ODE TO PEACE. I. 1. PEACE, heaven-descended maid! whose powerful voice Of jarring elements composed the noise: Far, far was hurl'd the void abyss along; And all the bright angelic choir To loftiest raptures tuned the heavenly lyre, And wide through night's dark desolate domain Oh whither art thou fled, Saturnian reign? Roll round again, majestic years! To break fell Tyranny's corroding chain, From Woe's wan cheek to wipe the bitter tears, Ye years, again roll round! Hark from afar what loud tumultuous sound, While echoes sweep the winding vales, Swells full along the plains, and loads the gales' Murder deep-roused, with the wild whirlwind's haste And roar of tempest, from her cavern springs, Her tangled serpents girds around her waist, Smiles ghastly-stern, and shakes her gore-distilling wings. I. 3. Fierce up the yielding skies The shouts redoubling rise: Earth shudders at the dreadful sound, And all is listening trembling round Torrents, that from yon promontory's head Are silent at the noise. The mighty ocean's more majestic voice The surge in silence sweeps along the foamy shore. II. 1. The bloody banner streaming in the air Bursts out by frequent fits th' expansive flame. The surging smoke o'er all the darken'd skies. \ II. 2. Involv'd in fire-streak'd gloom the car comes on The mangled steeds grim Terror guides. His forehead writhed to a relentless frown, Aloft the angry power of battles rides: Grasp'd in his mighty hand A mace tremendous desolates the land; The mountain shrinks before its wasteful sweep; II. 3. How startled Phrenzy stares, Bristling her ragged hairs! Revenge the gory fragment gnaws; See, with her griping vulture-claws Imprinted deep, she rends the opening wound! Her trump terrific blows. Disparting from behind, the clouds disclose Of kingly gesture a gigantic form, That with his scourge sublime directs the whirling storm. III. 1. Ambition, outside fair! within more foul In caverns hatch'd, where the fierce torrents roll Yon naked waste survey; Where late was heard the flute's mellifluous lay; In loose array danced lightly o'er the flowers; The voice of cheerful labour fill'd the dale; And dove eyed Plenty smiled, and wav'd her liberal horn. III. 2. Yon ruins sable from the wasting flame But mark the once resplendent dome ; The frequent corse obstructs the sullen stream, Save where out-stretch'd beneath yon hanging wall Pale Famine moans with feeble breath, What scenes of glory rise Before my dazzled eyes! Young Zephyrs wave their wanton wings, And melody celestial rings: Along the lilied lawn the nymphs advance, Flush'd with love's bloom, and range the sprightly dance: The gladsome shepherds on the mountain-side Exalt the festive note, Inviting Echo from her inmost grot But ah! the landscape glows with fainter light, IV. 1. Illusions vain! Can sacred Peace reside Where sordid gold the breast alarms, Where cruelty inflames the eye of Pride, Aud Grandeur wantons in soft Pleasure's arms? These from the soul erase the form divine; That warms the bosom with sublime desire. IV. 2. From Albion fled, thy once-beloved retreat, Waked by thy genial breath, the balmy rose? Does life inform fell Lybia's burning sand? IV. 3. On Cuba's utmost steep❤ The goddess' pensive form was seen. Waved on the gale: grief dimm'd her radiant eyes, 'Midst the dread pomp of war Gleam'd the Iberian streamer from afar. She saw; and on refulgent pinions borne Slow wing'd her way sublime, and mingled with the morn. Alluding to the discovery of America by the Spaniards under CoJumbus. These ravagers are supposed to have made their first descent on the islands in the gulf of Florida, of which Cuba is one. |