THE WARNING VOICE. ODE I. 1. TAKE up thy prophecy, Thou dweller in the mountains, who hast nursed Holding communion with immortal minds, Of meditation and of lore divine 2. O Britain, O my Mother Isle, Thou glory of all lands! Is there a curse upon thee, that thy sons With sin, and in infuriate folly blind? And are the Fiends let loose To work thine overthrow? 3. For who is she That on the many-headed Beast Doth ride abroad in state, The Book of her Enchantments in her hand? Is written BLASPHEMY. 4. Know ye not then the Harlot? know ye not Her loose immodest garb with slaughter foul? Upon the desecrated altar set 5. Your Fathers knew her! when the nations round And call'd her Liberty, When their blaspheming hosts defied high Heaven, And in that hour of trial faithful found, 6. They knew her; and they knew And wallowing with the multitude obscene, Her in her form divine, Her genuine form they knew; With Order and Religion there she dwelt ; Her own beloved Isle. Think not that Liberty From Order and Religion e'er will dwell Woe, woe for Britain, woe! If that society divine, By lewd and impious uproar driven, The land that in their presence hath been blest! Should grey-hair'd Polity Be trampled under foot by ruffian force; Lift his red hands, as if no God were there War would lay waste the realm; Devouring fire consume When Heaven The vials of its wrath. 8. These are no doubtful ills! The unerring voice of Time Warns us that what hath been again shall be; And the broad beacon-flame 9. Turn not thy face away, Almighty! from the realm By thee so highly favoured, and so long. Thou who in war hast been our shield and strength, From rabid Treason's rage, .. The poor priest-ridden Papist's erring zeal, . The mad Blasphemer's venom, . . from our foes, Keswick, 1819. |