The stirring memory of a thousand years, And (4) Evan's, (5) Donald's fame rings in each clansman's ears! XXVII. And Ardennes (6) waves above them her green leaves, Dewy with nature's tear-drops as they pass Ere evening to be trodden like the grass In its next verdure, when this fiery mass Of living valour, rolling on the foe [and low. And burning with high hope, shall moulder cold XXVIII. Last noon beheld them full of lusty life, The midnight brought the signal-sound of strife, [rent The thunder-clouds close o'er it, which when The earth is cover'd thick with other clay, Which her own clay shall cover, heap'd and pent, Rider and horse,-friend, foe,-in one red burial blent! XXIX. Their praise is hymn'd by loftier harps than mine; Yet one I would select from that proud throng, Even where the thickest of war's tempest low er'd, They reach'd no nobler breast than thine, young, gallant Howard! XXX. There have been tears and breaking hearts for thee, And mine were nothing, had I such to give ; And saw around me the wide field revive With fruits and fertile promise, and the Spring Come forth her work of gladness to contrive, With all her reckless birds upon the wing, I turn'd from all she brought to those she could not bring. (7) XXXI. I turned to thee, to thousands, of whom each The Archangel's trump, not glory's, must awake May for a moment soothe, it cannot slake The fever of vain longing, and the name So honour'd but assumes a stronger bitterer claim. XXXII. They mourn, but smile at length; and, smiling, mourn: The tree will wither long before it fall; torn; The roof-tree sinks, but moulders on the hall Stands when its wind-worn battlements are gone; The day drags through though storms keep out the sun; And thus the heart will break, yet brokenly live on: XXXIII. Even as a broken mirror, which the glass The same, and still the more, the more it breaks; Showing no visible sign, for such things are untold. XXXIV. There is a very life in our despair, Which feeds these deadly branches; for it were Like to the apples on the (8) Dead Sea's shore, XXXV. The Psalmist number'd out the years of man: span, More than enough, thou fatal Waterloo ! Millions of tongues record thee, and anew Their children's lips shall echo them, and say--"Here, where the sword united nations drew, "Our countymen were warring on that day!" And this is much, and all which will not pass away. XXXVI. There sunk the greatest, nor the worst of men, Whose spirit antithetically mixt One moment of the mightiest, and again On little objects with like firmness fixt, Extreme in all things! had'st thou been betwixt, Thy throne had still been thine, or never been; For daring made thy rise as fall: thou seek'st Even now to reassume the imperial mien, And shake again the world, the Thunderer of the scene! XXXVII. Conqueror and captive of the earth art thou! To the astounded kingdoms all inert, Who deem'd thee, for a time whate'er thou didst assert. XXXVIII. Oh, more or less than man-in high or low, Battling with nations, flying from the field; Now making monarchs' necks thy footstool, now More than thy meanest soldier taught to yield; An empire thou couldst crush, command, rebuild, But govern not thy pettiest passion, nor, However deeply in men's spirits skill'd, Look through thine own, nor curb the lust of war, Nor learn that tempted Fate will leave the loftiest star. XXXIX. Yet well thy soul hath brook'd the turning tide When the whole host of hatred stood hard by, With a sedate and all-enduring eye; When Fortune fled her spoil'd and favourite child, He stood unbow'd beneath the ills upon him piled. XL. Sager than in thy fortunes; for in them Ambition steel'd thee on too far to show That just habitual scorn which could contemn Men and their thoughts; 'twas wise to feel, not so To wear it ever on thy lip and brow, And spurn the instruments thou wert to use. Till they were turn'd unto thine overthrow: 'Tis but a worthless world to win or lose ; So hath it proved to thee, and all such lot who choose. XLI. If, like a tower upon a headlong rock, Their admiration thy best weapons shone; |