XIX.

Look now on that Adventurer who hath paid
His vows to Fortune; who, in cruel slight
Of virtuous hope, of liberty, and right,
Hath followed wheresoe'er a way was made
By the blind Goddess ;-ruthless, undismayed;
And so hath gained at length a prosperous Height,
Round which the Elements of worldly might
Beneath his haughty feet, like clouds, are laid.
O joyless power that stands by lawless force!
Curses are his dire portion, scorn, and hate,
Internal darkness and unquiet breath;

And, if old judgments keep their sacred course,
Him from that Height shall Heaven precipitate
By violent and ignominious death.

XX.

Is there a Power that can sustain and cheer
The captive Chieftain-by a Tyrant's doom
Forced to descend alive into his tomb,

} A dungeon dark!-where he must waste the year,
And lie cut off from all his heart holds dear;
What time his injured Country is a stage
Whereon deliberate Valour and the Rage
Of righteous Vengeance side by side appear,-
Filling from morn to night the heroic scene
With deeds of hope and everlasting praise:
Say can he think of this with mind serene
And silent fetters?—Yes, if visions bright
Shine on his soul, reflected from the days
When he himself was tried in open light.

XXI.

1810.

An! where is Palafox? Nor tongue nor pen
Reports of him, his dwelling or his grave!
Does yet the unheard-of Vessel ride the wave?
Or is she swallowed up-remote from ken
Of pitying human nature? Once again
Methinks that we shall hail thee, Champion brave,
Redeemed to baffle that imperial Slave,

And through all Europe cheer desponding men
With new-born hope. Unbounded is the might
Of martyrdom, and fortitude, and right.
Hark, how thy Country triumphs!-Smilingly
The Eternal looks upon her sword that gleams,
Like his own lightning, over mountains high,
On rampart, and the banks of all her streams.

XXII.

IN due observance of an ancient rite,

The rude Biscayans, when their Children lie
Dead in the sinless time of infancy,

Attire the peaceful Corse in vestments white;
And, in like sign of cloudless triumph bright,
They bind the unoffending Creature's brows
With happy garlands of the pure white rose ;
This done, a festal Company unite

In choral song; and, while the uplifted Cross
Of Jesus goes before, the Child is borne
Uncovered to his grave. Her piteous loss

The lonesome Mother cannot chuse but mourn;
Yet soon by Christian faith is grief subdued,

And joy attends upon her fortitude.

XXIII.

FEELINGS OF A NOBLE BISCAYAN

AT ONE OF THESE FUNERALS.

1810.

YET, yet Biscayans, we must meet our Foes
With firmer soul,—yet labour to regain

Our ancient freedom; else 'twere worse than vain
To gather round the Bier these festal shows!
A garland fashioned of the pure white rose
Becomes not one whose Father is a Slave:
Oh! bear the Infant covered to his Grave!
These venerable mountains now enclose
A People sunk in apathy and fear.
If this endure, farewell, for us, all good!
The awful light of heavenly Innocence
Will fail to illuminate the Infant's bier;
And guilt and shame, from which is no defence,

Descend on all that issues from our blood.