GRANT, that by this unsparing hurricane Green leaves with yellow mixed are torn away, And goodly fruitage with the mother spray; "Twere madness-wished we, therefore, to detain, With hands stretched forth in mollified disdain, The trumpery' that ascends in bare display- Bulls, pardons, relics, cowls black, white, and grey- Upwhirled, and flying o'er the ethereal plain Fast bound for Limbo Lake. And yet not choice But habit rules the unreflecting herd,
And airy bonds are hardest to disown; Hence, with the spiritual sovereignty transferred Unto itself, the Crown assumes a voice Of reckless mastery, hitherto unknown.
TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE.
BUT, to outweigh all harm, the sacred Book, In dusty sequestration wrapt too long, Assumes the accents of our native tongue;
And he who guides the plough, or wields the crook,
With understanding spirit now may look Upon her records, listen to her song,
And sift her laws-much wondering that the wrong, Which Faith has suffered, Heaven could calmly brook. Transcendent boon! noblest that earthly King Ever bestowed to equalize and bless Under the weight of mortal wretchedness!
But passions spread like plagues, and thousands wild With bigotry shall tread the Offering Beneath their feet, detested and defiled.
FOR what contend the wise ?-for nothing less Than that the Soul, freed from the bonds of Sense, And to her God restored by evidence
Of things not seen, drawn forth from their recess, Root there, and not in forms, her holiness ;— For Faith, which to the Patriarchs did dispense Sure guidance, ere a ceremonial fence
Was needful round men thirsting to transgress ;- For Faith, more perfect still, with which the Lord Of all, himself a Spirit, in the youth
Of Christian aspiration, deigned to fill The temples of their hearts who, with his word Informed, were resolute to do his will,
And worship him in spirit and in truth.
'SWEET is the holiness of Youth '-so felt Time-honoured Chaucer speaking through that Lay By which the Prioress beguiled the way, And many a Pilgrim's rugged heart did melt. Hadst thou, loved Bard! whose spirit often dwelt In the clear land of vision, but foreseen King, child, and seraph, blended in the mien Of pious Edward kneeling as he knelt In meek and simple infancy, what joy For universal Christendom had thrilled
Thy heart! what hopes inspired thy genius, skilled (O great Precursor, genuine morning Star) The lucid shafts of reason to employ, Piercing the Papal darkness from afar!
EDWARD SIGNING THE WARRANT FOR THE EXECUTION OF JOAN OF KENT.
THE tears of man in various measure gush From various sources; gently overflow
From blissful transport some-from clefts of woe
Some with ungovernable impulse rush;
And some, coëval with the earliest blush Of infant passion, scarcely dare to show Their pearly lustre-coming but to go;
And some break forth when others' sorrows crush The sympathising heart. Nor these, nor yet The noblest drops to admiration known, To gratitude, to injuries forgiven—
Claim Heaven's regard like waters that have wet The innocent eyes of youthful Monarchs driven To pen the mandates, nature doth disown.
THE saintly Youth has ceased to rule, discrowned By unrelenting Death. O People keen
For change, to whom the new looks always green! Rejoicing did they cast upon the ground
Their Gods of wood and stone; and, at the sound Of counter-proclamation, now are seen, (Proud triumph is it for a sullen Queen!) Lifting them up, the worship to confound Of the Most High. Again do they invoke The Creature, to the Creature glory give; Again with frankincense the altars smoke Like those the Heathen served; and mass is sung; And prayer, man's rational prerogative,
Runs through blind channels of an unknown tongue.
How fast the Marian death-list is unrolled! See Latimer and Ridley in the might
Of Faith stand coupled for a common flight! One (like those prophets whom God sent of old) Transfigured*, from this kindling hath foretold A torch of inextinguishable light;
The Other gains a confidence as bold; And thus they foil their enemy's despite. The penal instruments, the shows of crime, Are glorified while this once-mitred pair Of saintly Friends the 'murtherer's chain partake, Corded, and burning at the social stake:' Earth never witnessed object more sublime In constancy, in fellowship more fair!
OUTSTRETCHING flame-ward his upbraided hand (O God of mercy, may no earthly Seat
Of judgment such presumptuous doom repeat!) Amid the shuddering throng doth Cranmer stand;
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