THE CRUSADES. BY MR. JOHN MITFORD, OF ORIEL COLLEGE, OXFORD. SPIRIT, who sitt'st in solitude, unseen, 10 Man's proud deliverance, when the' assembled chiefs Woke Europe into arms, and pour'd their might Upon the Asian Continent, as thick As are the locust-armies in the breeze; What time Christ's Sepulchre from Paynim hands Time was, o'er Europe's desolated plain Her ebon wand and cowl of sable hue 20 Grim Superstition spread. Oppression then -So was it darkness in the land, and all The shrieks of anguish came; unceasing howl'd 30 40 50 60 70 But who is he?-yon Eremite ?—that cries To all the sons of Europe," Rouse to war?" Bare is his head, and with unshrinking foot He mocks the pointed flint; while on his cheek Glows love of enterprize, and his quick eye Darts forth unusual fervour. Bolder now Blows he the blast of terror: at the sound The Soldan sinks recoiling, and in vain To Alla weeps. Obedient Europe hears The call; the fetters from her armed hands Drop; and in adamant and complete steel She waves the crimson banner. Thither flock Myriads of gathering people; for, all lov'd The pleasing sorcery, and could not choose But join the throng. Forth from his midnight cave, Where late the secret work of death he ply'd, The daring robber creeps; the peasant wields The scythe, now raging in the ranks of war. Here croud the knights, their rich retinue led, Their grooms and coursers; here the baron waves His gorgeous Oriflamme; kings, prelates, here Pour to the holy standard: thick they seem'd As those embodied forces which at Thebes Or Ilium conquer'd, or those numerous bands Headed by Charlemagne. Ambition's sons Came flocking here, and here the scoundrel train Of Avarice, all their bestial views conceal'd Under Religion's garb : for, Fancy play'd In thousand orient hues, and lov❜d to build Her gorgeous imagery, their fond hopes belying With sweet delusion. Thus, not few entic'd The mines of gold and jasper, the sweet groves Of balm and myrrh and nard, where every gale Drops perfume from it's wings; and not a few 80 99 |