THE power of Armies is a visible thing.
Formal, and circumscribed in time and space a
But who the limits of that fower shall trace
Which a brave People into light can bring
Or hide, at will,-for freedom combating
By just revenge inflamed? No foot may chase,
No eye can follow, to a fatal place

That power, that spirit, whether on the wing
Like the strong wind, or sleeping like the wind'
Within its awful caves.-From year to year
Springs this indigenous produce far and near:
No craft this subtle element can bind,

Rising like water from the soil, to find

In

every nook a lip that it may cheer.

HERE pause: the poet claims at least this praise,
That virtuous Liberty hath been the scope

Of his pure song, which did not shrink from hope
In the worst moment of these evil days;
From hope; the paramount duty that Heaven lays.
For its own honour, on man's suffering heart.
Never may from our souls one truth depart—
That an accursed thing it is to gaze

On prosperous tyrants with a dazzled eye;
Nor-touched with due abhorrence of their guilt
For whose dire ends tears flow, and blood is spilt,
And justice labours in extremity-

Forget thy weakness, upon which is built,
O wretched man, the throne of tyranny!

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XXXIV.

THE FRENCH ARMY IN RUSSIA.

1812-13.

Ye Storms, resound the praises of your King!
And ye mild Seasons-in a sunny clime,
Midway on some high hill, while father Time
Looks on delighted—meet in festal ring,

And loud and long of Winter's triumph sing!
Sing ye, with blossoms crowned, and fruits, and flowers,
Of Winter's breath surcharged with sleety showers,
And the dire flapping of his hoary wing! .

Knit the blithe dance upon the soft green grass ;
With feet, hands, eyes, looks, lips, report your gain ;
Whisper it to the billows of the main,.

And to the aërial zephyrs as they pass,

That old decrepit Winter—11. hath slain

That Host, which rendered all your bounties vain'

By Moscow self-devoted to a blaze
Of dreadful sacrifice; by Russian blood
Lavished in fight with desperate hardihood;
The unfeeling Elements no claim shall raise
Fo rob our Humian-nature of just praise
For what she did and suffered. Pledges sure
Of a deliverance absolute and pure !

She

Lave,

if Faith might tread the beaten ways. Of Providence. But now did the Most High

Exalt his still small voice ;—to quell that Host

Gathered his power, a manifest ally;

He, whose heaped waves confounded the proud beast

Of Pharaoh, said to Famine, Snow, and Frost.

XXXVI

THE GERMANS ON THE HEIGHTS OF HOCKHEIM.

ABRUPTLY paused the strife;-the field throughout
Resting upon his arms each warrior stood, ·
Checked in the very act and deed of blood,
With breath suspended, like a listening scout.
O Silence! thou wert mother of a shout

That through the texture of yon azure dome
Cleaves its glad way, a cry of harvest home
Uttered to Heaven in ecstasy devout !

The barrier Rhine hath flashed, through battle-smoke,
On men who gaze heart-smitten by the view,

As if all Germany had felt the shock !

-Fly, wretched Gauls! ere they the charge renew

Who have seen-themselves now casting off the yoke

The unconquerable Stream his course pursue,

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