Those whom they thirst for; though the sound of Fame 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 hull drives on, though mast and sail be torn ; Stands when its wind-worn battlements are gone; The day drags through tho' storms keep out the sun 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. Which feeds these deadly branches; for it were Like to the apples (') on the Dead Sea's shore, Such hours 'gainst years of life, score? say, would he name three (1) The (fabled) apples on the brink of the lake Asphaltes were said to be air without, and within ashes.- - Vide Tacitus, Histor. 1. 5, 7. XXXV. The Psalmist number'd out the years of man: Thou, who didst grudge him even that fleeting 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 countrymen 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, One moment of the mightiest, and again Extreme in all things! hadst thou been betwixt, And shake again the world, the Thunderer of the scene! XXXVII. Conqueror and captive of the earth art thou! 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 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, When Fortune fled her spoil'd and favourite child, XL. Sager than in thy fortunes; for in them And spurn the instruments thou wert to use So hath it proved to thee, and all such lot who choose. XLI. If, like a tower upon a headlong rock, Thou hadst been made to stand or fall alone, Such scorn of man had help'd to brave the shock; But men's thoughts were the steps which paved thy throne, The part of Philip's son was thine, not then For sceptred cynics earth were far too wide a den. (') (1) The great error of Napoleon, "if we have writ our annals true," was a continued obtrusion on mankind of his want of all community of feeling for or with them; perhaps more offensive to human vanity than the active cruelty of more trembling and suspicious tyranny.. Such were his speeches to public assemblies as well as individuals; and the single expression which he is said to have used on returning to Paris after the Russian winter had destroyed his army, rubbing his hands over a fire, "This is pleasanter than Moscow," would probably alienate more favour from his cause than the destruction and reverses which led to the remark. XLII. But quiet to quick bosoms is a hell, And there hath been thy bane; there is a fire XLIII. This makes the madmen who have made men mad By their contagion; Conquerors and Kings, Founders of sects and systems, to whom add Sophists, Bards, Statesmen, all unquiet things Which stir too strongly the soul's secret springs, And are themselves the fools to those they fool, Envied, yet how unenviable! what stings Are theirs! One breast laid open were a school Which would unteach mankind the lust to shine or rule • XLIV. Their breath is agitation, and their life XLV. He who ascends to mountain-tops, shall find And thus reward the toils which to those summits led. XLVI. Away with these! true Wisdom's world will be A blending of all beauties; streams and dells, XLVII. And there they stand, as stands a lofty mind XLVIII. Beneath these battlements, within those walls, Doing his evil will, nor less elate Than mightier heroes of a longer date. What want these outlaws (') conquerors should have? But History's purchased page to call them great. A wider space, an ornamented grave? Their hopes were not less warm, their souls were full as brave. XLIX. In their baronial feuds and single fields, (1) "What wants that knave That a king should have?" was King James's question on meeting Johnny Armstrong and his followers in full accoutrements. See the Ballad. - |