LVI.

And on the brow what depth of fervid thought!
What intellect reclines-what sweetness there,
Amid the fragileness by Nature wrought,

That shades the dark blue eye and fair long hair!
We mark the outward frame, and deem too weak
Its gentle bearing for the soul's deep glow;
But note the varying hue mount to the cheek!-
(It stains the forehead with a richer glow

Of the life's spring)—the lights the mild orbs throw!

LVII.

Ah! they can love most deeply, fondly, true, Who keep the fire e'er smothered in the breast ; Tho' it, perforce, may fling its radiance through The soul's reflectors, from its hidden rest :By the half sigh, the rising bosom's swell, Th' averted eye, uncalled flush to the cheek, The soft-eyed Boy doth mark his triumph well, In characters more sure than tongue can speak ;Ye lovers! then's the hour the heart and hand to seek!

LVIII.

Ay! Britain boasts the Mother and the WifeThe homefelt happiness of wedded hearts— The altar, whence, amid the storms of life, The soul can claim the beam that ne'er departs. How brightly burns the mellowed light around! It flickers not, when comes the storm and shower, Its upward flame is steadier, brighter foundIn the drear coldness of misfortune's hour, Domestic love is proved in beauty and in power.

LIX.

Who's this? We start and turn a lingering gaze;What doth he here? He is not one of these; 18 To each hard lineament how slowly strays Our glance that wondering the intruder sees Among the peerless of the land! We spy No high-toned feeling in this homely front; 'Tis daring--coarse-yet bold and bright the eye, Oft acted o'er the tongue's deceit, feigned blunt And free! and thus he scaled the Throne in danger's brunt!

LX.

Now! here with dogged power his shadow glooms On all the splendid fearless forms around;

Not of their line-but spirit oft illumes

A meaner clay than is 'mong nobles found. How low the origin! How low the means! Cromwell! by which thou winged thy reckless flight To Grandeur's blaze-how wildering the beams, That dazzling urged thy spirit's traitorous might, And drugged thy reeling senses to Rebellion's height!

LXI.

Vanished in air, they left thy stern soul low,
And faint, and vapourish from its fevered dream;
Yet was thy heart, which planned its treachery slow,
Determined still-unchecked by Toil's swoln stream!
Though there the weed of dark suspicion grew,
And doubts and fears-a spectral train-arose,
Wearing thy very life! Ye, who'd imbrue

Bold hands in monarch-blood, and think to pose The haunted breast's remorse-think of his evening's close!

LXII.

Think of the end of him, whose deeds profane
The High Anointed braved, then thrust aside !
And all beneath the mask of care and pain
For his land's wrongs!-Breasting opinion's tide,
For self he wrought :-Ye mob of cheering fools!
'Tis self that urgeth on, and madly blends
Disturbed and master-spirits in new schools--

Weak minds, though scorned, their instrument—their

ends,

If lost, a name is won, and that doth make amends!

LXIII.

What more they gain 'tis not for us to say,
But we would sigh "Beware". -ye ruffian-band
Would wrench the ivy twigs (that greenly stray)
From off old Fanes, which still so proudly stand
On our loved shores! Such wreaths ye useless deem
Mere ornaments upon Time's gray-worn wall;
But, stripping it, ye quench the glorious sheen

Of ages gone :-think!-can ye hold in thrall

Each stone?-When shaken thus, may not the structure fall?

LXIV.

Fall-and bring with it all of great or good, Revered or loved; upon the verdant shore The ruins strew! Men's passions are a flood, Which, once set free, such raging torrents pour As bear all things afar, in one full sweep :— When Custom's chain is burst, and vulgar minds Broke loose from it, what shall just boundary keep 'Twixt Right and Crime? for Wisdom ever finds Long usage bends to rule what Power though armed

ne'er binds!

LXV.

And now, proud Tudor! now we turn to thee. 19
Doth not thy boist'rous spirit roughly pine
To add fresh victims to the mockery

(Thou lover-murderer!) laid at Wedlock's shrine ?
Doth it not long in courtly guise to woo
The galaxy of sparkling eyes around ;-

To quench their light in colder, ghastlier hue,
When holy rites the sacred chains had bound;

And thy sad Brides! had stood the worshipped and the crowned!

C