And, louder than the tempest, But, ere it rent the blackness Which God's stern brow cast wide, "Now, Victory or Westminster!" Said Nelson, in his pride. "My comrades, do your duty! Or what will England say?"* "They shall!" cried accents from the deep, Where dead men weltering lay. Red Horror tore the tempest; Down stoop'd both sea and sky; And, like a flood on Collingwood, The clouds rush'd from on high. Life pledged for life, arm'd thousands O Life, thou art an awful thing !—— Shouts, groans, and man's dread thunder, Made up one dismal cry: The affrighted storm ask'd what it meant, And Death made no reply. England expects every man to do his duty." But, on the grave of thousands, A silent spirit trod ; He clasp'd them in th' embrace of Death And what is Death but God? He cared not for their glory, He ask'd not of their cause; While, right or wrong, the weak and strong One tyrant lost his war-ships; Worse tyrants summ'd their gains; And toil-worn nations sang and danced, (As maniacs dance,) in chains! How like an empty bubble The turmoil pass'd away! "Where are the weak ?" said sun and cloud "The mighty!-where are they?" And birds of light and calmness— Where dolphins gamboll'd free, And heroes in their glory lay- And, from his throne of silence, For Spaniard, Frank, and Briton, Like babies in their nurses' arms, Image of God! through horrors HYMN. NURSE of the Pilgrim Sires, who sought, Beyond the Atlantic foam, For fearless truth and honest thought, A refuge and a home! Who would not be of them or thee A not unworthy son, That hears, amid the chain'd or free, The name of Washington? Cradle of Shakspeare, Milton, Knox ! King-shaming Cromwell's throne! Home of the Russells, Watts, and Lockes! Earth's greatest are thine own: And shall thy children forge base chains No! by thy ELLIOTS, HAMPDENS, VANES, No for the blood which kings have gorged While every lie that Fraud hath forged But time shall change the despot's mood: When turning evil into good, If round the soul the chains are bound If tyrants laugh when men are found Lord! let not Britain arm her hands, Her sister states to ban; But bless through her all other lands, For freedom if thy HAMPDEN fought, For peace and love if BENTHAM wrote, Let Knowledge, strongest of the strong, "Love, Liberty, and Peace!" Then, Father, will the nations all, Sing words of joy, like these:- Receiving as they give; Lord Jesus died for Love and Thee! So let thy children live! LINES. WRITTEN FOR THE SHEFFIELD MECHANICS' FIRST EXHIBITION. SPRING, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Come duly, as of old; Winds blow, suns set, and morning saith, "Ye hills, put on your gold!" Gray Stanage and his mountain'd sea Roll, granite-billow'd, ever; And Loxley, Sheaf, and Ewden, leave |