Page:Felicia Hemans in The Literary Gazette 1822.pdf/4



On the 22d of May the Anniversary of the Eisteddvod was observed in London; and in the Freemasons' Hall, in Queen Street.

Where met the Bards of old? the glorious throng, They of the Mountain and the Battle song? They met—Oh! not in Kingly Hall or Tower, But where wild Nature girt herself with power! They met where streams flash'd bright from rocky caves; They met, where woods made moan o'er warrior's graves; And where the torrent's rainbow-spray was cast, And where dark lakes were heaving to the blast, And 'midst th' eternal cliffs, whose strength defied The crested Roman in his hour of pride; And where the Carnedd,* on its lonely hill, Bore silent record of the Mighty still; And where the Druid's ancient Cromlech† frown'd, And the Oaks breath'd mysterious murmurs round.

There throng'd th' Inspir'd of Yore! on plain or height, "In the sun's face, beneath the eye of Light,"‡ And, baring unto Heav'n each noble head, Stood in the circle where none else might tread! Well might their Lays be lofty!—soaring Thought From Nature's presence tenfold grandeur caught! Well might bold Freedom's soul pervade the strains Which startled Eagles from their lone domains!

Whence came the echoes to those numbers high? 'Twas from the Battle-fields of days gone by! And from the Tombs of Heroes laid to rest, With their good swords, upon the mountain's breast; And from the watch-towers on the heights of snow, Sever'd by cloud and storm from all below; And the turf mounds, once girt by ruddy spears, And the rock-altars of departed years! Thence, deeply mingling with the torrent's roar, The winds a thousand wild responses bore,