Page:Hemans in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine 11 1822.pdf/12



have been bright and glorious pageants here, Where now grey stones and moss-grown columns lie; There have been words, which earth grew pale to hear, Breath'd from the cavern's misty chambers nigh: There have been voices, through the sunny sky, And the pine-woods, their choral hymn-notes sending; And reeds and lyres, their Dorian melody, With incense-clouds around the Temple blending, And throngs, with laurel boughs, before the Altar bending.

There have been treasures of the seas and isles Brought to the Day-god's now-forsaken throne; Thunders have peal'd along the rock-defiles When the far-echoing battle-horn made known That foes were on their way! The deep wind's moan Hath chill'd the invader's heart with secret fear, And from the sybil-grottoes, wild and lone, Storms have gone forth, which, in their fierce career, From his bold hand have struck the banner and the spear.

The shrine hath sunk!—But thou unchanged art there Mount of the voice and vision! robed with dreams! Unchanged, and rushing through the radiant air, With thy dark-waving pines, and sparkling streams, And all thy founts of song!—their bright course teems With inspiration yet; and each dim haze Or golden cloud, which floats around thee, seems As with its mantle veiling from our gaze The mysteries of the past, the gods of elder days.

Away, vain phantasies! doth less of power Dwell round thy summit, or thy cliffs invest, Though in deep stillness now the ruin's flower Waves o'er the mouldering pillars on thy breast? Lift through the free blue heav'ns thine arrowy crest! Let the great rocks their solitude regain! No Delphian lyres now break thy noontide rest With their full chords:—but silent be the strain! Thou hast a mightier voice to speak the Eternal's reign!