and her princely towers,
And her fleet's imperial token,
Are seen no more; and, in distant bowers,
The hearts of the great are broken.
And her fleet's imperial token,
Are seen no more; and, in distant bowers,
The hearts of the great are broken.
He has parted hence, and rapine and fire
Have levell'd that love-hallow'd dwelling;
And she, who erst had her heart's desire,
With anguish the gale is swelling.
Have levell'd that love-hallow'd dwelling;
And she, who erst had her heart's desire,
With anguish the gale is swelling.
87
And she, whose tresses of raven hair
That nuptial morn were braided,
Is pale with the frenzy of wild despair,
Like a drooping lily faded.
That nuptial morn were braided,
Is pale with the frenzy of wild despair,
Like a drooping lily faded.
And those they loved, in the field of fight,
Are cold in the pale moon's beaming,
Where the raven rests from its weary flight,
In dolorous dirges screaming.
Are cold in the pale moon's beaming,
Where the raven rests from its weary flight,
In dolorous dirges screaming.
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