Part 5

Haste, my sons, to war's alarms, Triumph in the clang of arms; Joy amid the warlike toil, Feed the raven with your spoil; Go, prepare the eagle's food, Go, and drench the wolf with blood, 'Till ye shall hear dark HELA's call, And virgins waft ye to my hall; There, wrapt in clouds, the shadowy throng To airy combat glide along; 'Till wearied with the friendly fight, SERIMNER's flesh recruits their might; There, whilst I grasp the Roman skull, With hydromel sweet-smiling full, The festive song shall echo round, The Scald repeat the deathless sound: Then, THOR, when thou from fight shall cease, When death shall lay that arm in peace, Still shall the nations fear thy nod, The first of warriors now, and then their god; But be each heart with rage possest, Let vengeance glow in every breast; Let conquest fell the Roman wall, Revenge on Rome my ASGARD's fall.

The Druid throng shall fall away, And sink beneath your victor sway; No more shall nations bow the knee, Vanquish'd TARANIS, to thee; No more upon the sacred stone, TENTATES, shall thy victims groan; The vanquish'd ODIN, Rome, shall cause thy fall, And his destruction shake thy proud imperial wall.

Yet, my faithful friends, beware Luxury's enerving snare; 'Twas this that shook our ASGARD's dome, That drove us from our native home; 'Twas this that smooth'd the way for victor Rome: Gaul's fruitful plains invite your sway, Conquest points the destin'd way; Conquest shall attend your call, And your success shall gild still more VALHALLA's hall.

So spake the dauntless chief, and pierc'd his breast, Then rush'd to seize the seat of endless rest.

BION.

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_THE DEATH OF MOSES._

Israel, my hour is come! Borne on the wings of time Death marks his destin'd prey. Now in the fullness of my age, Ere faint my shrunken limbs wax weak, Ere dim my rayless eye, Of years and honours full, I seek the tomb.

Offspring of ABRAM, MOSES' guardian voice No more shall breathe the will Of your protecting God. For not to me is given On Canaan's promis'd land At last to rest in peace: For not to me is given O'er Jordan's barrier flood To reach the abundant clime: On Moab's pathless plains Must MOSES rest in peace.

When wandering o'er the desert wilds of Zin Faint grew your parched frames, Then Israel sinn'd against the GOD of Hosts. Have ye forgot the hour When murmuring Anger buzz'd Along the busy tents? Have ye forgot the hour When, bold in secrecy, Sedition's impious feet Stole on from tent to tent? Then Israel sinn'd against the GOD of Hosts: On me his vengeance fell. Twas there where MIRIAM died, Where o'er a sister's corse I rear'd in grief the monumental stone.

'Twas then, the prophet's ardour lost, I felt the brother's grief: For Memory's painful gratitude recall'd The succour MIRIAM gave, The succour MIRIAM gave When haven'd on the sedgy banks of Nile Repos'd my infant ark. I call'd to mind her care; I call'd to mind her love; How sweetly soft she touch'd the lute, How graceful moved amid the dance. Sedition's impious feet Stole on from tent to tent, Till, boldened by success, Aloud the Fury lifts her daring voice.

"Why, MOSES, did thy treach'rous art Lead us from Egypt's fertile clime, Amid these pathless wilds To sink, wan Famine's prey? Amid these pathless wilds, Where even nature dies! For here no seeds enrich the earth, No fig-tree spreads its grateful shade, No vine depends its cluster'd boughs, Nor frigid fountain winds Its murmuring course along. Our parch'd frames sink-- We die for thirst."

'Twas thus, blaspheming Heaven, ye spake:-- Heaven burst in twain by me the rock; The spring rush'd forth. "But never, MOSES, shall thy feet Possess the promis'd land:" For Israel sinn'd against the GOD of Hosts: On me his vengeance fell. From Nebo's mountain top I view'd the promis'd land; O'er Palestine's luxuriant soil I cast the eagle ken. Far as the distant ocean's shore, O'er Gilead's fertile soil I gaz'd: The southward plains I saw, And Jericho's rich plain, Where, bower'd in palm trees, rise her lofty towers.

Blest are ABRAM's favour'd race, Blest above the sons of men; For their's are Canaan's fertile lands, For their's the aid of Heav'n. From stern Oppression's tyrant sway, From ignominy, bonds, and death, Heaven led the people forth. Thro' pathless deserts wild and waste, Thro' the wide wilderness of dearth, Where desolation blasted all around, Heaven led the people forth. E'en as the eagle's parent care Hangs o'er the lofty nest; And flutters fondly o'er her young, And spreads her guardian wings, And leads them from the eyry forth, And bids them face the sun.

Offspring of Israel! have your thankless hearts Forgot the bounteous gifts of Heaven? When frighted ocean stopt his waves, And rushing seas stood still? Have ye forgot the fires That led your nightly march? Forgot the heavenly food That fell like evening dew, For Israel's chosen race? Oh! write his mercies on your hearts, Treasure his bounties in your soul; Obey the will of Heaven.

Sons of my care! to you, from highest heaven, JESHURUN's GOD has spoke. By me JEHOVAH gave the words of life: Observe his sacred laws, And fly the snares which superstition spreads. Fly MOLOCH's horrid rites, ASTARTE's orgies lewd, And THAMMUZ' annual dirge, And CHEMOS' wanton wiles.

Is SITTIM's field forgot? Forgot the fatal hour when thousands fell; And Heaven's avenging arm Hurl'd down the shafts of death?

For then in CHEMOS' wanton rites The sons of Israel join'd; And caught the harlot's melting eye, And gave the soul to love. Then, subdued by syren pleasure, Captive reason bow'd to beauty; Forgot the laws of God! Forgot avenging Heaven:-- For woman's mildly-melting eye Thrill'd through the soften'd soul.

Then ZIMRI died: Then COZBI's voice, That stole resistless o'er the Hebrew's heart, In vain for pity pray'd. The zealous priest arose; E'en thro' her lover's breast He pierc'd the lovely fair idolater.

Blest, PHINEAS, be thy name; Blest be thy heart of adamantine faith, That spurn'd the woman's prayer.

Israel, be thine to shun Alluring beauty's wiles, To fly the melting glance The loosely-languid look. 'Tis thine to wreak the wrath of Heaven; 'Tis thine to lift aloft the sword, Lay low the despot chiefs, Lay low the lofty tow'r's.

Let the despots assemble their hosts, Let them marshall their thousands in pride; Let the offspring of ANAK arise From Jericho's palm-bower'd throne, And Aï and Solyma's towers. Let them rush from their mountains to war, Let them cover the valley with arms, For JEHOVAH will war for his sons.

Low Aï's walls shall lie; Devouring flames shall waste Huge Hazor's strength to dust. Of Jericho's tall towers No relics shall remain. There shall the pilgrim, tempest-torn, When on the light'ning flash Destruction rides, In vain for shelter seek. O'er ruin'd palaces the fox shall roam; Amid the desert halls, Where once was spread the feast, Where once was heard the song, Now shall the wild wolf's howl resound; Now build the bird obscene her secret nest.

Yet, from the storm of war reserv'd, With added strength Jerusalem shall rise, The city of your God! To guard her favour'd tow'rs Shall Heaven protecting spread th' immortal shield: Her trees with honey ooze, Her rivers flow with milk. There, Israel, shall the fig-tree bend To you its laden boughs; There shall the cluster'd vine expand Its wildly-wanton arms.

O'er MOSES' clayey corse Drop ye the grateful tear, And hide his relics in the narrow house. O'er Jordan then rush for the prize; Spread terror o'er Canaan afar, And triumphantly fight for the LORD.

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_THE DEATH OF MATTATHIAS._

Sons of my age, attend; Come round the bed of death, Ere yet his cold damp dews Extinguish life's weak flame.

For MATTATHIAS' arm no more Shall scatter terror o'er the host Of Israel's foes. Now triumphant Pride disdainful Lifts elate his royal head; Lawless Might and ruffian Rapine Stalk o'er Israel uncontroul'd. JEHOVAH hides his face, And stern Destruction shakes the spear; Wide-wasting Vengeance pours the show'r of death-- JEHOVAH hides his face.

Now, then, my sons be firm; Be like the mighty rock, Against whose foot the waves For ever dash in vain. Now, then, in your God confiding, Lift the sword, and break the shield: Look upon your great forefathers, Call each long-past deed to view; Let remembrance fire your souls-- Lift the sword, and break the shield.

On Moriah mount is laid The father's only child! Down ABRAHAM's aged cheek Roll'd the paternal tear; The big sob spoke his grief, And nature rived his heart, but rived in vain-- For faith prevail'd. He rear'd the pile, He bound the silent child; The child whose silence spoke Most moving eloquence. Nor did not ABRAHAM feel The father's mighty grief, Nor paint the wretched mother's woe-fraught cries; Nor did he not perceive The deadly blow more deep would rive his heart: Yet faith prevail'd-- He lifts the knife of sacrifice! JEHOVAH saw and saved.

O'er JOSEPH's robe, bedied with guileful blood, The aged patriarch wept: He rear'd the fancied tomb, And tore his hoary locks, Yet bow'd resign'd to Heaven's high will. Meantime, in foreign land, JOSEPH forgot not God. Vice, her tinsel charms displaying, Vainly sought to melt his mind; Vainly plann'd the wile deceitful, Seeking soft to sooth the soul, To sooth the soul to sin. He saw the languid eye, The breast that heav'd with love; White as the new-fall'n snow, Unchill'd by modesty. Her hot grasp seiz'd his arms: He fled-- And when seducing pleasure to his lips Held forth the honey'd draught, He dash'd the poison down. Nor Heaven, all-just, withheld relief: He mark'd the father's woe, He lov'd the virtuous child; And JOSEPH clos'd in peace the patriarch's eyes.

Hark! the hurtling din of battle! Clanging shields and biting falchions Rend the air with fearful terror. JOSHUA leads the war: His voice controuls the orbs of heaven! The sun stood still, The moon obedient held her chariot back; Then fell the royal power. To Makkedah's dark cave the monarchs fled; Upon the fatal tree They wave with every wind. Round Jericho was borne the mystick ark, Was blown the blairing blast; Proud on the blairing blast Triumphant ruin rode. From their foundations hurl'd, The mighty bulwarks load the ground.

By prodigies announc'd, ere yet Rank'd in existence roll, MANOAH's offspring tow'rs in giant strength: His crisp locks wave amid the wind, His crisped hair of strength. On rushes Philistia's host, They environ the warrior unarm'd; He grasps the jaw-bone in his hand, He levels their thousands in death. Fatigued with deeds of death, The victor's limbs relax, His parch'd mouth gapes with thirst; Heaven saw and sent relief, And from the wondrous weapon flow'd the spring.

By Cherith's hidden stream recluse, The faithful prophet lay; He drank the running brook, The ravens brought the due supply. Firm in the path of faith Through life ELIJAH trod. Nor through the narrow portals of the grave He past to realms of bliss; For ravish'd in the car of flames, He fled the gate of death; Thus mortal rapt to immortality.

High from his lofty throne The impious tyrant cries, "Fall down, ye men of earth, Revere the image of your King and God." Faith stood firm. "Heap the fierce furnace high," (The angry despot cries) "Fan the red flames till the hot furnace pales, Sick'ning itself with heat." The fire flames fierce! Amid the pallid flames The faithful friends are hurl'd! But blasted fall the slaves, The slaves of tyranny: GOD stretch'd the robe of preservation forth, And mantled o'er his sons.

Amid the lions hurl'd, In conscious faith serene the prophet lay. Nor DANIEL knew to fear, Nor did his pale limbs quiver with affright; He dar'd for GOD to die, And Heaven, for ever good, preserv'd the seer: The gaunt beasts, famine-fall'n, Creep at his feet, and suppliant lick his hand.

Sons of my age, look back; Call up the shadowy scenes Of ages now no more: For never, since yon font of light First shed the new-born stream, For never, since the breath of life Breath'd through the realms of space, Has Virtue trusted in her god in vain. Amid the storm serene she goes, Nor heeds black Malice' sharpest shafts, Nor Envy's venom'd tooth; The warring winds roar round her head, Nor knows the constant maid to fear, But lifts her looks to GOD. Not 'till the sun, for ever quench'd, In darkness cease to shine; 'Till nature feel no more the breath Of life pervade her frame; 'Till Time himself expir'd Sink in eternity, Shall Faith be firm in vain.

Now then, indeed, be men, Grasp firm the shield of Faith, Lift high the sword of Hope, Nor fear yon haughty tyrant's impious vaunts; To-day elate he stalks, Lifts his tiared brows, Self-deem'd a more than man: To-morrow, fall'n in dust, Food for the worm corrupt, Sunk to primeval nothing, low he lies.

And, sometimes, when your lips repeat the deeds Your forefathers achiev'd, Of me the meanest think, not wholly mean: Let MATTATHIAS' name Full-fill your souls with fire, Recal that hour to view When this indignant hand Drench'd deep my dagger in apostate blood. Even at the altar's foot The tyrant chief I stabb'd, I hurl'd the altar down.

Nor then, in sacred sloth subdued, Upon the sabbath fell we unreveng'd. We serv'd our God in fight, We sacrific'd his foes, We pray'd amid the war. Then through these limbs burnt high Indignant valour's flame; Then glow'd the lamp of life, Now pale and wavering as the dews of death, Slow quench its fading light.

GOD of my fathers, thou hast seen my life Worn in defence of thee; Thou hast beheld me firm in danger's face, Maintain thy holy cause, Amid embattled hosts Defend thy mystic rites. Now to the unknown world, Unchill'd by fear, I sink; And whilst my chilly limbs grow faint, Whilst Death's dull mists bedim my eye, Hope lifts my soul to thee.

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FINIS.

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_Proposals for publishing by Subscription,_

JOAN of ARC, AN EPIC POEM,

By ROBERT SOUTHEY, _Of Balliol College, Oxford_.

To be handsomely printed in One Volume Quarto, price _One Guinea_, to be paid on delivery. Subscriptions will be received by Mr. _C. Dilly_, Poultry, London; by the Booksellers of Oxford, Cambridge, and Bath.

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REPRINT INFORMATION:

Robert Lovell Robert Southey

Poems

1795

Woodstock Books _Otley. Washington D.C._ 2000

This edition first published 2000 by Woodstock Books Otley, West Yorkshire England LS21 3JP and Books International PO Box 605, Herndon VA 20172, U.S.A.

ISBN 1 85477 239 2 Introduction copyright (c) 2000 Jonathan Wordsworth

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data applied for

Printed and bound in England by Smith Settle Otley LS21 3JP

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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:

Effort has been made to retain the poetry indentation and stanza breaks present in the original text, but it is not always possible to be entirely sure, particularly in some of the more free-form poems.

The original used 'continuation quotes' on every new line of text. These have been updated to our modern quotation style.

Words surrounded by _ are italicized.

Reprint information which was originally in the beginning of the book has been moved to the end of this e-text.

End of Project Gutenberg's Poems, by Robert Lovell and Robert Southey